Livestock Nutrition Support Offered by County Extension Offices Dana Zook Area Livestock Specialist Enid, OK

Livestock Nutrition Support Added Nutrition accounts for 40% of total operating costs in beef operations Variety of Livestock Species Cattle Small Ruminants Poultry Equine Added Nutrition accounts for 40% of total operating costs for beef producers in general – harvested hay, concentrate feeds, blended feeds, cubes, mineral supplements The assistance we offer if mostly focused on cattle but the expanding small ruminant side and backyard poultry has produced a lot of questions from producers young and old

Livestock Nutrition Identifying livestock needs Interpreting Forage Analysis Supplementation Total Diet Formulation Feed Ingredient Comparison

Identifying Livestock Needs Stage of Production Define Nutrient Requirements Chart of goats…chart of cattle

Forage Analysis Interpretation Standing Forage Harvested Forage Recommendations of when to harvest how to sample according to forage – standing or harvested Would encourage producers to strive for a representative sample Most county offices can offer the use of a forage probe for ease and accuracy of sampling

Balancing Nutrient Supply with Nutrient Requirements Overfeeding Expensive Underfeeding Reduced Pregnancy Rates Lower Birth or Weaning Rates Less pounds to sell Inefficient production Underfeeding – ignoring a substantial deficiency – reduce pregnancy rates, lower calf weights - less pounds to sell at sale time - inefficient production

Evaluating Supplement Alternatives Economical Supplementation Supplements analyzed base on price nutrient need of cows Habitual Supplementation Same supplement fed regardless of price changes

Determining Supplemental Need Animal Nutrient Requirements Subtract Value Forage/Hay = Nutrient Excess or Deficiency What are the supplemental needs? Definition of Supplementation – Many operations are considered a forage production enterprise but there are time during the year that the natural forage resource does not provide adequate nutrients to meet the nutrition needs of a particular breed of livestock – this is where supplementation comes into play. With supplementation, nutrients are being supplied to complement a forage resource, supplying either protein or energy to fulfill a nutritional need.

Determining Supplemental Need March Calving Cow (1200 lbs.) Based on 24 lbs. DMI Late Gestation (Dec. – Feb.) Dormant Native Range (4% CP, 49% TDN) Crude Protein TDN Requirement 1.9 lbs. 12.9 lbs. Forage Value -1.0 lb. -11.7 lbs. Deficiency 0.9 lb. 1.2 lbs. What are your supplement options? Without supplementation, these cows would be deficient in both energy and protein --- and would be expected to loose considerable body condition before calving. Assuming our 1200 lb cow is in good body condition, we will supplement her with a good quality protein supplement

Supplement Options How do we decide? Supplement Cost/unit 20% Cubes $250 38% Cubes $300 18% Tub poured(125#) $62* 25% Tub cooked(200#) 104* Liquid Feed 14% $260 Liquid Feed 20% $240 Alfalfa 18-20% $100 How do we decide? These are the supplement option I chose to compare today----there may be others for your operation and some of these may not necessarily work for your operation Grinding hay under 18% (12-18%) Ask the audience how they would decide? - How do they decide ? -What factors are your decision based on? Do you price it soley by the ton? By the lb. of feed? By lb. of protein? Is DM included

The Comparison $0.39 per lb. CP $0.62 per lb. CP 38% Cubes 20% Cubes 38% Protein $300/ton 760 lbs. CP/ton $0.39 per lb. CP ($300/760 lb.) 20% Protein $250/ton 400 lbs. CP/ton $0.62 per lb. CP ($250/400 lb.) Which would you choose?

Supplement Options Supplement Cost/lb. Protein As-Is DM DM basis 20% Cubes $0.62 88% $0.71 38% Cubes $0.39 $0.44 Alfalfa 18-20% $0.26 $0.29 18% Tub (125#) $2.75 75% $3.67 25% Tub cooked (200#) $2.08 85% $2.44 Liquid Feed 14% $0.92 50% $1.85 Liquid Feed 20% $0.60 46% $1.30 As I said, its important to compare apples to apples. How do the feeds in yellow compare to the feeds in orange? ---they have higher moisture content or lower DM Explain DM here

Balancing Rations Animals in a dry-lot or grass trap environment Total diet being prepared for them Preconditioning Calves Butcher Beef Semi-Confinement Cows Many other situations All other rations where we provide a balanced ration for livestock….some examples are

Tools OSU COW-culator OSU Ration Calculator http://beefextension.com/pages/cccalc.html OSU Ration Calculator http://beefextension.com/pages/sccalc.html Forage Supplementation Calculator Forage Nitrate Calculator Mineral Use Calculator Many other tools utilized to help target the nutrition to the needs of the clientele

Thank you! Dana Zook Area Livestock Specialist Enid, OK