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Supplementation of Low Quality Forages

Norman SuverlyWSU Okanogan County Extension

Educator

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Introduction

• Forage = Beef

• The ideal supplement should enhance, not inhibit the animal’s ability to digest forage

• Supplement should complement forage quality

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Basic Beef Nutrition

RumenStomach

(abomasum) Intestines

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Rumen Function

FeedFeed

Stomachand

Intestines

EnergyEnergy

Protein

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Considerations when supplementing ruminants

• Rumen microbes have nutrient

requirements

– If not met, rumen efficiency is

decreased

• Feed affects rumen microbes before it

affects the animal

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Examples of low-quality forage

• Forages that fall below nutritional levels to provide the necessary animal requirements (<7% CP)– Wheat straw 3.6% CP– Barley straw 4.7%– Grass seed straws 4-12%– Dormant range 2-6%

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Nutrient content of range forage

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Digestibility NDF

June September November

Per

cen

t

Influence of season on forage quality, Johnson et al., 1998, NDSU

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Ruminal Protein Digestibility

0

5

10

15

Protein

June

September

November

Per

cent

0

20

40

60

80

Available Bypass

% o

f P

rote

in

Influence of season on forage quality, Johnson et al., 1998, NDSU

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Nutrient content of range forages – northern Great Basin

0

24

6

810

12

14

1618

20

May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Cru

de P

rote

in (

%)

1992

1993

Ganskopp and Bohnert 2001, OSU

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Forage nutrient content varies with season

Fiber portion of forage (NDF)

Digestibility (TDN)

Protein content and protein degradability

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Energy vs. protein supplements

Energy• Corn• Wheat• Oats• Fat• Molasses

Protein• Soybean meal• Cottonseed meal• Corn gluten meal• Feather and blood

meal• Alfalfa• Canola meal• Distiller grains• Non-protein nitrogen

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Type of Protein Supplement

• Soybean meal• Cottonseed meal• Corn Gluten meal• Canola meal

• Urea (48% nitrogen)• Biuret

Natural Non-Protein Nitrogen

Slowly digested Provide VFA’s

Quickly digested/dissolved

Provides only nitrogen

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DIP and UIP of common protein sources

Supplement CP% UIP DIP

Alfalfa hay 18 14 86

Wheat midds

18 23 77

Canola meal 39 30 70

Corn gluten meal

47 62 38

Dry distiller grains

30 50-60 40-50

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Tips for successful protein supplementation

• Begin your supplementation before weight loss and body condition loss

• Time supplements to facilitate grazing• Supplement form – consider what it is

supplying and the cost• Self-feeding vs. hand-feeding• Mineral considerations

– Ca, Mg, P, K, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Na

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Price

SBM supplement costs $290/ton and provides 40% CP

Canola meal costs $160/ton and provides 35% CP

SBM is $.15/ton (290/2000) and will cost $.38/lb of protein

CM is $.08/ton (160/2000) and will cost $.25/lb of protein

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Effect of Degradable Protein Supplements on Intake and

Digestion of Low-Quality Forage by Beef Cows

H. H. Koster et al. (1996)Kansas State University

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Methods

• Cows fed a diet of:

– Low-quality forage

– 5 levels of ruminally degradable protein

• Measured diet digestion parameters

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Forage Intake (g/kg BW.75)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

0 180 360 540 720

Degradable Protein (grams/day)

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Forage Digestion (%)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 180 360 540 720

Degradable Protein (grams/day)

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Total Diet Digestion (%)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 180 360 540 720

Degradable Protein (grams/day)

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Implications

• Supplementing ruminally degradable protein:

– Improved digestion of low-quality forage by 15%

– Increased forage intake by 55%

• This represents an improvement of forage utilization by the animal

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Performance of Cows on Native Range When Fed Protein or Corn

Supplements

D. W. Sanson, D. C. Clanton and I. G. Rush(1990)

University of Nebraska

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Methods

• 135 cows grazing native Sandhills winter range

• Supplement treatments:– Ear corn– Ear corn + protein supplement– Protein supplement

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Weight Changes of Cows

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

Ear Corn

EC+Protein

Protein

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Implications

• Corn supplemented cows lost more

weight than protein supplemented cows

• Corn supplement decreased forage

digestion and intake

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Using TDN/CP Ratio for Supplement Selection

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Considerations for using energy supplements

• Grain vs. fermentable fiber• Supplementation with grain at 0.4% of

BW• Fermentable fiber at .2 to .8 percent• If utilizing low quality forages, no more

than 0.5% of body weight (5.5 lbs for 1100 lb cow)

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CP, % TDN, % TDN/CP

Cattle need 4.0-6.0

Dead grass 4 50 12.5

Med quality grass hay 11 52 4.7

Annual pasture 21 65 3.1

Cottonseed meal 46 76 1.6

Range cube 22 80 3.6

Corn 10 88 8.8

Protein to energy ration

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Using TDN/CP Ratios for Supplement Selection

ForageTDN/CP

> 7

< 4

Protein

Energy

Supplement

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Nutrient requirements of cattle

Season

CP% TDN%

Dry-cow, mid-tri 1100 lbs Fall 7% 49%

Cow nursing, post-partum Winter 9% 56%

Heifer, mid-tri 800 lbs,1.5 lb gain

Fall 9% 60%

Heifer, post-partum, 950 lbs

Winter 10% 62%

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Situation 1

• Forage supply is abundant and protein content of the native range is 5% or less

• Should select adequate diet (6.5-7 percent)

• Supplement with protein– .5 to 1 lbs/day; >30%– 55 to 70% DIP

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Situation 2

• Forage supply is limited and protein content below 5 percent

• Combination supplement of 20 to 30% CP– Should provide supplemental energy

in form of fermentable fiber.

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Situation 3

• Forage supply is unlimited and protein content of range is above 5 percent

• Should select adequate diet (7% or greater)

• No intervention needed for a dry cow.

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Conclusion

• Proper supplementation can improve forage digestion and animal performance

• Provide supplements that complement forage

• Use resources to help determine proper supplementation

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References

• DelCurto, T. and D. Bohnert. Fundamentals of Supplementing Low-Quality Forage. Cattle Producer’s Library. CL317.

• Ganskopp D. and D. Bohnert. 2003. Mineral concentration dynamics of 7 northern Great Basin grasses. J. Range Manage. 56: 174-184.

• Ganskopp, D. and D. Bohnert. 2001. Nutritional Dynamics of 7 northern Great Basin grasses. J. Range Manage 54:640-647.

• Herd, D.B. 2003. Tips on Winter Supplementation of Beef Cattle. http://thecattlemanmagazine.com/issues/2003/1103/winterSupp.asp

• Johnson et al. 1998. Influence of season on forage quality. North Dakota State University.

• Koster, H.H. et al. 1996. Effect of Degradable Protein Supplements on Intake and Digestion of Low-Quality Forage by Beef Cows. Kansas State University.

• Mathis, C.P. 2003. Protein and Energy Supplementation to Beef Cows Grazing New Mexico Rangelands. New Mexico State University, Circular 564.

• Mount, D. Supplementing Feed to Grazing Cattle. PowerPoint presentation. http://www.wyorange.net/resources/mount/MountBasicsofSupplementationtoGrazingCattle.ppt

• Sanson, D.W., D. C. Clanton and I. G. Rush. 1990. Performance of Cows on Native Range When Fed Protein or Corn Supplements. University of Nebraska.