The Udder Side of the Story

Written by Dr. Tim O'Neill, OFN Contributor

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Winter is here and feeding and supplementing animals in the pasture is a must. With the last cold snap we have all been struggling. When it gets cold outside, animals must burn calories to stay warm and maintain their body heat. The basis of this diet should be hay. Hay of decent quality is not all stem and seed. When a lot of people put up hay, it is when it is convenient for them and not when the hay is ready to cut. When hay starts to go into the boot and make the head of seed, all of the nutritional value of the plant goes into making the head and seed. This is a way for the plant to reproduce. If cut right before this, you will have the most nutrition from the plant in your hay. I know it rains a lot at that time of year, and often we are unable to get into the field to get it cut. Or it will get rained on while trying to cure out.
But, there are other options and maybe the University of Arkansas and Extension could help us with this. The time to make plans for this is right now. Not when we are trying to cut hay.
The other problem with winter feeding I see is protein. Protein is the highest priced feed ingredient. Cattle need a certain amount of protein, but not an over abundance. If fed too much protein the cow’s rumen will turn it into calories and burn it like energy. We need to concentrate on supplementing energy.
Energy comes in the form of carbohydrates or fat. A lot of people are buying protein tubs. These are expensive and very convenient, but aren't always the cheaper and best way to go. Most of the time range cubes or grain will do a better job for a cheaper price. Normally grain or range cubes will supply better quality energy for a cheaper price. I have always considered the protein tubs to be a high-priced molasses.
If you talk to a good nutritionist, they should be able to work up a least cost ration for you. And this is with the hay you already have in stock. The first place to start is getting that hay tested. Then you at least have a starting place and know what needs to be supplemented.
Don’t forget a good balanced mineral. Most cows will be eating around 1 pound per head, per day right now. This will go on until they have replenished the mineral stores in their body. Then they will back off. I normally figure cows will eat around 4 ounces of mineral per head, per day throughout the year on average.
Dr. Tim O'Neill owns Country Veterinary Clinic in Farmington, Ark.