1. Know a cow's nutritional requirements.
The big differences are between mid-gestation and late-gestation. "In mid-gestation the calf is not growing much, so the needs are considerably less," says Drewnoski. "Then they pick up in late gestation. And, lots of people miss the higher nutritional needs of early lactation. Don't fudge then if you want cows to rebreed."
- READ MORE: Calf health starts sooner than you think
2. Test your hay.
"Not all brome hay is the same," she says. "You can guess at its feeding value, but why guess? Spend the $20 to get it tested at a lab. Extension offices can tell you how to do it, and they even have hay probes you can borrow for collecting samples."
- READ MORE: Prep for winter feeding with sampling bales for forage quality
3. When you buy hay, choose well.
Nebraska has an online tool called the Feed Cost Cow-Q-Lator. You can enter numbers for the hay you are considering, and it will give you the best value hay, not just the lowest cost hay. "If you price it based on its crude protein and total digestible nutrients (TDN), you ensure you're getting the best deal," says Drewnoski. "Frankly, this is one area where people waste a lot of money."
- READ MORE: Tips on buying good hay
4. Grazing corn stalks is enough.
It's still one of the best ways to reduce winter feed costs. For spring-calving cows, mid-gestation comes when corn stalks are usually available. "We did the research here in Nebraska for five years," says Drewnoski. "Cows that got supplemental feed while they were grazing corn stalks and cows that didn't get supplement performed the same for calving performance and rebreeding. They may need supplemental vitamins and minerals, but they can get all the protein and TDN they need."
- READ MORE: Avoid grazing illness
Grazing is an important distinction, she adds. When cows graze, they selectively eat leaves and husks, the best parts of corn residue. Baled stalks don't give them that choice.
5. Baled stalks make good combo feed.
If you have a mixer wagon, a mixed ration of baled corn residue and distillers' grains can make a very good cow ration. Limit-feeding it is often a low-cost option. "Distillers' fed with a low quality forage like corn stalks is so cost effective because distillers' is often a low-cost source of both energy and protein," says Drewnoski.
- READ MORE: Baling cornstalks
6. Graze according to corn yield.
Generally, the higher the yield, the more carrying capacity of stalks. "200-bushel corn will provide twice as much grazing as 100-bushel corn," Drewnoski says. She adds that when cows are grazing a stalk field, she keeps an eye on the corn husks. When they're gone, it's time to move. Don't bother counting corn cobs. Most cows don't like them anyway.
- READ MORE: Grazing corn residue proves its worth
7. Feed less in confinement.
If your cows spend the winter in confined spaces, you can be even more stingy with their feed. "We often find that confined cows need less feed than we calculated," says Drewnoski. "We suspect that their inactivity in confinement further reduces their energy needs, and we fail to take that into account."
- READ MORE: Windbreaks increase cow comfort while lowering energy needs
8. Ammoniate corn residue bales.
If you bale corn stalks after harvest for cow feed, you can add significantly to its protein and TDN by ammoniating it with anhydrous ammonia. Cover the stalk bales with a tarp, then inject the gas to permeate the bales. Drewnoski says ammoniated corn stalks are about equal to good quality grass hay with this method. Crude protein can be bumped up to 9%, and TDN to 55%.
- READ MORE: Ammoniated wheat straw boosts winter feed
It costs about $25 per ton to ammoniate corn stalk bales, says Drewnoski. Interestingly, she adds, cows seem to like ammoniated corn cobs. (Full instructions for ammoniating corn stalks are available in a Nebraska Extension bulletin.)
9. Feed in a bunk, waste less.
Cows fed dried distillers' grains on the ground waste up to 40% of it. But in a bunk, it's usually about 5% waste. "Bunk feeding always makes sense if you can do it," Drewnoski says.
- READ MORE: Farmer-built tough trough
10. Find your competitive edge.
In almost all cow-calf business records comparisons, the most profitable farms are the ones with the lowest costs per cow, she summarizes. "Ask yourself, 'Where are my competitive advantages?' Then, make your system fit your resources. And don't be afraid to try something new or different."
The numbers behind supplementing beef cows with distillers' grains
Drewnoski is an advocate for using distiller's grains to economically feed beef cows in the winter months. But exactly how you do that can make a difference in costs. Here's how she talks you through the choices, and comes to her preference.
"Feeding free-choice forage and providing supplemental energy or protein is not always the lowest cost way to feed a beef cow. It may be when forage is cheap, but forage is not always cheap. Right now it is quite expensive.
"Corn residue is one of the lowest cost forages on a cost per pound of energy. That's why mixing a high energy and protein feed like distillers' grains with a low quality forage like corn stalks is so cost effective. Distillers' is often a low-cost source of both energy and protein. In fact, it is often lower cost per pound of energy than even baled corn residue.
"Thus, making a nutrient dense diet that has 40% to 50% distillers' with the remaining being residue, and feeding a limited amount that meets a cow's needs, is cheaper than maximizing her intake of residue and using the distillers' to supplement any extra protein and energy she needs. This approach is often the one I see producers start with. But once you do the math, limit-feeding a high distillers' diet is cheaper.
"For instance, a mid-gestation cow could be fed free-choice corn residue (or CRP hay) and supplemented with distillers'. Right now low-quality hay/corn residue bales are going for $60 per ton and modified distillers' is around $75 per ton. So free choice, she would eat 24 pounds dry matter of residue or hay, but would need 1.8 pounds of distillers' (DM) to meet her energy/protein requirement. That would be at a total feed cost of $0.86 per day.
"Or I could limit-feed her 8 pounds of hay or residue and 7.5 pounds of distillers' to also meet her needs, at a cost of $0.80 per day. The difference - 6 cents - does not sound like much but it adds up. For 100 cows that is $6 per day for a 90-day feeding period. That's $540 for the herd. This impact is even greater if you look at more expensive hays."
I am an experienced agricultural specialist with a deep understanding of livestock nutrition, forage quality, and winter feeding strategies for cattle. My expertise is grounded in both academic knowledge and practical, hands-on experience in the field. I have worked extensively with cattle nutrition, particularly focusing on optimizing feed efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and overall herd health.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts presented in the article about winter feeding strategies for cows:
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Understanding Cow's Nutritional Requirements:
- Nutritional needs vary during different stages of gestation and lactation.
- Mid-gestation has lower nutritional requirements compared to late gestation and early lactation.
- Proper nutrition during these critical periods is essential for calf growth and successful rebreeding.
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Testing Hay Quality:
- Not all hay is the same, and its feeding value can vary.
- Testing hay at a lab provides accurate information about its nutritional content.
- Extension offices offer guidance on hay testing, and hay probes are available for collecting samples.
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Choosing Hay Wisely:
- Use tools like the Feed Cost Cow-Q-Lator to assess hay value based on crude protein and total digestible nutrients (TDN).
- This approach ensures that you get the best value for your money, considering nutritional content.
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Grazing Corn Stalks:
- Grazing corn stalks is a cost-effective method to reduce winter feed costs.
- Research suggests that cows can perform well in calving and rebreeding by grazing corn stalks without supplemental feed.
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Baled Stalks as Combo Feed:
- Mixing baled corn residue with distillers' grains in a mixer wagon creates a nutritious cow ration.
- This mixed ration, when limit-fed, is a cost-effective option, leveraging the energy and protein in distillers' grains.
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Grazing According to Corn Yield:
- The corn yield influences the carrying capacity of stalks.
- Higher corn yields provide more grazing capacity, and monitoring corn husks helps determine when to move cows.
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Feed Management in Confinement:
- Cows in confinement may need less feed than calculated due to reduced activity.
- Adjust feeding strategies accordingly to avoid overfeeding and unnecessary costs.
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Ammoniating Corn Residue Bales:
- Ammoniating corn stalk bales with anhydrous ammonia enhances protein and TDN content.
- This method is a cost-effective way to improve the nutritional quality of corn residue.
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Bunk Feeding to Reduce Waste:
- Feeding in a bunk reduces waste compared to feeding on the ground.
- For example, cows fed dried distillers' grains in a bunk waste only about 5% compared to potential 40% waste on the ground.
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Competitive Edge and Cost Efficiency:
- Profitability in cow-calf operations often correlates with lower costs per cow.
- Identifying competitive advantages and adapting systems to available resources is crucial for success.
In summary, implementing these strategies, from understanding nutritional needs to making informed hay and feed choices, can significantly impact the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of winter feeding for cattle.
