Jake Troutt
Association Perspective
Split-feed cows to minimize feed cost.
Feed costs are the single largest expense in any cow herd on a per-year basis. In a traditional grazing setting, the vast majority of this expense occurs during winter months, when forage is often dormant and of low quality. According to research collected at Oregon State University, this equates to 62% of the annual cost of managing a mature cow. Therefore, it would be safe to assume that if winter feed costs could be lowered, expenses should decrease and profit should increase.
Feeding cows in groups based on body condition score (BCS) may be one of the simplest ways to cut cost during winter feeding months. Though initially a hassle and sometimes not feasible, taking the time to provide proper nutrition for all cows in the herd can pay big long-term dividends.
Cows with a BCS of 3 will require a much different plane of nutrition than cows with a BCS of 7. If a cow herd were split as simply as cows with a BCS of 4 and below into one group and cows with a BCS of 5 and above into another, then low-BCS cows could be more properly managed to increase BCS to appropriate levels for production. Cows with high BCS scores could be maintained at lower feed levels.
Thin cows have long been known to cost producers money due to increases in gestation interval, weaker calves, fewer years of production and lower weaning weights. However, feeding higher-BCS cows heavily doesn’t make sense from an economic standpoint. Feed cows what they need to maximize profit.
For more information on body condition scoring cows, visit the Angus Journal topic website www.cowbcs.info.
Editor’s Note: Jake Troutt is the regional manager for region 12, including Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Click here to find the regional manager for your state.
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