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Cattlemen’s ClinicSmoky Lake, January 17, 2017

Flat Lake, January 18, 2017

Barry YaremcioBeef and Forage SpecialistAlberta Agriculture and ForestryStettler, AB

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Cattle Feeding and Nutrition• Topics to cover

• Feed quality this year• Feeding management• Grain processing• Molds and mycotoxins in grazing corn• Other feed related concerns – ergot and nitrates• Body condition score management

• Impact on feeding programs• Impact on animal health• Impact on reproduction

• Feed waste• Creep feeding calves

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Hay, silage and forage quality

• On average; quality is down this year• Lower protein and energy

• Higher ADF and NDF

•Caused by:• Lack of sunshine and cooler temperatures

• Excessive moisture leaching nitrogen down the soil profile• Late cutting of hay

• Weather damage after cutting

• Picture of hay bale

Forage Quality: this year vs. Average

Nutrient Average* This year

Protein 13.4 % 9.8 %

Calcium 1.13 % 1.12 %

Phosphorus 0.19 % 0.17 %

Acid Detergent Fibre 36.4 % 45%

Neutral Detergent Fibre 45.3 % 65 %

Energy (TDN%) 61 % 53 %

Alfalfa grass hay first cut

* ASANL Average Analysis 1976 - 19864

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Impact of forage quality on cattle

• Less opportunity to include straw in mid pregnancy rations

• More grain needed to keep cows in good condition

• Expect more feed refusal with mouldy or damaged hay

• Feed refusal may increase because of higher fibre levels

• Cold winter with significant wind increases energy requirements – cannot meet needs with straight hay• For every 10o C below -20o C at noon add 2 pounds of grain to the

diet to help keep animals warm and prevent weight loss

• If possible feed some grain late afternoon

Animal Management

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Hormone production by bull calves• Puberty needed before testicles produce hormones

– Expected 10 to 11 months of age

• No benefit to higher growth rates with animals younger than this age

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Code of practice for Castration

• Effective January 1, 2017 new regulations for castrating older bull calves• Over 9 months of age a pain control product is needed (analgesic)

• Effective January 1, 2018 regulations become tighter• Analgesic required for bull calves castrated over 6 months of age

• Talk to your veterinarian for pain control products

• Do not castrate the same time as weaning calves

• Tetanus can be a problem for calves over 400 pounds

• Castrate as young as it is practical

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Age of calf castration and stress• Weight loss after castration increases quadratic ally as

the age increases.

30 day weight reduction

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Wind and bedding

•For Pregnant cows• No bedding can increase maintenance energy requirements by 25%

• Especially when wet snow is present

• Could take 4 to 5 pounds of extra grain per day for cows to stay warm

• A 20 km wind increases energy requirements by 10 to 15%

• Calves under 450 pounds have difficulty to generate enough heat

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Reduce Forage DemandCreep feeding calves• Calf rumen

– full function at 120 days of age.

– Can handle grains at 45 – 50 days of age

– Grain helps the rumen to develop faster

• High energy, high protein ration required– Improves gain and marbling score

• Reduces sickness by 90% when entering backgrounding pens or feedlot

• Can increase pasture growth rates by 0.5 to 1.0 pound per day even in a good forage growing year Evaluate costs and returns

Possible Creep Rations• Meet protein requirements of the calf.

– 400 pound calf 18% creep, 600 pound calf 16% creep

• Possible grain combinations for 400 pound calves

– 40% barley, 40% oats, 20% DDG’s

– 30% barley, 30% oats, 40% peas

– 30% barley, 30% oats, 40% Barley malt sprouts

• Possible grain combinations for 600 pound calves

– 42.5 % barley, 42.5 % oats, 15 % DDG’s

– 33% barley, 33% oats, 33% peas

• Work with your local feed supplier and nutritionist

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Water consumption on pastureDrinking from a water system vs. a dugout:

Cows gained ( in 30 days)

Dugout System

-0.2 kg 7.4 kg

Calves gained ( in 30 days)

Dugout System

23.6 kg 33.9 kg Research completed at Lethbridge by Dr. Walter Wilms, et. al., 1990

Steers – over 71 days increased gain by 44 pounds 13

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Why consider early weaning ?• Cow milk production is declining. At 5 months,

volume has decreased by ~ 50%

• Allows time for cows to gain weight and improve BCS prior to winter

• Allows more time for cow to prepare for next calf

• Very beneficial for first and second calf heifers

• Stress of weaning is less in warm weather

Weder, 2005

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Processing grain• Calves under 700 pounds chew grain effectively - no need to

grind or roll cereals

• Over 700 pounds, gulp food – need to process grains

• Rolled or ground grain should weigh between 65 and 70% of original bushel weight. (Rolling index)

– Too light = too fine

– Too heavy = not enough processing

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When to process grain?• Calves under 700 pounds chew grain sufficiently – no processing

needed

• Peas do not need to be processed

• Feeding larger animals – losses when grain not processed• 15% for barley• 25% for wheat• 5 to 10% for oats

• Rolling index – barley should weigh 70 to 75% of original bushel weight when processed

• Economics of processing grain?

How much processing is required?• Wheat / triticale / rye – crack kernels into 2 pieces only

• Finer than this increases the risk of acidosis and bloat

• Barley• Hammer kernels into 2 or 3 pieces

• Roll so kernels break into 2 pieces when rubbed

between finger and thumb

See a line in the kernel when rolled

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Bushel weight of Barley• Light weight barley discounted at elevator and feedlots

• No difference in Average Daily Gain or Feed Conversion Efficiency with barley down to 42 pounds per bushel

• 1% reduction per pound decrease in bushel weight below 42 pounds

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Forage storage and quality• Hay deteriorates over time

• Digestibility is reduced

• Soluble sugars and proteins are leached out of the bales

• Weight loss because of microbial activity using up nutrients

• Mold formation

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Minimize Stored feed loss• If possible store bales under sheds

• Tarped bales are better than uncovered

• Do not stack bales– Pyramid stacks – most damage

– Mushroom stacks – intermediate damage

– Single bales, in rows with space between

(no touching) – best

How much feed is lost?

Depth of Spoilage and Bale diameter (Buckmaster 1993)

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Feed Waste • Placing forage into different types of feeders

results in 3 to 15% loss (Buskirk 2002)

• Unrolling long hay on snow - 13% waste

• Bale processor chopping meadow brome hay onto snow – 19% waste

• Chopped pit silage fed on snow – 26% waste

• Long round bale silage fed on snow – 23%

• Bale grazing – 19% waste

Feed Waste Trial – Lacombe AB.

Feeding location Delivery system % waste (DM basis)

Snow Bale unroller 12.13 a

Snow Bale processor 19.22 b

Bunk Bale processor 0.0 c

• Amount of measured waste when feeding a 90% meadow brome 10% alfalfa mixed hay to bred heifers

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Nutrient value of meadow brome hay- when

processed (actual results)Nutrient Provided * Consumed Difference

Protein 986 g 782 g 20.6 %

Calcium 45 g 35 g 22.3 %

Phosphorus 21 g 17 g 19.1 %

Magnesium 15 g 12 g 20.0 %

Potassium 155 g 124 g 20.0 %

TDN 11.26 lbs. 8.92 lbs. 20.8 %

* In 22.7 lbs. of feed provided in trial. 30 % fines, 70% coarse material

50% of fine material and 18% coarse material lost in the snow.

Ergot• Fungal Disease “of” Plants• Latin: Claviceps purpurea

• Plants Affected: Open Polinated plants – Rye, triticale, wheat, oats, barley (cereals)– Bromegrass, wheatgrass, orchard grass

quack grass (grasses)– Blue grasses, wild rye– 400 species of grasses are susceptible

• Why are we concerned?1. Yield Reduction2. Alkaloids – animal performance /

health

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Tidbits on ergot

• The longer the flowering stage the more susceptible the plant– Cool moist conditions increase the spread of the spores

• Ergot bodies are a concern for only two years after they are formed– After this, they cannot produce fruiting bodies

– If buried 2 inches into soil – will not germinate

• The disease can spread by honeydew – Physical contact that infects new flowers

– Spread by bees or other pollinators

– Wildlife walking through the pasture or hayfield causing plant contact

Types of ergot poisoning • Nervous ergotism

• Rarely reported in cattle

• Can cause

– Vertigo

– Staggers

– Convulsions

– Paralysis

– Death

• Symptoms disappear 10 days after removal of infected feed

• Gangrenous ergotism

• Can take 4 to 6 weeks for symptoms to appear

• Reduced blood supply to limbs, tails, teats and ears.

• Not reversible

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Toxicity • Sclerotia can germinate throughout the summer

– Moisture is required for this event

• 40 types of alkaloids can be present in ergot bodies– Prairie Diagnostic Laboratory in Saskatoon can test for 7 types

• 4 different strains of ergot present in western Canada– Toxicity is 2.5 to 3 x higher than reported in Journal articles from USA

• Tolerance to alkaloids can vary animal to animal– Reduce sperm motility

– High estrogen content can cause reduced fertility in cows

– High temperatures cause hyperthermic conditions – weight loss, panting

• First symptom is feed refusal (pelleted screening pellets)

Aflatoxins Aspergillus spp.

Ochratoxins Penicillium/Aspergillus spp.

Fumonisins Fusarium spp.

Trichothecenes Fusarium/Stachybotrys spp. and many others

Zearalenone Fusarium spp. and others

Important mycotoxin groups that contaminate grains

www.moldinspectionsinny.com/MOLD12.JPG

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Fusarium / Vomitoxin

• Fusarium graminearum (roseum)• produces a pinkish-white fungal growth

• Most common but least toxic of trichothecenes – protein synthesis

• Feed refusal, vomiting, diarrhea – more severe in monogastrics• Pigs 1 ppm reduces feed intake

• Yearlings heifers can handle 37 ppm DON

• Glycosides present

• If Fusarium present – do not seed cereals next year in that field

HT -2 and T – 2 mycotoxins• Formed when fusarium present in crops

• Gastro intestinal disorders• Destruction of the epithelial tissue in the digestive system necrosis• Suppression of bone marrow development• Impaired immunity• Reduced reproductive efficiency – estrogenic compounds• Damages the nervous system• Skin disorders

• IF present feed refusal is one of the first symptoms• Toxin causes discomfort in the mouth

• 0.5 ppb is the maximum recommended concentration in ration

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Aspergillus• White mould found on heated damp or tough grain

• On hay or swath grazing

• Common bacteria found in the soil

www.ipm.iastate.edu/.../images/aspercorn.jpg www.ent.iastate.edu/.../diplodia_ear_rot.jpg

Penicillium • Powdery green or blue-green mold

• That develops, usually at the ear tip

• Mycotoxin known as PR (Penicillium roquefortii) formed• Abortions

• Retained placentas

• Reduced fertility

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Aflatoxins

Nitrate problems?Accumulators Non-accumulators

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Effect of nitrate on ruminants• Can cause abortions or death

• 0.5 % limit is not toxic

– Can go up to 1.0% or higher with adaptation period

– Light frost / high fertility are main cause

• Nitrate is not a problem after a killing frost

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Body Condition Score is:• A subjective determination of the amount of fat

an animal is carrying

• Fat cover over the loin area between the hip (hook) bone and the last rib is the major area on the animal’s body used for condition scoring

• There is no muscle covering the ends of the short ribs- therefore, what you feel will be a padding of fat

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Body Condition Score• BCS 3.5 going into

winter, 3.0 at calving

• 1 BCS change is a loss or gain of 200 lbs. of body weight (Canadian system)

• Cow that is 200 pounds light going into winter requires an additional 1400 lbs. of hay just to keep warm.

Developing the Replacement Heifer

Fed Together Fed Separately

Heavy Light Heavy Light

Starting weight 476 377 465 379

Final weight 719 589 672 677

Predicted gain 1.41 1.41 1.17 1.72

Actual gain 1.48 1.29 1.23 1.81

Weights in pounds. Burfening 1988

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BCS Colostrum Quantity and Quality• Thin cows cannot produce the volume or quality of colostrum than

an animal in good condition

Item 3 4 5 6

IgM1 (mg/dl) 146 157 193 304

IgG2 (mg/dl) 1998 2179 2310 2349

Cow BCS (US system)

Odde, 1997

Canadian system score 1 to 5, USA system score 1 to 9

BCS impact on milk yield • 1 BCS = 200 lbs. of body wt. (Canadian system)

• 1 lb. fat = enough energy to produce 7 pounds of milk

• 7 lbs. of milk = 1 pound of calf gain

NRC Beef, 2000

Maximum feed intake

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Energy Supplementation the Last 90 Days of Pregnancy

FEEDING LEVEL HIGH LOW

COWS HEIFERS COWS HEIFERS

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CALF B.W. 74.4 71.9 74.1 62.9

% ASSIST 0 5.8 0 60

SCORE 1 2 1 1.9

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BELLOWS

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Pre-calving Feeding Level and Rebreeding Potential

______________________________________PRECALVING DAYS TO% IN

FEED WEIGHT ESTRUS CALF

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HIGH 831 66 78

LOW 724 87 60

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BELLOWS AND SHORT, 1978

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BCS – Cows returning to heat

% in Estrus Days Post Calving

BCS at Calving # of Cows 60 days 90 days

Thin 272 46 66

Moderate 364 61 92

Good 50 91 100

Bellows and Short

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Good condition are cows in Body Condition Score of 3 –Canadian system

Effect of Decreased BCS on Reproduction Efficiency

YEAR 1964-5 65-6 66-7 67-8

WEIGHT CHANGE (lbs.) -125 +9 -24 -44

% CALF CROP THAT YEAR 80 90 89 84

% CALF CROP NEXT YEAR 65 93 70 88

__________________________________________Berg and McElroy University of Alberta.

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How does BCS influence management?

• Build cow condition when feed is cheap

• Harvest the condition you build at different times of the year

• Up to one bale per cow less feed needed for winter with good fall BCS

• Use Cheaper Feed System – Skip-A-Day feeding

• Limit DMI in dry cow rations or add straw

• Monitor conditions after harsh periods of weather

Trace Mineral Interactions

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Trace Minerals and Vitamins• Copper, Manganese, Zinc, and Selenium are

deficient

• Iodine and Cobalt are non-existent in local feeds

• Feed a fortified trace mineral salt with selenium– BLUE SALT is not an option!

• Vitamin precursors are oxidized 60 to 90 days after cutting, or during the ensilaging process – Supplementation is required

• Loose is better than block – 25% higher consumption

Free Choice Mineral Intake

• Days between visits: • Range in Consumption:

– Grams per head per day

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Cows 4.8

Yearlings 2.6

Calves 3.1

Hand et. al., 1996

Cows 1 - 774

Yearlings 1 - 816

Calves 1 - 1140

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Salt intake• Cows consume 75% of salt at night.

– Place a salt box near the loafing area

– Loose product better than block form (25% )

• Blue or Red salt– NO copper, manganese, zinc, selenium

– All are deficient in this area• Impacts growth rate, reproduction, immunity

• Use Brown or Green– High or fortified trace mineral salt with selenium

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Salt and Mineral supplementation• Greenfeed, straw – grain rations, chaff piles

– Need more calcium, magnesium• 2:1 mineral is usually not adequate

– Feedlot mineral is suitable• 20% Calcium, 4 % Magnesium

– Home mix:• 1 bag HTM salt with Selenium

• 1 bag limestone

• 1/4 bag magnesium oxide

• 1 bag 2:1 mineral

• Dried Molasses to improve intake

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Using Protein Lick tubs or Blocks• Protein is short late in the grazing season

when the grass is over mature.

• No practical way to supplement with grain or hay

Concerns with variable intake

Concerns with actual intake per animal compared to the group average

Cost?

What are the animals actually receiving?

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Nutrients from protein block Label content

• Expected intake

• Cost

• Protein - 22 %

• Calcium - 3 %

• Phosphorus - 1.5 %

• Magnesium - 2 %

• Copper - 250 mg/kg

• Manganese - 900 mg/kg

• Zinc - 200 mg/kg

• Selenium - 6 mg/kg

% of requirement supplied to a 1450 lb. cow in mid pregnancy

• 454 grams / day

• $ 1.44 per head per day

• Protein - 127 grams (18 %)

• Calcium - 12 grams (54 %)

• Phosphorus - 6 grams (35 %)

• Magnesium - 8 grams (44 %)

• Copper - 99 mg (66 %)

• Manganese - 357 mg (59 %)

• Zinc - 79 mg (13 %)

• Selenium - 2.38 mg (83 %)

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Limits for urea supplementation • Must have a minimum of 0.15% sulfur in the ration

– Needed for amino acid synthesis

• Some grain or soluble carbohydrate needed to use the urea (non protein nitrogen) effectively

– 2 to 3 pounds per day is sufficient

• Do not exceed 25% of the total protein in the ration as NPN.

• Watch body condition

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Conclusions• This has a been a tough year to put up forages in good

condition

• Watch for molds that are blue, green, red or pink in color

– These are the types that can create mycotoxins

• Do not force animals to consume mouldy feed

• If testing feed, test for specific mycotoxins

– Mould identification and counts do not provide meaningful information

• Work with your veterinarian and nutritionist if problems start

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Questions?

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Contact Information:

Barry Yaremcio

Beef and Forage Specialist

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development

barry.yaremcio@gov.ab.ca

403-742-7926

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