WINTER FEEDING OF BEEF COWS By Tom Hoagland University of Connecticut

Water consumption at different environmental temperatures

Schematic of the influence of ambient temperature with HE (heat production) and IE (intake energy). RE is energy for production.

TABLE 12 Summary of Voluntary Food Intake of Beef Cattle in Different Thermal Environments 15 to 25°C Preferred values as tabulated in Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle. 5 to 15°C Intakes up 2 to 5 percent. -5 to 5°C Intakes up 3 to 8 percent. -15 to -5°C Intakes up 5 to 10 percent. < - 15°C Intakes up 8 to 25 percent. Intakes during extreme cold (< -25°C) or during blizzards and storms may be temporarily depressed. Intake of high roughage feeds may be limited by bulk.

TABLE 14: Water Requirements of Beef Cattle in Different Thermal Environments 15 to 25°C 3 to 5 kg water per kg DM intake. Young and lactating animals require percent more water. -5 to 15°C 2 to 4 kg water per kg DM intake. < -5°C 2 to 3 kg water per kg DM intake. Increases of % occur with a rise in ambient temperature following a period of very cold temperature, e.g., a rise from -20 to 0° C.

A = value adjusted for environment, B = diet component value from NRC feed composition table, Cf: correction factor (see below), and T = effective ambient temperature (°C). ADJUSTMENTS TO FEEDING VALUES FOR TEMPERATURE STRESS A = B + B( Cf(T-20)) Cf for Effect of Temp on Diet Component Dry matter Energy components (ME, NE, TDN) Acid detergent fiber Nitrogen (crude protein)

Example of Adjustment to the Feeding Value of Alfalfa Hay for Feeding to Beef Cattle Exposed to Warm (30C), Neutral (20C), and Cold (-5) Environmental Conditions Temperature (°C) ME (Mcal/kg) a 1.87 NEm (Mcal/kg) NEg (Mcal/kg) TDN (%) Digest protein (%) a From Table 11, NRC, 1976a.

Net Energy m = aW 0.75 where NEm = net energy for maintenance (Mcal/day), a = for TNZ, W = live weight (kg). For each °C prior exposure to ambient temperatures above or below 20°C, should be subtracted or added respectively to a in the above equation. Thus, for cattle with prior exposure to temperatures of 30, 20, 10, and 0°C, the value a becomes 0.070, 0.077, 0.084, and 0.091, respectively. This means that a 1400 lb cow at 0°C will need 18 % more net energy maintenance in her feed.

Adjustments can be made directly to the NEm and maintenance energy requirement values expressed in terms of ME or TDN by decreasing (for heat) or increasing (for cold) the tabulated values by 0.91 % for each °C the cattle have had prior extended exposure to conditions above or below 20°C. Adjustments directly to NEm, ME or TDN

Lower Critical Temperature Need to make adjustments when ambient temp is below LCT LCT for Beef Cows is lower than for other livestock Cold stress is generally not a practical nutritional problem in beef cattle

Cold Hardiness of Beef Cattle Large size Effective thermal insulation Large heat increment from digestion and metabolic processes

Storms and Blizzards Bigger Problem Causes an immediate increase in energy requirement Depends on level of acclimatization

Cold Acclimatized Cattle Increased metabolic rate Enhanced ability to increase their metabolic heat production

Calculating Actual LCT Must be established to make nutritional adjustments for cold stress

where LCT = lower critical temperature (°C), Tc = core temperature (°C) (39°C satisfactory assumption), I = total insulation, i.e., tissue plus external, (°C/Mcal/m 2 /day), HE = heat production (Mcal/m 2 /day), and He = heat of evaporation (Mcal/m 2 /day). LCT = Tc – I(HE – He) HE = (ME – NEp)/A where HE = heat production (Mcal/m 2 /day), ME = metabolizable energy intake (Mcal/day), NEp = net energy for production (Mcal/day), and A = surface area (m 2 ). NOTE: Surface area may be calculated from body weight according to the general formula A(m 2 ) = 0.09 kg ME* = A(LCT –T)/I where ME* = increase in maintenance energy requirement (Mcal/day), A = surface area (m 2 ), LCT = lower critical temperature (°C), T = effective ambient température (°C), and I = total insulation, i.e., tissue plus external

TABLE 16 Estimates of Tissue and External Insulation for Beef Cattle Tissue Insulation (I t ) a I t (°C/Mcal/m2/day) Newborn calf 2.5 Month-old calf 6.5 Yearling 5.5 to 8.0 Adult cattle 6.0 to 12.0 External Insulation (I e ) b I e (°C/Mcal/m2/day) in Relation to Coat Depth Wind Speed(mph) <5 mm 10 mm 20 mm 30 mm < a Cattle in thin or emaciated body conditions and breeds with thin skins (dairy breeds and Bos indicus) have lower values than fat stock and breeds with thick skins (e.g., Hereford). b Presence of moisture, wet snow, or mud in the coat could reduce I e in affected areas by 50 to 80 percent.

Estimates of LCT, Increase in Energy Requirements of Beef Cattle Under Various ACUTE Stresses. Increased Energy Environmental StressesweightLCT °Cper °C below LCT Yearling Steer300 kg-34.1 (-29.4) % Gaining 1.1 kg/d Dry low wind Yearling Steer300 kg-9.5 (14.9) % Gaining 1.1 kg/d Wet snow, mud 10 mph wind Dry Pregnant cow500 kg-25.0 (-13) % Middle third Dry low wind Dry Pregnant cow500 kg-7.3 (19) % Middle third Wet snow 10 mph wind ____________________________________________________________________

Recommendations Feed More energy (~1.0 % more energy / drop in 1°C below 20 °C. Protect cattle from wind (or ↑25%). Wet and cold climates supply shelter and dry bedding (or ↑ 25%).

Recommendations In Connecticut during Jan, Feb and March, beef cattle housed outside need to consume almost TWICE as much energy for maintenance.

Adjustments of Non Energy Components Vitamin A requirement may increase with cold. Protein % may be decreased as feed intake increases to maintain amino acid requirements. Could increase roughage as heat increment will increase but don’t sacrifice performance for heat.

Problem: Evaluation for a 500 kg dry cow pregnant cow in the last third of pregnancy on a diet of brome hay. Two environmental situations have been considered. Nonstressful conditions and a cold dry environment with seasonal temperatures of -15 ° C but during the past several days a winter storm with air temperatures of -25 ° C, 10 mph winds, drifting snow and lack of suitable bedding or shelter. nonstressfulstressful Maintenance energy requirement (Mcal ME/day) adjusted for acclim temp16.4 (table)21.6 adjusted for direct cold stress Total Diet on dry matter basis energy adjusted for conditions (ME/kg) feed required for maintenance (kg/day) Calculations:16.4 +(16.4 (.91%)(20-(-15))) = 21.6 (.334)( ) = /1.79 = 15.4 kg difficult to eat this much brome hay

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