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Mar 20

First-calvers have special diet requirements – Enid News & Eagle

Diet Comments Off on First-calvers have special diet requirements – Enid News & Eagle

Calving season either has started or is just around the corner. Although first-calvers represent your future brood cows, they require more labor, higher quality feeds, and they reward your efforts by weaning the lightest group of calves in the herd.

This is temporary, because, if we have done our homework with due diligence, they will reward us by being productive cows for a long time.

One of the challenges is providing a high-quality diet to these females after calving. In many situations, the energy needs are not met, and the first-calf female loses weight and body condition from the time of calving to the start of the breeding season.

The pounds of protein or energy needed by the first-calf female compared to a mature cow at the same stage of gestation or lactation are not all that different. However, the percent of the diet that needs to be protein or energy between these two groups of females is different.

The difference is because of the amount of feed/forage they can eat. The mature cow can eat more feed compared to the younger female.

For this reason, beginning at least three weeks before calving, first-calvers need to be managed and fed separate from the mature cows. Research from the University of Nebraska reported indicates a first-calf-heifer within three weeks of calving experiences a 17 percent decrease in daily feed intake.

These data further illustrate the need to separate first-calf-heifers from mature cows beginning at least three weeks before the start of the calving season and illustrate that nutrient density of the diet has to be high because intake is restricted. Intake is re-established to more normal levels by about one week post-calving.

The first-calf-females post-calving need to consume a diet that is at least 62 percent TDN and 10 percent to 11 percent crude protein, depending on level of milk production. Feeding bermudagrass hay that tests 58 percent TDN and 12 percent crude protein, prairie hay that tests 54 percent TDN and 6.5 percent crude protein, bromegrass hay that is 58 percent TDN and 11 percent crude protein, or early-bloom alfalfa that is 60 percent TDN and 20 percent crude will not meet the first-calf-females energy (TDN) needs, whether feeding individually or in a combination of feeds. Some of these forages will not meet their protein needs. A high energy feed needs to be supplemented. Corn, distillers grains, gluten feed, 20 percent cube, or silage may be good choices. Make sure the protein requirement is met, especially when corn or silage is fed.

In ranch situations, the supplement may be fed on the ground instead of in bunks. Depending on the quality of the hay and the energy content of the supplement, it may take two to three pounds per head per day to meet requirements. Likely there is minimal waste when feeding an energy cube/cake or whole shell corn.

A young beef female poses challenges, but she is the future of your cowherd. Do not short her after calving; especially do not skimp on the energy. She has enough challenges between calving and the beginning of the breeding season. Do not over-feed her, but give her an opportunity to be a productive part of the herd.

Nelson is Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service ag educator for Garfield County.

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First-calvers have special diet requirements - Enid News & Eagle

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