Managing Nutritional Needs of Cows During Drought

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Managing Nutritional Needs of Cows During Drought

• John B. Hall, Ph.D.
• Extension Beef Cattle Specialist
• Virginia Tech

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Beef Cow Production Cycle
Calving
60
100
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Protein Energy Requirementsfor Breeding Cattle
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Nutritional Goals

• Reduce hay and pasture intake
• Meet nutritional needs of cows
• Maintain or increase body condition
• Keep calves growing

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Step 1 Body Condition Score
cows
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Effect of BCS at Calving on Cumulative Pregnancy
Rates
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Adapted from Pruitt, 1984
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BCS 4
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Modulating Body Condition
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Step 2 Keep Cows Well fed through end of
breeding season
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Protein Energy Requirementsfor Breeding Cattle
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Feed commodity feeds

• Best time to use
• Hay can be limit fed
• Calves will begin eating a little

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Creep Feeding Calves
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Take Stress Off of Cow

• Creep feeding does little to save cow
• Calves still drink same amount of milk
• Substitute creep for forage
• Creep feed is used very inefficiently
• Early wean calves at 90 days of age
• Thin cows
• First calf heifers

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Step 3 Early wean Calves
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Protein Energy Requirementsfor Breeding Cattle
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Early Weaning

• 60 to 90 days of age

• 120-150 days of age

• Increases pregnancy rates of cows
• Greater reduction in overall herd feed
  requirements
• Maintains calf growth
• More management
• More risk to calf

• Does not affect pregnancy rate
• Reduces overall herd feed requirements
• Maintains calf growth
• Good management still required
• Less risk to calf

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Early Weaning Strategies

• Vaccinate calves for blackleg and respiratory
  disease at least 2 weeks before weaning
• Use low stress weaning
• Fence-line weaning
• Weaning rings (older calves)

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