When selecting the right feed for your cows, consider the size, shape, and age of your cattle. As your cattle grow, their nutritional requirements increase, but remain relatively stable. Small cattle will need higher protein, calcium, and phosphorus-rich feed than larger ones. And because your cattle may need to gain weight in different ways, you can easily adjust the feed to meet the changing market, season, and grain needs. But, what is the best cattle feed for weight gain?
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Natural sources of protein
There are many different forms of supplemental protein available in cattle feed. Supplemental protein may come from natural sources or from other, more expensive sources. Beef and dairy cattle commonly receive protein from grain. Non-protein nitrogen is another common option for cattle feed. Urea is completely ruminally degradable and unpalatable, but has a higher nitrogen content than protein. In addition, it contains a high proportion of essential amino acids. This type of protein is often referred to as bypass protein.
Cattle feed must contain both energy and protein. When both nutrients are met, maximum performance is achieved. Low-quality forage is a common source of protein for many cattle herds in the Western United States. Consequently, protein supplementation is required to achieve optimal productivity. Nevertheless, this approach is very expensive in terms of feed, fuel, and labor. For this reason, most cattle producers opt for natural sources of protein.
Roughage
When selecting a grain, concentrates and forages, keep in mind the nutrient profile of your cattle. Cattle need a balance of minerals, especially calcium, phosphorus, potassium and salt. Their feeds will consist of a mixture of forage, roughage and grains. Roughage is low in protein and dietary fiber, but provides the majority of the cattle’s daily requirements. Concentrates should be a high percentage of forage, but should be rotated and assessed on a regular basis to ensure the cattle’s quality.
One of the most effective nutrient ingredients in a feed is cottonseed. It contains 20% of protein, useful fat, and effective fiber. These components translate to a high-quality meat. Cottonseed feed supports animal development and muscle growth. The oil content supports the condition of the animal’s muscles. With 33% of fiber, cottonseed feed is beneficial for the calves’ health. This feed is also beneficial for human consumption, as it contains a balanced blend of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that can help them grow.
Concentrates
Cattle feeding practices include the use of concentrates to improve weight gain. These ingredients are derived from animal by-products and cereal grains. By-product concentrate ingredients are an excellent source of energy, protein, minerals, and fiber. Tables 2a and 2b list the main nutrients and bushel weights of these ingredients. For further analysis, Table 4 lists differences between the digestibility of starches and their sources in cattle.
In the experiment, native grass and rice straw had NDF concentrations of 73% and 79-84%, respectively, while concentrates had nitrogen concentrations of 33 and 2.8% DM. After measuring the composition, concentrates were added to the cows in equal amounts and the DM content increased linearly. The ratio between the concentrate and forage intake was moderate at the lowest concentrations. The same was true for protein and fat concentrations.
Trace minerals
Increasing the intake of trace minerals is one of the most effective ways to improve the performance of your beef cattle. They contribute to fetal development, increased milk production, and immune system function. Additionally, they reduce the incidence of lameness and BRD, and improve conception rates. Therefore, feedlot operators should include trace minerals in their cattle feed for weight gain. Here are some reasons why. These minerals are abundant in some regions, while they are in deficiency in others.
The concentrations of trace minerals in the blood are a more reliable way to determine the nutritional status of cattle. Iron, selenium, and zinc levels in blood are related to nutritional status. However, blood mineral concentrations fluctuate rapidly and should be interpreted in conjunction with other assessment criteria. The authors of Puls and Kincaid’s study published criteria to classify trace minerals in cattle feed. The authors of this study found that the blood level of zinc and iodine could predict the body mineral content in cattle.
Cottonseed
In Georgia, cottonseed cattle consumed varying amounts of whole cottonseed. Intake varied from 4 to 11 pounds per head per day, or 1.6 pounds of fat per day. The levels of intake were believed to be dependent on individual metabolic tolerance to fat. In addition, stocker cattle only utilized 0.3 percent of their body weight per day. The source of low calcium, cottonseed is not recommended for use in preruminant calves. It is essential to supplement the feed with other minerals to meet the nutritional requirements of the animals.
Whole cottonseed is not as convenient as cubes or sacks, so it must be hand-fed. Feeding bins do not function well with cottonseed, and a whole sack would take several days to fill. Fortunately, there are specialized products to aid with the feeding process. EasiFlo cottonseed is lightly coated with cornstarch, making it easy to feed to cattle using traditional grain handling equipment. A co-product of cottonseed oil milling, cottonseed meal is a high-quality protein source. It is often offered as a free choice meal to cattle.
