INNISFAIL, Alta. – Finding adequate protein for cows may be this
winter’s greatest challenge, says an Alberta Agriculture beef
specialist.
Trevor Yurchak told a drought management meeting in Innisfail that
livestock producers need to look at their protein and energy costs
rather than the price of a bale of hay.
“Know the value of what you are buying and know what you need.”
A rule of thumb is to remember the combinations 7-9-11 and 60-260.
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A cow needs seven percent protein in its diet in the middle of
pregnancy, nine percent for late pregnancy and 11 percent after
calving. To maintain body condition, it needs 60 percent total
digestible nutrients and 260 megacalories per kilogram of weight.
Energy deficient cows lose weight, while protein deficiency may cause
bowel impaction because the cow is not able to digest fibre properly.
Watch the cows and check their manure. Tall cow pies indicate a protein
deficiency because of improper fibre use.
A variety of feed is available this year, including straw, hay, canola,
feed wheat, pellets and other grain. Feed testing is vital because of
the range of nutritional value.
For example, fescue grass straw ranges from two to 10 percent protein
with low energy values. Pea straw may have almost no feed value.
“Hopefully, we didn’t buy an inert substance at $80 a bale,” he said.
Nitrate testing should also be requested because stressed crops baled
for feed might carry higher levels of the toxin than in other years.
If more than half a percent of the feed contains nitrates, it must be
blended half and half with something that has no nitrates.
This year’s poor harvest will yield a lot of feed wheat, lightweight
barley and sprouted barley. These barleys make less than perfect feed
and buyers should heavily discount them.
Grain should be left coarse rather than finely chopped.
Corn should be processed for feedlot cattle, but left whole for cows.
“If you need a protein, corn is only 10 percent protein. If you need
energy, corn is good stuff,” Yurchak said.
Concentrates may be added to the ration twice a day, including feed
wheat, byproducts, pellets, corn or canola.
Watch for bloat and rumen acidosis if cows receive more than 10 pounds
a day.
Canola contains about 14 percent protein. Meal, silage and straw may be
fed as part of a ration. Nitrates should not be a problem, but the feed
should be tested because frozen and drought-stricken canola may carry
some risk.
Canola straw is also acceptable for bedding.
Roughages are an important part of a cow’s diet, but the ration can be
cut back to 1.5 percent of it body weight.
This year also requires mineral supplements.
Cows will need calcium, magnesium and potassium during the winter and
vitamin E and selenium six weeks before calving.
Yurchak recommended feeding one bag of minerals every three days for
100 cows.
Without these supplements, health problems like tetany could appear
among cattle that rely on cereal greenfeed or straw as their main
forage source. Cereal feed is low or borderline in magnesium compared
to the cow’s requirements.
High potassium levels in the diet can limit the intake of magnesium,
resulting in tetany problems.
Cows may die or appear unco-ordinated, tremble or stagger.
Occasionally, affected cows look like those with milk fever – they are
down, quiet and unable to get up.
Producers should contact their veterinarian immediately if cattle show
these symptoms. Treatment includes intravenous or subcutaneous
administration of solutions containing magnesium, calcium salts or both.
