Economics of feeding Pre-

weaning (Creep) and Post-

weaning (Stocker/

Backgrounding) calves

Dr Hinner Köster

Critical to see the total picture!

Effect on / from (interactive)

❑Feed intake

❑Physiology

❑Environment

❑Management

❑Production

❑Genetics

❑Condition

❑Profits

Snowball effect

When developing feeding strategies, consider:

Creep feeding

-Conclusion of various studies-

Creep feeding – Sources of nutrient supply

• Most beef cows on an adequate plane of nutrition produce enough

milk during the first 90 days of lactation to satisfy the nutritional

requirements of the growing calf

• After this time, milk production may not be sufficient to meet

the calf's increased nutrient requirements for rapid growth

• A lactating beef cow may only supply 50% of the nutrients a three-

to four-month-old calf needs to maximize growth

• If rapid growth is to be maintained additional the calf must

consume additional nutrients

• Depending on availability and quality, forage may not be able

to supply the other 50 percent of nutrients the calf needs.

• In such situations calf growth can be maintained by supplying

additional nutrients in the form of creep feed

Creep feeding-Advantages-

• Simple management practice • Allowing nursing calves unrestricted access to additional

supplemental feed

• Grain/protein sources or forage

• Important aid for optimal production of total beef cattle

production system

• Researchers have reported average weaning weight

increases of 7–35kg per creep fed calf • Differences are related to the quantity and quality of other feeds

available to the calf (pasture, milk, cow ration)

• Calf reaches its full growth potential

• Improves the condition & uniformity of calves at weaning

Creep feeding-Advantages-

• Calves access to creep feed – Certain studies:– Reduce the feed requirements of the cow herd

• While maintaining or improving the performance of

the nursing calves

– Quality and quantity of pastures insufficient

• Cows under stress

• Can take pressure off cow

• Improves reproduction of cows

• Cows maintain their body weight and condition

better

• Earlier weaning

• Less milk required

Creep feeding

-Advantages-

• Creep feeding will not only increase calf growth

• also may provide a smoother transition from pasture to a grain-based

diet

• Creep feeding calves for the last 3–4 weeks prior to weaning

• minimizes stress that affects calves at weaning

• by getting the calves used to eating dry/stored feeds

• Minimizing stress will reduce disease problems occurring at weaning

• reduces treatment costs and enhances cattle performance post-weaning

• Calves also become accustomed to grazing away from their mothers in an

adjoining paddock

• At weaning time

• the creep is closed off, leaving calves on one side of the fence and cows

on the other

• after a few days the cows are moved away, with little, if any, setback to

the calves

Creep feeding – Feedlot phase

• Creep-fed calves are better adapted - Weaning shock

• Healthier

• Creep-fed calves maintain weight advantage• Low or little compensatory growth of calves that have not received

creep feeding

• Non creep-fed calves do not necessarily grow faster during the

feedlot phase

• Except if creep fed calves are too fat

• Creep feeding enables cattle to meet market specifications at a

young age

• Earlier ready for slaughter or slaughtered heavier

• To get full benefits of creep feeding • Added weight gains, reduced sickness at weaning and improved

carcass marbling (e.g. Wagyu meat)

• Must retain ownership of calves through the feedlot phase

Marbling (e.g. Wagyus)• Creep feeding will benefit calves retained through slaughter

• By avoiding the price discounts that may be applied to heavier,

fleshier calves when sold at weaning.

• By increasing marbling development.

• Marbling is now known to develop far earlier in life than

previously thought.

• Calves nursing poor-milking cows or on pastures with limited forage

quality or quantity

• May not be able to consume enough calories to support marbling

development.

• Under these circumstances, creep feeding allows for calves to reach

their genetic potential for marbling

• Researchers have demonstrated this response in calves that have

been fed creep feed for at least 80 days.

• However, in order to retain the increased marbling, calves should be

placed on a grain-based diet after weaning.

Creep feeding – However?

• Other studies: Cow weight was not affected by creep feeding

status

• producers should not depend on creep feeding to increase body

condition of thin cows

• Except with early weaning and limited pasture quality and quantity

• Producers generally assume that creep feeding is more valuable

when calf prices are high

• calves increase in weight - higher calf prices = greater discounts

• Creep feeding for the purpose of increasing weaning weight

alone may not be profitable

• costs associated with creep feeding can result in minimal economic

benefit

• the decision to creep feed calves should be based:

• on the analysis of expected increases in performance

• on income compared to the cost of feed

Creep feeding – However?

• Requires extra labour, equipment, feed, and management

• value improvement in the calves needs to be greater than

the additional cost before a net profit is achieved

• Higher feed costs – Needs better efficiency of additional gain

• If high quality forage is available, forage intake will be

reduced – creep feed replaces forage

• benefits in animal performance over the no-creep system

will diminish

• Masks the milking ability of the cow & affect her maternal

ranking based on the weaning weight

• especially stud animals

Creep feeding – Heifers

• There is little benefit to creep feeding future replacement heifers

• unless grazing conditions limit their growth rate to less than

0,45kg - 0,5kg per day

• Creep feeding can negatively influence replacement heifer

performance

• by depressing future milk production and lifetime productivity

• Excessive nutrient supplementation can result in udder fat

deposition during the prepubertal mammary growth phase

• starts as early as 3 months of age

• producers retaining replacements are forced to decide between

potential advantages in greater weaning weights from creep

feeding or optimising future milk

Heifers

• Sorting replacements prior to weaning is a potential option

• but this practice requires selection early in development

• Choosing high-protein feeds may prevent the negative

effects of creep feeding on future milk production

• however, unless the objective is to increase weights or

body condition for a sale, creep feeding is generally

unnecessary for replacement heifers.

• Research has indicated that heifers should reach 65% of

their mature weight by the beginning of the breeding

season.

• under most circumstances, it is quite easy to achieve the

necessary gain without the use of creep feed.

Profitabililty to use creep feeding ?

• Creep feeding systems can be implemented in

various forms or systems regardless of method

chosen

• creep grazing (dry hay, silage, or pasture)

• grain-based energy supplements (most common)

• limit-fed protein supplements

• Each system generally produces increased growth,

which may or may not be profitable

• Type of creep feed and daily intake greatly

influences the conversion of feed to added gain

Profitabililty to use creep feeding ?• Most profitable

• when cows/first-calve heifers are poor milking

• when pasture is limited or quality is poor (e.g. dry season, drought,

overgrazing)

• or not very palatable nor nutritious for young calves for

efficient utilisation

• does not support optimal gains

• supplemental creep feeding should be evaluated as an

alternative to maintain calf performance

• when calf prices are high relative to creep feed prices

• when conversion rate of creep feed to additional gain is favourable

• when ownership of calves will be retained through slaughter

• Provides good start if calves need to gain additional weight

(stocker/backgrounding phase) after weaning before entering feedlot

phase

• Retention programme of weaner calves important

• Most critical consideration for a creep feeding

program is the cost of additional gain

To ensure profitability consider the following:

• Creep feeding must be analyzed

• like any other supplementation practice

• based on estimates of expected increases in

performance

• and income compared to the costs of these

improvements

• Installation, maintenance and depreciation costs for self-

feeding equipment, labour and stock husbandry must be

considered

Profitabililty to use creep feeding ?

• Carefully assess your present situation

• What are/is:

• your current sale weights, fatness levels, market

options and likely prices?

• exact specifications for the alternative higher-value

market you are targeting?

• the likely feed costs?

• the estimated difference in value between 'fed' calves

and 'not fed' calves?

• the pasture quality (digestibility) and quantity (kg

green DM/ha) available now and over the next 10–12

weeks?

Profitabililty to use creep feeding ?

Profitabililty to use creep feeding ?

Additional considerations are:

•Do you have the genetics in your cow herd to get the greatest benefit from

the extra feed for the calves?

• There are genetic limitations on the rate of gain calves can achieve

•When milk and high-quality pasture are abundant

• The cost of additional gain from creep feeding will likely be quite

high

•Research has shown that differences in creep feed conversion (kg creep

feed: kg additional gain over that shown by non-creep fed calves) can be

large

• From 4:1 for calves on poor pasture to 18:1 kg of feed for calves on

excellent pasture to a kg of calf gain

• Feed conversions are typically around 4:1 for a limited protein-

based feed and 8:1 for an energy-based feed

Creep Feed - Abundant high-quality forage

• The response to creep feeding will be less

• When pasture quality is good and cows are milking well

• calves substitute creep feed for available milk and pasture

• Growth rates will be less restricted in non-creep-fed calves

• when high quality forage is substituted for grain in creep-fed calves

• results in only a small increase in rate of gain and relatively poor feed

conversion

• A more fibrous creep feed such as soybean hulls

• will not decrease forage intake and forage digestion as much as a high

starch feed such as maize

• With poor pasture and low milk production by cows

• creep feed is efficiently converted to additional gain

• efficient observed conversion and larger increase in rate of gain

• indicates that the creep feed is supplying additional nutrients that

would not otherwise be available

130-180g/day additional ADG

Creep Rations - Grain Mixes

The optimum energy and protein content of a creep

ration is related to many factors

These include:

• type of feeding system

• free choice or limit fed

• weight of calves

• lighter calves require a higher protein level

• frame size and sex of calves

• small frame calves and heifers tend to become over

conditioned on high energy rations

• quality and quantity of other available feeds such as pasture

or winter cow ration

Free Choice Conventional vs Limit Fed

High Protein Creep Rations

• Research compared the growth rates of calves offered creep feed

free choice and limit fed high protein with those of non-creep fed

calves

• Conclusion:

• Although limited feeding (0.5–1.0 kg/day) of a high protein

creep ration will not usually increase calf gains as much as

unlimited creep feed, it may be more economical

• Better feed conversion obtained with limited feeding

•May produce a higher return, after feed costs are

deducted, than unlimited creep feeding

• Selling limit creep-fed calves at weaning should also not receive

a discount for being too fat compared to non-creep-fed calves

40% CP 14-16% CP

FCR, kg feed/kg add gain 9.1 5.9 4.4

Silage

• A high-quality silage (65% digestibility, or higher) can be used as a

supplement.

• Liveweight gains will not be as high as those achieved from grain

supplements.

• To maximise silage intake, silages need to be chopped or broken

• Allow an extra 3–4 weeks for silage-only-fed calves to reach similar

turn-off weights and finish as those achieved in grain-supplemented

calves.

• Silage plus grain supplements are ideal,

• especially if silage quality is between 60% and 65% digestibility.

• Grain is fed at up to 50% by weight of the supplement where silage

is at 60% digestibility,

• and at 30% by weight of the supplement where silage

approaches 65% digestibility.

Management Hints

1. When starting calves on a creep ration

• keep feed fresh feed to appetite and clean up any

leftover feed each day.

2. Molasses and/or bran mixed with feed encourage

consumption.

3. Roll or coarsely grind grain to prevent fines and dust.

4. Locate feeder near a sheltered or shady spot where

herd tends to congregate

5. Allow 10–12 cm of bunk space per calf in creep feeder

when self-feeding

• 20–30 cm of bunk space when hand feeding.

Stocker/Backgrounding

-Conclusion of various studies-

Stocker cattle vs Backgrounding• Backgrounding enterprises are similar to stocker

operations• There focus is:

• securing small lots of light weight feeders

• applying management to upgrade the value when

marketed in the future

• The contrast between these two industries:

• Backgrounding enterprises are confinement or semi-

confinement operations

• not seasonal

• rely heavily on low cost conserved forages and

commodity feedstuffs

• The main difference is confinement versus pasture-

based production systems

Stocker cattle vs Backgrounding

• Stocker and backgrounding segments are

subject to market volatility

• the economic risk is greater than the

cow-calf segment

• The economic risk makes these systems less

attractive and being successful financially

is challenging

Backgrounding

• Main Goal

• The main goal of backgrounding is to ensure optimal

muscle and frame development and growth

• Prevents excess fat deposition

• Most backgrounding rations are designed to result in a

predetermined daily rate of gain

• Target Weights and Target Marketing Date

• Three fundamental factors dictate the design of the feeding program:

• Target Sale Weight

• Target Marketing Date

• Condition or Degree of Fleshiness

Backgrounding

• Target Sale Weight– The target sale weight and average daily gain varies according to

frame size

– Will be affected by the price of feed and current feeder markets

• Target Marketing Date

– Knowing the marketing date and sale weight allows the producer to

calculate the number of days a feeder animal will be on feed

• And the total amount of gain required to reach the market weight

– A ration can then be formulated to produce the daily gain required

to meet the objectives of the feeding program

– A nutritional program can now be designed to provide a ration that

will provide the targeted average daily gain

Backgrounding

• Six Steps in Formulating a Ration

1. Determine nutrient requirements, feed intake and desired

weight gain for each class of cattle.

2. Feed-test "on-farm" feeds to determine nutrient levels.

3. Determine required "off-farm" feedstuffs (protein

supplements, minerals, feed additives, vitamins, etc.)

4. Formulate the rations.

5. Implement the nutritional program and monitor the

performance of the cattle.

6. Adjust rations and intake levels according to weather

conditions and animal performance.

Backgrounding

• 21-Day Weaning Period– If the calves have not been previously weaned, place them on a 21-day weaning

program prior to backgrounding.

• Helps the calves through the stressful weaning period and encourages them to

eat grain and long hay or silage.

• A good supply of accessible clean fresh water is essential.

– Preferably feed good quality long hay for the first week.

– Dry good quality hay should be available on a free-choice basis.

– Calves may refuse to eat large amounts of silage.

• The amount of silage fed should be gradually increased.

– Start the calves by feeding 500g of concentrate per head per day until each calf is

consuming the concentrate.

– Increase the concentrate by 250g per head per day until the desired level of

concentrate is reached.

– Watch for signs of digestive upset such as a reduction in feed intake, bloating or

scours.

Backgrounding

• Many backgrounding rations contain 50-70 % forage

(DM basis)

• Balance (30-50%) comprised of grain, protein

sources, trace minerals and vitamins.

• As the backgrounded calves mature, the energy

component of the rations is gradually raised by

increasing the amount of grain

Stocker cattle

• This segment adds weight to light weight feeder

cattle

• Utilizing pasture forages

•without or with a small amount of

grain/concentrate supplementation

•differentiates the stocker enterprise from

backgrounding enterprises

Stocker cattle

• Stocker producers take on heavy doses of production

and price risk.

• Production risk is primarily associated with

mortality, morbidity, and growing performance.

• Price risk enters the equation from the standpoint of

calf purchase price, feeder cattle sell price, and feed

prices.

• The biggest price risk is the uncertainty of the sell

price 75 to 150 days in the future

• The stocker business can tie up a lot of capital

Stocker cattle

• Young, lightweight calves

– raised primarily on forage diets until they reach a desired

weight

– then used either as part of the replacement herd or placed

in the feedlot

• In order for cattle producers to raise a profitable stocker

herd

– management, health, and nutrition are just three of the

important factors to consider

• With proper care and management after weaning

– calf can continue growing to reach his or her maximum

yearling weight and frame development without getting fat

Stockers being creep fed• Impact of creep feeding on post-weaning calf performance

likely depends on how the weaned calves are handled

• A point to consider is whether or not the calves will be

marketed following a stockering program

• If calves are weaned and grown out on pasture in a

stockering program

• chances of creep feeding being economical are greatly

reduced

• because the creep-fed calves will gain weight more

slowly

• much of the weight advantage will be lost compared

to the non-creep-fed calves that may benefit from

compensatory weight gains on pasture

Stockers being creep fed

• Calves that will be roughed through the winter or run as stocker cattle

• may experience reduced performance if they are too fleshy at weaning

time

• Discount may be experienced if calves show excessive body condition (fat

cover)

• If calves are heavily fed and fat at weaning

• creep feeding could decrease post-weaning performance

• may be less efficient if put into a backgrounding program during the

stockering period

• in this situation, use a creep grazing or limited protein supplement

• This should decrease creep feeding gains but allow for normal growth

rates in case of a drought or poor forage quality

• Over conditioning can be avoided by

• ensuring that the creep ration energy content is moderate and

• protein level of the creep ration is sufficient to balance its energy content

• or by limit feeding the ration

Stocker cattle

• Managing calves through the weaning phase – another area that the stocker and backgrounding enterprises can

capture value.

– also an area that operations could lose money if calves are not

managed properly

• leading to high morbidity and mortality

• Likely the simplest forage management consideration to improve

profitability of a stocker operation

– ensure adequate forage is available so that intake is never limited.

– maintain desirable forages for cattle

• Appropriate stocking rates will need to be managed to ensure forage

doesn’t limit intake and subsequently performance

• Stocking rate will vary

– depends on the size of the animal, forage species production

potential, soil fertility, soil moisture and other factors

Stocker cattle – limited forage supply and

quality

• Weight gain could easily decline below

economical levels when forage supply and

quality is limiting. • The option to sell or move directly to the feedlot

should be considered in severe situations

• Concentrate supplementation will aid in

maintaining growth on stocker cattle

• As a rule, concentrate feeding should be provided

in the range of 1.0% of animal body weight

Stocker cattle

-Considered in a budget-

• Capital tied in - Interest on steers

• Expected performance of cattle in the feedlot

• The value of expected additional gain from grain

feeding

• Fleshing condition of cattle

• Additional stocking rate

• Supplemental costs

• Operational and labour costs

• Pasture/hay costs

• Mortality

• Health costs

Nutrients to

consider• Energy

• Protein

• Minerals and Vitamins

• Performance enhancing micro additives

Stocker cattle

-Goal of supplementation-• Balancing dietary protein and energy in supplements

– Important to ensure successful response to supplementation

– Generally, the nutrient that is most limiting or deficient should be supplied first.

• The key is to have a good idea of the quality of the forage being grazed

and to adjust the supplement used accordingly.– Supplement must compliment and not replace forage

• Ultimate goal of supplementation – Optimize performance or gains

– Economics of supplementation should be scrutinized and tailored within each

individual operation

• many factors can affect the responses

• The value of added gain must be examined from an economic standpoint

and be weighed against: – Value of the gains

– The cost of the supplement itself

– How that extra weight affects market price

– Costs associated with the labour, equipment, etc., it took to feed the supplement

Stocker cattle

-Benefits of supplementation-

• Increasing daily gains

• More uniform gains can be achieved

• Providing a carrier for:

• growth promoters

• additives to prevent certain health and disease

problems

• poloxalene (bloat control)

• coccidiosis, etc

• Implants will increase gains more in cattle that are

supplemented compared to those that are not

• Increasing carrying capacity

Stocker cattle

-Benefits of supplementation-

• Extending available forage during short months

• Increasing protein intake by grazing certain types

and quality forages

• Teaching calves to eat as related to preconditioning

and health management programs

• Supplemented cattle may perform better in the

feedlot

• probably because they are already partially

adapted to grain and an ionophore

Stocker cattle

• To effectively answer the question, “Should I

supplement on grass” five points must be considered:• Value of added gain

• Anticipated feed conversions under grazing conditions

• Effect of increased carrying capacity

• Value of added performance from additives

• Effect that faster gains on grass will have on subsequent

feedlot performance

• Critical question: Will feeding supplemental grain

result in more net return per head?

Stocker cattle

• In general feed conversions will be very poor (15-30/1)

from supplemental grain feeding when:

1. An excess or sufficient quantity of good quality forage is

available for stocker steers.

• In general, potentially good feed conversions (5-9/1)

might be anticipated if:

1. There are too many cattle for available grass in stocker

programs, or cattle and grass are well balanced.

2. Quality of grass is limited

Stocker cattle

• One kg of grain plus 0.5–1 kg of protein supplement

have been recommended in addition to nonlegume

roughage• If legume roughage is fed, no protein supplement is needed

• Older cattle, particularly if they enter the winter in

fleshy condition, may just maintain their weight• A free-choice mineral mixture with trace mineralized salt

should be supplied

• Limited amounts of grain fed to yearling cattle on

pasture during the late summer may increase their

market value• However, total gain of a strong winter growing time plus a

shorter summer grazing period is also a sound alternative

Affect of nutritional status or pre-management of

the incoming stocker on performance

• Common but unanswered question for stocker operators

• Common practice to feed calves and yearlings – to make moderate gains in winter

– with faster and less expensive gains on summer pasture

– may be sold as feeders in the spring/early-mid summer or finished out in feedlot the

following mid-late summer/fall

• Another common practice is to keep the cattle on a low plane of

nutrition (particularly over the winter) – by feeding low quality forage with minimal supplement.

– Question - can the gain lost during this time be made up during the stocker and

finishing phases?

• Cost of winter gain on harvested feeds/winter pasture invariably is

higher than summer gain on pasture– it is advisable to winter cattle so as to make the greatest possible gains on pasture

– principle of winter feeding is protein and minerals, which are critical for growth

and feed utilization.

– to maintain good health, weanling calves should gain >0.5 kg/day

Affect of nutritional status or pre-management of

the incoming stocker on performance

• The results from three trials on the effect of wintering gain on

subsequent pasture and feedlot performance

– Study 1: showed compensatory gains during the summer

grazing phase in animals which had gained less over the

winter

– Study 2: compensatory gain occurred to a much lesser degree

• probably due in part to the overall low grazing

performance

• also possibly to the negative winter weight status of the

animals

• only affected the length of finishing in the feedlot

– since no compensatory gains occurred during the

finishing phase

Affect of nutritional status or pre-management of

the incoming stocker on performance • Study 3: most of the lost winter gains were regained during the grazing period.

• In this instance, the optimal level of the winter gain for stocker performance becomes

more an economical decision

– primarily relating to the cost of additional gain and time the cattle will be sold

– cattle that gained the most (0,5kg/day) during winter gained the most during the

finishing phase

• this was due to increased intake rather than compensatory gains in respect to

the pasture phase

• Increased intake to improve gains is of less economic value compared to compensatory

gains.

– animals that were heaviest after wintering remained heaviest after grazing and

finishing

• however the weight margins varied

• managing animals’ gains with respect to the next production phase may be an

important consideration in overall economics

• cattle type, particularly frame size, will affect how an animal will compensate;

thereby feeding management may differ

Protein

NH3

urea

MCPAA

NH3

Dietary

crude

protein

A

B1

B2

B3

C

Pep

Cornell Model -

Protein-

Late summer through winter grazing

• Forage quality decreases substantially from mid-spring to the first good

rain in fall

• particularly in protein content

• If protein is limiting, it restricts the ability of the rumen microbes to

break down the diet

– Intake and digestibility will decrease as quality decreases

• causes poor diet utilization

• Growing cattle, and particularly young, lightweight cattle will often

need more protein throughout the grazing period than the native

pasture can provide

• Animal gains must be adequate to economically justify grazing this part

of the season

• particularly for stocker operators

Stocker cattle• In many cases gains and feed intake may be improved by feeding a small amount of a high

protein supplement.

• Feeding a larger daily amount may increase gains more but frequently not enough to pay for the

feed.

Trials summary:

• Results:

• Grazing early summer grazing with supplementation on natural summer pastures:

• Energy = 2.06kg maize (+ Rumensin) = additional ADG of 65g/day = FCR of 32

• Protein = 2.06kg Cotton Oilcake (+ Rumensin) = additional ADG of 210g/day = FCR of 9.87

• Energy = 1.35kg Supplement (15.5% CP + Rumensin) = additional ADG of 324g/day = FCR

of 4.17

• Protein = 0.45kg Supplement (38% CP + Rumensin) = additional ADG of 230g/day = FCR

of 1.04

• Energy = 0, 0.91 and 1.82kg/hd/d grain sorghum (+ Rumensin) = ADG of 1.13, 1.23 and

1.32kg/d = FCR of 0, 9.1 and 9.6

• Energy = 1.82kg/hd/d grain sorghum (+ 200g Rumensin) = ADG of 0.254kg/d = FCR of 7

• Energy = 0.64kg/hd/d grain sorghum (+ 156g Rumensin) = ADG of 0.16kg/d = FCR of 4

• Supplementation should enhance forage utilization, and often when the amount of supplement is

too high, it starts replacing or can often depress forage utilization.

• Soybean hulls work well as an energy supplement for higher forage diets and may be more cost

effective than maize

– Less negative affect on fiber digesting bacteria and forage intake

Effect of Increasing Rumen Degradable

Protein on Forage OM Intake

20

30

40

50

60

70

0 180 360 540 720

RDP, g/d

HO

MI,

g/k

g L

M.7

5

Rumen non-degradable

Protein (RNDP)

• Only add sufficient quantities of rumen degradable

protein for maximum microbial protein production

• RNDP (e.g. TreoSoy) can be used to contribute to the

total protein needs

• The RNDP is broken down in the small intestine in

the usual way

– Utilized together with the microbial protein for

production

• Younger animals show biggest response to RNDP

(creep, stocker, backgrounding, starter, grower diets)

Amino acids: Structural building blocks of

protein

Threonine Tryptophane Lysine Methionine Cysteine

Milk/Beef and Protein Yield may be Limited

by Individual Amino Acid Supply

IDEAL

Treosoy

Effect of different types and levels of energy on digestible

OM intake of low quality hay (Le Roux, 2002)

34,3 33,6

30,8

34,2

36,9

20

25

30

35

40

Starch Cellulose Sucrose 1MJ

ME/d

7MJ

ME/d

Ha

y D

OM

I,

BW

0.7

5

RDP = 4.67 g/kg BW0.75

Energy types Energy levels

(Molasses)(Bran)(Maize)

ADG of steers on late summer (<8% CP) with

protein- or energy supplementation (Lusby et al.,

1982)

Item

ADG, kg/d

FCR, kg supplement/

kg additional ADG

0.653

0

0.894

2.8

0.853

1.8

0.807

8.8

360g1

(39% CP)

Control

No supplement

680g1

(43% CP)

1360g2

(10% CP)

1 Soya oilcake supplementation2 Maize supplementation

ADG of steers on 2 types of summer pastures

(>8% CP) with a 40% CP and two types of 25%

CP supplementation (Lusby and Kail, 1993)

Item

Summer pasture 1

ADG, kg/d

Summer pasture 2

ADG, kg/d

0.585

0.313

0.690

0.436

0.712

0.499

25% CP2

1815 g/d

25% CP3

1815 g/d

1 Soya oilcake = 93.3% 2 Soya oilcake = 37.1% + Maize = 37.9% + Soya hulls = 18.3%3 Soya oilcake = 30.7% + Maize = 25.2% + Wheat bran = 37.4%

40% CP1

908 g/d

Effect of only Urea on

growth of feedlot cattle

Effect of Cotton OC on

growth of feedlot cattle

Effect of TreoSoy on

growth of feedlot cattle

Are supplements needed when grazing high quality

established pastures ?

• High quality established pastures generally contain >20% CP– Usually more than adequate for cattle

• Research:– Feeding 0,79kg/hd/day of RNDP supplements increased daily gains

• 0,113kg/hd/day or 11.8% over animals not receiving supplement.

– Moderate to high levels (1 to 1.5% of body weight) of grain supplementation to cattle

grazing small grain pastures

• gains ranged from 0,05 to 0,3kg/day with a supplement conversion of 6.7 to 10.3

kg of supplement/kg of increased gain

– Supplementation with either a maize-based energy supplement or a high-fibre

energy supplement

• Allowed stocking density to increase from 0.8 to 0.6 hectare/steer.

• Daily gain was increased by supplementation

– 0,97kg/hd/day vs 0,47kg/hd/day for unsupplemented vs supplemented steers)

• Fibre-based supplemented steers gained more than maize-based supplemented

steers

– 0,99kg/hd/day vs 1,04kg/hd/day for corn-based vs fiber based

Feed Additives and Implanted Growth Promotants

• Growth promoting implants and ionophores are likely

the two most heavily research proven technologies

that stocker enterprises have available to them today

• Cattle that have undergone moderate stress

• feeding some type of antibiotic or coccidiostat is

recommended• particularly the first 28 days

• benefits can be obtained by feeding the cattle the

entire length of the stocker program

Feed Additives and Implanted Growth Promotants

• Grouped into six categories: ionophores, synthetic hormones, antibiotics,

probiotics, coccidiostats and bloat prevention aids.

– Improve the health and productivity of beef cattle

• Ionophores (100 – 200mg/head/d)

– Highly recommended to feed

– Improve feed efficiency and increase the average daily rates of gain.

Typically ±100g/day.

– Reduce the incidence of grain overload and bloat, and some act as

"anticoccidial" agents.

– Rumensin in particular will reduce the requirement for salt by 30-40

percent when self-feeding large amounts of grain

• Antibiotics (chlortetracycline or oxytetracycline)

– Treatment of stress-related sickness and reduce subclinical infections

and some cases stimulate growth promotion.

– Some aid in the prevention of bloat, foot rot, pinkeye and

anaplasmosis, and diarrhea.

Feed Additives and Implanted Growth

Promotants

• Probiotics (Natural growth promoter)– Favour the growth and development of the more desirable

rumen microbes.

• may improve overall performance.

• Coccidiostats – Prevent “coccidiosis,” a disease caused by parasitic

protozoa.

• Symptoms of this disease are bloody scours and loss of

performance.

• Coccidiosis is more prevalent in young cattle raised in

confined conditions.

Feed Additives and Implanted Growth

Promotants

• Growth promotants– Implanting stocker cattle is a must for increasing

performance and profit.

• Feed efficiency and average daily gains may be

improved.

• Many recent trials show that ADG increases when

implants are used

• Average increases were up to 0,7kg/hd/day for

nonimplanted vs. implanted animals using

Compudose, Ralgro and Synovex implants.

• Combined with some feed additives to further increase

performance.

Minerals and

Vitamins

Stocker cattle• Proper nutritional management is critical for stocker cattle because

these cattle are often stressed after being transported

• will likely have low water and feed intake during the first few days

after arrival on the farm

• It is important not only to consider forage and feed options during this

time

• also consider mineral supplementation to ensure that cattle receive a

complete diet

• critical because the immune system of newly received stocker calves

can be compromised

• making them more susceptible to diseases

• Getting calves started on a high-quality receiving diet

• often consists of free-choice hay and a well-designed energy-protein

supplement

• along with a mineral supplement

• should help prepare cattle for the next phase of the development

program

Minerals

• Restoration or maintenance of adequate mineral levels

– goal of nutrition programs for stocker/

backgrounding/ incoming cattle

• Generally, diets are formulated to satisfy the needs

for:

– Required major minerals (Ca, P, K, S, Mg, Na, and

Cl) and trace minerals (Co, I, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and

Se)

• Zinc has been shown

– to reduce morbidity in calves suffering from bovine respiratory

disease (BRD)

– assists in improving immune response.

Minerals

-Bioavailability and Interaction-

• Zinc and copper oxide or sulphate forms can be fed.

– the oxide forms of these minerals are not very bioavailable

and should be avoided.

• Watch out for copper deficiency induced by molybdenum and

elevated dietary sulphur.

– diet and water sources high in sulphur or molybdenum • can interfere with copper absorption and cause deficiency issues.

• When these minerals are chelated (or form a complex) with

an organic form of sulphur, ammonia, or protein, they are

more available to the animal.

Zinc to Manganese 1:1

Zinc to Copper 4:1

Copper to Molybdenum 6:1

Iron to Copper 20:1

Potassium to Sodium 5:1

Sodium + Potassium

Calcium + Magnesium < 2:1

Dietary cation-anion

balance or DCAD

Dry cows <-100 meq/kg

Lactating cows > 250 meq/kg

• Mineral supplementation must aim to maintain an optimum relationship with other

minerals that can impact availability and/or absorption.

• The following mineral ratios can be used to evaluate mineral balance (based on the total

ration dry matter)

MINERAL RELATIONSHIPS

• Vitamin A

– Usually recommended & a common approach is to supplement the

required doses without considering contributions from feedstuffs

• Vitamin E

– Commonly added to receiving diets

– The combination of vitamin E with Se has shown a response in

stress situations

• Selenium is often supplemented because of its interrelationship

with vitamin E

– Selenium functions in enzymes that act as antioxidants

• gives it similar biological functions as other antioxidants such as

vitamins E and C

• stressful conditions, such as shipping, can demand a greater

level of antioxidant activity

Vitamins

Conclusion

Careful daily attention to

details and precision feeding

is critical to the success of

any profitable

stocker/backgrounding beef

cattle feeding program

Thank

You