Basic Beef Agent Update: Nutrition of the Growing Calf Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler & Dr. Roy Burris Summer 2013

Nutrients Water Energy Protein Minerals Vitamins Same as we discussed for cows

Growth Rate of Suckling Calf Synthetic = CharolaisXAngusXGalloway Crossbred = Synthetic X Hereford or Dairy Ahunu & Makarechian, 1987

Growth of Nursing Calf: Layman 550 lb calf weaned at 200 days age 80 lb birth weight 550 – 80 = 470 lbs gain Gain / d on cow 470 lb/ 200 d = 2.4 lb / d

Peak Occurs 7-8 Weeks Post-calving

Intake of Milk & Forage of Calves Gelvin et al., 2004

Nursing Calves Performance dependent on nutrient supply Increased body weight to maintain Declining milk availability Increased need for non-milk nutrient supply

General Factors Affecting Calf Growth Calf ADG Milk Forage Avail Forage Quality GeneticsHealth

Pre-weaning Nutrition Management Cow milk production function of genetic potential and nutrient supply – Increase quality of forage – Ensure ample availability – Select for more milk, BUT have to have forage base Creep feeding – increase nutrient digestibility Early-weaning – quality of diet increased

Creep Feeding Typically offered last 90 days or so Efficiency impacted by rate of supplementation – Calves ADG = or > 1.3 lbs/d Lower rates = Greater Efficiency Watch feed costs – Some Conversions Can be 8-10:1

Calves - Got Milk? Loy et al., 2002 Expressed on % Body Wt basis, Forage OM greater amount of diet than milk later in the season

Creep Feeding Research indicates – Milk supplies ~ 50% of nutrient needs at 3 mo. – Response to creep vary with milk production potential of cow – Response vary depending on quality of forage – Controlled intakes 3-5 lbs = better efficiency

Creep Considerations Not likely going to help the cow much Not just about weight gain Ease transition during weaning Disease control/prevention – Cocci Costs – Cheap feed + High Feeder = Yes, else ?

Post-weaning Nutrition

Energy and Protein Needs Requirement is a function of performance Higher gain = more energy & protein CP in growing diets 12-16% Energy vary depending on intake and gain desired

770 lb Steer 1,400 lb Nutrient for Target Gain Desired 0.8 lb/d2.2 lb/d3.4 lb/d NEgain, Mcal/lb Crude Protein, % TDN, % DMI, lb/d Beef NRC DMI = 2.7% of BW Fescue endophyte decrease intake 5-10% Concentrate the nutrients to compensate Fescue at 50% TDN DDGS at 100% TDN ~ 6-8 lbs DDGS

Mineral Requirements Growing Cattle % of DM or ppmGrowing Cattle (McDowell, 2003) Calcium % Phosphorus % Potassium0.6% Magnesium0.10% Sodium % Sulfur0.15% Copper10 Manganese20 Zinc30 Selenium0.10 Iodine0.50 Cobalt0.10 Should be 0.6-1%

Calcium Needed Silage is low in calcium Growing cattle need % Calcium Corn silage has 0.28%-0.32% Calcium Takes lb feed grade limestone – Feeding Distillers grains or Gluten Feed as protein even more critical to have Limestone in supplement

Associative Effects of Feeds Positive = When one or more nutrients in a supplement increases forage intake & digestibility Negative = When one or more nutrients in a supplement reduces forage intake & digestibility

Associative Effects Adapted from OK Beef Cattle Manual: D. Lalman

Neutral or Positive Effects Desire to maximize forage intake and digestibility Ideally avoid negative associative effects Often related to impacts on fermentation and subsequent rumen pH

Microbial Shift S. bovis & Lactobacillus produce lactic acid (lactate) – Lactate is a stronger acid – pka 3.1 vs (acetate, butyrate, propionate) S. bovis grows rapidly, doubling in 12 min. – Start w/ 1 bacteria, after 6 hours = 1,073,741,824 bacteria! Lactate utilizers grow at a rate ~ 5 times slower – Can’t keep up with production of lactate – Need time to increase their numbers

Typical Founder / Laminitis

Rates of Fermentation Differ Dry rolled wheatDry rolled wheat Steam rolled barleySteam rolled barley Dry rolled barleyDry rolled barley Temper rolled barleyTemper rolled barley Whole barleyWhole barley High moisture corn (processed/bunker), flaked wheatHigh moisture corn (processed/bunker), flaked wheat Steam flaked cornSteam flaked corn Steam flaked sorghumSteam flaked sorghum High Moisture corn (stored whole)High Moisture corn (stored whole) Dry Rolled CornDry Rolled Corn Dry Whole CornDry Whole Corn Whole OatsWhole Oats Dry Rolled SorghumDry Rolled Sorghum Faster Slower Adapted from Stock & Britton, 1993

Spread the Fermentation Using knowledge of rates of fermentation can reduce risk to acidosis – Whole shelled corn over cracked in a self-feeder – Oats provides fiber & slower starch fermentation – Wheat should processed & limited to 30% of diet Matching rate of protein degradation and carbohydrate fermentation = Synchrony and may improve efficiency – Urea + High moisture corn – Soybean meal + Corn Stalks

Low Starch Coproduct Feeds Soybean hulls, wheat middlings, corn gluten feed, distillers grains, beet pulp, rice bran, and others Contain little starch, high digestible fiber Reduce risk of acidosis, neutral to positive associative effects

Coproducts

Most Grain Derived Corn: Corn gluten meal, Corn gluten feed, Distillers Grains, Corn Bran, Corn Germ meal, Condensed Solubles Soybeans: Soybean meal, Soyhulls Beets: Beet pulp, molasses

Know What They Are Protein Source? Energy? BOTH?? Obtain a book value or actual Feed Analysis Be Cautious of a “GOOD DEAL”

Composition of Common Coproducts Suggest Searching BEEF magazine table Understand that “table value” does not always reflect the “feeding value” Recognize the nutritional risks w/ some

Soyhulls Fescue-based Diet Vanzant, 2002 KY Beef Report

BEST SUPPLEMENTS Balances nutrient needs of cattle at the cheapest cost on forage-base diet – Often energy not protein limiting Corn – Limit to ~ 0.3% of BW = 1.5 lb 500 lb Distillers offers greater energy than soyhulls & corn gluten feed = COST EFFECTIVE?? HANDLING??

Comparison of Coproducts Expected due to higher Fat content

Comparison of Coproducts Waller, 2011 TN Highland Rim Field Day Rye balage + 4 lbs of Supplement

Distillers Grains Considerations Repeatedly shows greater gains when supplemented at same rate – Greater [energy] from fat content – Kentucky distillers plant is extracting fat Caution with sulfur content – Bourbon sources typically lower = safer Indications illustrate potential for increased stocking rate / carrying capacity

High Sulfur / Sulfate Intake (Feed + Water) Sulfate Reduction in the Rumen H 2 S and S 2- H 2 S Inhalation Eructation Cell Damage PEM Poor Animal Performance Lung Tissue Damage Secondary Viral or Bacterial Infections S 2- Absorption ? Adapted from Kung et al. 1998

Mineral Adjustment Coproduct Balancer Mineral Product High Calcium, Low Phosphorus Look for Thiamine in ingredients

Coproduct Balancer Cattle Mineral (EXAMPLE PRODUCT TAG ONLY) MEDICATED For Weaned Calves For improved feed efficiency in cattle fed in confinement for slaughter ACTIVE DRUG INGREDIENTS Lasalocid……………………….…………………… 1200 g/ton Guaranteed Analysis: Calcium, minimum………………………25.0% Calcium, maximum………………………30.0 % Phosphorus, minimum………………………..1.0 % Salt, minimum……………………….18.0 % Salt, maximum……………………….21.0 % Magnesium, minimum………………………0.10 % Potassium, minimum…………………… % Cobalt, minimum ………………………………… 10 PPM Copper, minimum…………………………800 PPM Iodine, minimum ………………………………...20 PPM Manganese, minimum …………… PPM Selenium, minimum…………………………12 PPM Zinc, minimum……………………… PPM Thiamine, mg/lb …………………………………150 mg/lb Vitamin A, minimum……………………………..75,000 IU/LB Vitamin D, minimum……………………………..10,000 IU/LB Vitamin, E, minimum ……………………………280 IU/LB

How Do They Compare? ItemCottonseed Hulls Rice mill feed Soybean Hulls Beet pulp DM Dig, % ADF Dig., % Wt Gain, lb Oklahoma Research Report Streeter & Horn Lamb Digestibility Trial Rice mill feed = Rice bran (Good Stuff) & Rice Hulls (low digestibility)

Rumen Digestibility Differs Feedstuff24 hr Rumen Digestibility, In vivo Rolled corn75 Rice bran80 Rice hulls0 Wheat mill run72 Beet pulp92 Citrus pulp79 Soybean meal85 Cottonseed hulls14 Recycled paper41 Schultz & Collar, 1983 California Agriculture

Why Use Low Digestibility Feeds? Roughage replacer = Limited hay Starch diluter = Lower acidosis risk – Self-feeder situations – Large amount of supplement offered Extender = Hard to deliver < 1 lb/hd Cheapen the diet

Cattle Will Eat These Feeds! ItemHaySoyhullCGFMidds Hay intake, lb Suppl Intake, lb ADG North Carolina Trial Cattle, Placed on Self-Feeder Support Noble work w/ Midds having lower performance SH & CGF 1 lb suppl lowered hay intake ~ 0.4 lbs

Substitution Effect When supplementing grazing feeders, forage intake often reduced Rate varies, but often for every 2 lbs of supplement fed, Forage DM intake is lowered 1 lb Use this to increase carrying capacity, stretch limited forages

Distillers Increases Carrying Capacity Control 2.8 AUM; Fertilizer 4.0 AUM & 80 lb N; Supplement 4.0 AUM & 5 lbs DDGS Greenquist et al., 2007 NE Research Report

Coproduct Cautions DDGS / CGF = Sulfur, Calcium:P – PEM what is it – Safe water levels – Thiamine – Ca:P correction – Tubs/Blocks Label “READ IT” Rice Products Cottonseed hulls

Supplementation of Grazing Calves Substitution of forage intake Alternate day feeding strategies Dilution of endophyte Increase digestible nutrient intake

Summary Pre-weaning growth dependent on forage management Post-weaning growth dependent health, forage quality and level of supplementation Familiarize yourself with coproduct feeds