Third Trimester and Post-partum

Beef Cow Nutrition

Dakota Cow Calf Clinics

Dr. Karl Hoppe

Carrington Research Extension Center

NDSU Extension Service

Nutrition

• Basically a cow needs • Water

• Energy – starch, cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, fat (oil), but not lignin

• Protein – amino acids

• Vitamins

• Minerals

Cow Nutrient

Requirements Vary by

Stage of Production

0

5

10

15

20

25

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Months Since Calving

NE

m R

eq

uir

em

en

t (M

cals

) Early Lactation Late

Lactation 2nd

Trimester

3rd Trimester

Body Condition Scores

• BSC is subjective measurement of the degree of fat on a cow

• Scale 1-9; 1 skinny, 5 good, 9 obese

• Cows should be a BCS 5-6 at calving

• Allows for better milk production and increases the likelihood of being pregnant early

BCS 3

BCS 4 and

5

BCS 6 and 7

This cow has limited fat reserves to provide insulation and requires more feed to maintain herself

Energy and Body Condition

Scores

• First, provide adequate energy to cows based on the NRC Nutrient Requirements for Beef Cattle

• Second, adjust energy based the cows’ BCS

• Watch closely

• It’s difficult to change a body condition score (80 lbs) unless you are going to feed 10-15 pounds of grain for several months

• However, 2 weeks of 20 below zero will take off 1 BCS if the feed isn’t changed

Maintenance Energy

increases if cows are in

lower body condition

• 8 Months Bred – 0 degrees F

• 1200 lb BCS 4 - 17.2 lbs TDN

• 1300 lb BCS 6 - 16.6 lbs TDN

Energy and protein - thumbrules

• Mid pregnancy – 55% TDN; 7% CP

• Late Pregnancy – 60% TDN; 9%CP

• After Calving – 65% TDN; 11-12% CP

• Dry Matter intake • 2.5 - 3% of Body Weight

• mature cows can eat 4% (even more with extreme cold, 5-7%)

Energy and protein - thumbrules

• Mid pregnancy – 55% TDN; 7% CP

• Late Pregnancy – 60% TDN; 9%CP

• After Calving – 65% TDN; 11-12% CP

• Feed test

• Grass hay 88.6%DM 50% TDN 7.1% CP

• Alfalfa hay 88.0%DM 56% TDN 12.4% CP

• Corn Stover 89.2%DM 43% TDN 4.5% CP

• Corn Silage 62.2%DM 76% TDN 7.6% CP

• 2nd cut Alfalfa hay 61% TDN 16.6% CP

Cold weather thumb rule

• Pregnant Cow - Lower Critical Temperature

• No wind dry, PG cow -13 F

• Wet snow, 10 mph wind 19 F

• 10 degree F change – 10 % more Energy

• 20 degree F Change – 20 % more Energy

• 30 degree F Change – 30 % more Energy

• Specifically: 2% more energy needed per degree Celsius under the Lower Critical Temperature

Feed Prices Jan 2011

• Alfalfa Hay $65/T

• CRP hay $50/T

• Corn Stover $38/T

• Corn Grain $5.34/bu $190/T

• Corn Silage $45/T

• Barley Malt Sprout Pellets

$130/T

• Wheat Midds $155/T

• Canola Meal $231/T

• Dried Distillers Grains

$170/T

• Beet Tailings Freight $15/ton

85% water ----$ 100/T DM basis

Diets using Co-products

1400 lb cows – mature, late gestation,

maintain wt.

Lbs as fed daily

Alfalfa Hay 20 5

Grass Hay 40 22 22

Corn Stover 20 15

Wheat Straw 20

Canola Meal 2

Mineral .12 .12 .12 .12

Cost /day $1.07 $1.12 $1.28 $1.25

Diets using Co-products

1400 lb cows – mature, late gestation,

maintain wt.

Lbs as fed daily

Alfalfa Hay 5 10 5

Grass Hay 10 10 15 35

Wheat Straw 20 20

Beet Tailings 45 30 50

Barley Malt Sprout Pellets 6

Mineral .25 .25 .25 .25

Cost / day $1.17 $1.29 $1.19 $1.16

Diets using Co-products

1400 lb cows – mature, late gestation,

maintain wt.

Lbs as fed daily

Grass Hay 15 20 40 12

Wheat Straw 12 20

Corn Stover 10 25

Corn grain

Dried Distillers Grains 4 2 4

Mineral .25 .25 .25 .25

Cost / day $1.21 $1.09 $1.12 $1.23

Diets using Co-products

1400 lb cows – mature, late gestation

increase 1 BCS, 90 days

Lbs as fed daily

Alfalfa Hay 30 15 20

Grass Hay 25 20 15

Corn Stover

Wheat Straw 10 15

Wheat Midds 7 5

Mineral .25 .25 .25 .25

Cost /day $1.25 $1.23 $1.53 $1.24

Diets using Co-products

1400 lb cows – mature, late gestation

increase 1 BCS, 90 days

Lbs as fed daily

Alfalfa Hay 11 10 10 5

Grass Hay 10 15 30

Wheat Straw 15 15

Beet Tailings 45 30 65

Barley Malt Sprout Pellets 10 5

Mineral .25 .25 .25 .25

Cost / day $1.29 $1.47 $1.31 $1.37

Diets using Co-products

1400 lb cows – mature, late gestation

increase 1 BCS, 90 days

Lbs as fed daily

Grass Hay 15 20 38 12

Wheat Straw 10 17

Corn Stover 10 22

Corn Grain 4

Dried Distillers Grains 7 6 8

Mineral .25 .25 .25 .25

Cost / day $1.37 $1.37 $1.45 $1.52

Calculating cost per pound of

nutrient

• It is easy math…

• Price per pound of nutrient = price per pound of feed divided by nutrient content

• Cost per lb TDN = $65 / 2000 lbs / 80% TDN

• Cost per lb TDN = $0.0325 / lb / .80 TDN

• Cost per lb TDN = $0.0406

Calculating cost per pound of nutrient,

Energy - TDN (Mcal) Jan 2006

Feed Cost % TDN

‘as fed’

Cost / ton

TDN

Corn $1.65 / bu 80 73.66

Barley $1.60 / bu 72 92.59

Wheat

Midds

$60 / ton 75 80.00

Barley

Sprout

Pellets

$78 / ton 66 118.18

Alfalfa hay $40 / ton 53 94.33

CRP hay $40 / ton 43 93.02

Corn silage $25 / ton 25 100.00

Calculating cost per pound of nutrient,

Energy - TDN (Mcal) Jan 2009

Feed Cost % TDN

‘as fed’

Cost / ton

TDN

Corn $3.00 / bu 80 133.92

Barley $5.00 / bu 72 289.35

Wheat

Midds

$110 / ton 75 146.66

Barley

Sprout

Pellets

$120 / ton 66 181.81

Alfalfa hay $85 / ton 53 160.37

CRP hay $70 / ton 43 162.79

Corn silage $30 / ton 25 120.00

Calculating cost per pound of nutrient,

Energy - TDN (Mcal) Jan 2011

Feed Cost % TDN

‘as fed’

Cost / ton

TDN

Corn $5.35 / bu 80 238.83

Field Peas $5.00 / bu 80 208.33

Wheat

Midds

$155 / ton 75 206.66

Barley

Sprout

Pellets

$130 / ton 66 196.96

Alfalfa hay $65 / ton 53 122.64

CRP hay $50 / ton 43 116.27

Corn silage $45 / ton 25 180.00

Calculating cost per pound of nutrient,

Protein - (CP) Jan 2011

Feed Cost % CP

‘as fed’

Cost / lb

Protein (CP)

Corn $5.35 / bu 9 $1.06

DDGS $170 / ton 22 $.386

Wheat Midds $155 / ton 17.1 $.453

Barley

Sprout

Pellets

$130 / ton 14 $.464

Alfalfa hay $65 / ton 15.5 $.209

CRP hay $50 / ton 7 $.357

Canola Meal $231 / ton 36 $.320

Cow Nutritional Requirements

• 1300 lbs., Mature cow

• body condition score BSC 6

• last 1/3 gestation

• Winter hair coat, dry

• No weight gain or loss

CP,% TDN,% Ca,% Ph,%

8-9 50-53 .26 .21

CRP hay

• Various hay tests, Central North Dakota

CP,% TDN,% Ca,% Ph,%

• CRP 14.6 47 .75 .14

• CRP 9.9 49 .54 .14

• CRP 8.8 49 .54 .09

• CRP 9.97 49 .54 .14

• CRP 7.45 48 .51 .16

• CRP 4.83 47 .37 .13

• CRP 6.93 41 .30 .12

Cow Nutritional Requirements

• 1400 lbs., Mature cow

• body condition score BSC 5

• Milk Production – 20 lb peak

• Winter hair coat, dry

• No weight gain or loss

CP,% TDN,% Ca,% Ph,%

9-11 58-62 .30 .20

Feed Analysis

Take a sample from every type of hay

$16 per sample for DM, CP, ADF, Ca, Phos

• For more information contact:

Local County Extension Agent or

Area Livestock Extension Specialist

Fetal Programing

• Can we affect how a calf grow’s based on how well we feed?

• Some compelling evidence

• European study – malnourished pregnant women

• The children had more lifetime health problems –

• Hypertension, diabetes and other diseases at higher rate than the rest of the population

Fetal programming

• Deals with development of the placenta, nutrient flow to the fetus, and how the fetal cells and organs respond

Fetal programming

Wyoming/Montana study

• Spring born steer calves

• During mid-gestation cows grazed either

• Native range or improved pastures (better quality)

• Calves were backgrounded and weighed the same when placed into the finishing yard

• Calf performance in the feedlot was affected

• Native range had poorer gains, lighter carcass, lower back fat and lower marbling

Fetal programming -

Oklahoma study

Nutrition change at 4-7 months of gestation

Prepartum Nutrition

High Moderate Low Very Low

Cow no. 12 16 14 10

BCS at calving 6.1 4.8 4.7 4.5

Birth weight 89.7 91.9 91.5 91.0

ADG of calves 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.0

Oklahoma study continued

BCS at Calving <5 5 >5

Cow no. 25 11 14

BCS at Calving 4.3 5.0 6.1

Birth weight 90.8 91.9 91.3

ADG of calves 2.0 2.2 2.0

If looking at just the cow:

• USDA – Beltsville:

• Restricted feed in 2nd trimester and then provide that saved feed in 3rd trimester compared to control

• Cows used the saved feed more efficiently than the control

• Feed savings minimal but cow can compensate if provided more feed

Fetal programming

• Nebraska study

• Dietary protein in pregnant cows

• Winter range or corn stalks both with or without extra protein supplements

• No added protein – more sick calves, lower weaning weight, lower finished weight and less choice carcasses

Fetal programming

• Nebraska study

• Dietary protein in pregnant cows

• Winter range or corn stalks both with or without extra protein supplements

• Heifer performance based on how dam was fed

• Slightly higher pregnancy rate

• More calving in the early part of calving season

Fetal programming

• Many research projects (basic and applied) are currently being conducted…

• Including projects at NDSU’s Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy

Summary

• Feed a balanced diet with adequate energy

• Manage body condition scores Goal: 5-6 BCS

• Feed test

• Realize underfeeding during gestation can have long term impacts on calf performance