1. How to Feed the Cow Herd When There Is No Feed
Title used in 1989
Ivan Rush
Beef Specialist
UNL – Panhandle Res and Ext Center

2. Management Considerations
Cull earlier and hard
Any cow you think may be culled later should be a candidate
Wean earlier
Age of weaning will depend on operation
Decrease demand and cost of cow maintenance
Cow intake is 25% greater when lactating

3. Cow Requirements – Lactating and DryCP
TDN
Hay Eq
$/day
Lactation
2.7
15.2 31
$1.09
Dry Early Preg
1.4
10.1 21
$.74
Difference
1.3
5.1 10
$.35

4. Early Weaning 60-90 days 5 Months Week earlier than last year
Aid in reproduction
5 Months
Aid in cow condition and efficient gain
Week earlier than last year

5. Consideration when to wean
Forage availability and quality
Cow condition
Marketing of calf
Season of year
Carcass Quality
Costs and opportunity for early weaned calves
Bias

6. Costs versus Satisfaction
Leave calves on and feed hay free choice
Hay – $100/t = $1.88/day
Hay would need to be $54/ton to get cost to $1/da
If forage available but want to stretch feed, Example - 6 lb of grain for supplement
Supp = $.45 + $.78 for pasture = $1.23
Wean calves and feed cows hay
22lb hay ($100)= $1.10 plus $.40 for calf = $1.50

7. Costs versus Satisfaction
Wean calves and feed high levels of corn
Cows 21 lb of high grain ration = $.92 plus $.40 = $1.32

8. Effect of Early Weaning on Reproduction and Cow Condition – OK State
EW (50da) NW (210)
Preg Rate
Cow gain,lb
Cows (2 yr old) were thin when early calves were weaned
Lusby et al JAS

9. Weaning Dates - NE EW 150 da NW 210 da LW 270 da Wean wt 425 539 594
ADG – Fin
2.86
3.08
3.30
F/G
6.6
6.78
6.87
Days fed
247
214
197
Fin Wt
1146
1159
1122

10. Weaning Dates - NE EW 150 da NW 210 da LW 270 da % Ch- &> 94 83 79
Fat
.34
.32
.28
Profit/cow
$-51 $1
$-8
Fin BreakE
$66
$65
$67

11. Summary of Research with Early Weaned Calves
Weaning before breeding will improve reproduction
Early wean calves are more efficient in converting high concentrate rations
Gain and final weight are variable
ADG range form +.4 to neg EW = -.21
3 pos EW = +.23

12. Summary of Research Quality grade is variable
Range from positive 25% to neg 15%
Two positive for EW – one neg and two no diff
Profit for two trials were neg for EW and one was positive

13. Excel Worksheet

15. Fence Line Weaning Appears to reduce stress
Allows weaning out of dusty conditions
Put cow in dry lot for 2-3 days
Research in Calif shower extra 27 lb first 34 days

17. Comparison Weaning –
Laux Feedyard Late Summer 2002

18. Other Thoughts Don’t forget vitamin A and minerals
Green forages has plenty of carotene (Vit A)
Vitamin A Supplementation
150,000 IU in mineral
30-40,000 IU in supp
Inject – timely
Phosphorus, copper and zinc should be adequate in mineral supplements

19. Other Thoughts Consider by-products feeds
Distillers grains, corn gluten feeds, wheat mids
Consider harvesting or grazing drought crops
Grazing capacity
If cut (ton) (33% DM) Grazing days (cow) @.50/da
$55-65
$80-93 $
Consider nitrates and poisonous plants

20. Nitrates
If any doubt – check - especially sorghum sudans X’s, millets, oats, corn etc
Look at terms
Nitrate, nitrate nitrogen or potassium nitrate

21. Questions or Comments