How Much Hay Will A Cow Consume?

Estimating a cow’s forage needs is imperative for winter feeding.

Estimating forage usage by cows is an important part of the task of calculating winter feed needs. Hay or standing forage intake must be estimated in order to make the calculations. Forage quality will be a determining factor in the amount of forage consumed. Higher-quality forages contain larger concentrations of important nutrients, so animals consuming these forages should be more likely to meet their nutrient needs from the forages. Also, cows can consume a larger quantity of higher-quality forages.

Avoid Winter Dehydration

Cold stress and dehydration can negatively affect cattle health.

It is important to provide adequate water for livestock during cold weather. Body metabolism increases during cold weather. Feed intake increases as cattle need more “fuel” to keep warm. To process the additional feed, the digestive tract needs adequate fluid. A cow’s winter water requirement may not be as high as is in the heat of summer, but she must drink enough to handle the demands of increased metabolism to prevent dehydration and impaction. If the cow is lactating, she needs more water regardless of weather.

Feeding for Cold Weather

Cows’ lower critical temperature helps determine increased energy requirements.

Thus far, many parts of the country have experienced a relatively mild start to winter. Nonetheless, colder weather is likely to occur before springtime and green grass. The major effect of cold on nutrient requirements of cows is increased need for energy. To determine the magnitude of the cold’s effect, the lower critical temperature for beef cows must first be estimated.

Vitamin, Mineral Nutrition for Late-gestation Cows

The health of a calf at birth is dependent on the cow’s mineral and vitamin nutrition during the last trimester.

As calving season approaches, don’t forget to look beyond the protein and energy requirements of the cow herd. The health and thriftiness of a calf at birth is largely dependent on the mineral and vitamin nutrition the cow receives during the last trimester.

Think of the cow as a distribution center during this critical period, many of the trace minerals that she receives will be directed toward the fetal liver, where they accumulate.

2018 Harvest Analysis Indicates High Levels of Mycotoxins Across the U.S.

High levels of risk from DON, zearalenone, fusaric acid, fumonisin and HT-2.

Mycotoxins are a concern for livestock producers, as they have toxic properties that affect feed quality, as well as animal health and performance. Harvest samples from across the United States that have been submitted to the Alltech 37+® mycotoxin analytical services laboratory in 2018 show high levels of mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone, fusaric acid, fumonisin and HT-2.