FEEDING COWS BYPRODUCTS
Dan B. Faulkner
Extension Specialist, Beef
University of Illinois
Now is the time to plan next year’s winter feeding program. Recent analysis of
Integrated Resource Management (IRM) records for Illinois producers indicate that feed costs
are the # 1 critical control point in beef production. That means that this is the over riding factor
in determining profitability in beef operations. Feed costs represent more than one half of total
costs in a cow-calf production system. Winter feed costs are over one half of feed costs.
Therefore, it is very important that winter feed costs be kept low while nutrient needs are met.
Beef producers must reduce these costs if they are to be competitive.
The most cost effective method of reducing feed costs is to let the cow harvest the feed.
Grazing cornstalks, stockpiled pasture, or forages planted for fall and winter grazing (turnips,
rye, oats, etc.). These programs are very effective unless the snow gets excessively deep (over
10 inches). It requires planning and effort to have these forages available for fall and winter
grazing. They may also require fencing and strip grazing for optimum utilization. The savings
with these programs can be over $1 per day compared to traditional hay feeding.
There are several reasons that Illinois beef producers have high feed costs. The primary
reason is that many producers rely on hay as a primary feed during the winter. Hay utilization is
a problem for Illinois producer for several reasons: 1) relatively low hay production here in
Illinois, 2) wet weather causing harvesting difficulties and losses, 3) storage losses being very
high for round bales stored outside, 4) the costs of harvesting and feeding equipment for small
cow herds, and 5) hay is often harvested when it is very mature and lacks the proper nutrient
quality for beef cows
Hay production in Illinois generally averages about 3 to 3.5 tons per acre. The IRM
farms average about 4 tons of hay per acre. This level of production, combined with relatively
high land prices and high hay harvesting equipment costs, results in high costs for hay
production. For the IRM farms, the forage costs for grazing cattle are quite competitive with
other states. This is due to the productive nature of Illinois soils and the use of intensive grazing
on many of the farms.
The weather in Illinois causes additional problems for hay production. It is often difficult
to harvest hay at the proper time because of wet weather. The quality of the hay goes down
dramatically after the proper harvest time (late boot for grasses and early bloom for legumes). In
addition to weather delays, corn and soybean planting often take priority over hay harvest. Many
producers harvest their first cutting hay in June when it is poor quality. This hay often will not
meet the needs of beef cows and must be supplemented with energy and/or protein. It is
important to recognize that supplementation of poor quality forages is an additional expense.
The costs of harvesting and feeding equipment for hay also drive up costs for winter beef
cows. The University of Missouri has summarized harvesting costs for hay. Producers must
harvest about 500 tons of forage per year to have harvesting costs comparable to custom rates.
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Many Illinois producers harvest less than 100 tons per year and can have harvesting cost of more
than $ 60 per ton. Producers may need to consider custom harvest, purchasing their hay, or
cooperative harvesting of forage among several producers to reduce harvesting costs. Hay
storage and feeding losses are another major problem. Storage losses can be 50% or more for
round bales stored outside with no cover. Feeding losses even in a round bale feeder can be as
high as 30%. These losses can more than double the cost of hay.
One method to decrease intake and reduce feed waste is to limit the amount of time the
cattle have access to the hay. This program should only be used with good quality hay. It is also
important that all cows are able to eat the hay at one time in this program. We have found that
dry cows can eat sufficient hay in a 3-hour period of time to maintain weight. Hay
disappearance and cost were cut in half due to less waste and decreased intake. Lactating cows
needed at least a 6-hour time period to eat enough forage to maintain weight. Producers with
more than 200 cows can often pay for a tub grinder and feed bunks with the reduction in feeding
losses.
A beef producer needs to calculate costs associated with wintering their beef cows. The
costs of forage production, harvesting, storage, storage losses, feeding, feeding losses, and
supplementation need to be calculated. It is often cost effective to feed beef cows byproduct or
corn-based diets rather than hay, because of the availability of byproducts and corn in Illinois.
Producers need to develop least cost diets or grazing plans for their particular operation, while
accounting for any increased storage or feeding costs with different feeding programs. These
programs may be based on grazing, hay or on other feedstuffs available in Illinois depending on
the costs for an individual operation. Different feeding programs can reduce winter feed costs by
more than 70%. Now is the time to plan a feeding program for next winter. If hay is the
feedstuff of choice, it is important to harvest the hay early to get high quality. This gives
producers an opportunity to limit feed hay and reduce costs.
How the cattle are supplemented is quite critical. If concentrate (grain and/or protein)
supplementation exceed .5% of body weigh (6 lbs for a 1200 lb cow), then cattle will not
perform as expected due to negative associative effects. The optimum level of supplementation
is .25% (3 lbs for a 1200 lb cow) of body weight. Energy (usually a concentrate like corn)
supplementation is usually what is needed unless the hay is low in protein (7% crude protein for
dry cows and 11% crude protein for lactating cows). Higher levels of supplementation are
possible with highly digestible fiber sources like corn gluten feed or soybean hulls. If your cows
are larger than the examples, they should be fed proportionally more feed. Examples of diet for
cows are given in the attached slides.
When determining how to supplement beef cows a number of factors must be considered.
Are there feed bunks to feed corn or other meal type supplements? Is the ground firm enough to
feed cubes? If these are not possibilities, then blocks or lick tanks may be the best option.
Careful consideration must be given to cost. Supplementation cost must be kept quite low to
maintain profitability in the beef enterprise. When evaluating costs it is important to consider
both the cost of the corn (or other feedstuff) and the mineral supplement: because, complete
commercial feeds contain both.
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Minerals are needed by cattle for maintenance and growth due to their involvement in
various enzyme systems and chemical reactions that occur in body tissues. They are also needed for
bone and teeth formation. The amounts of minerals needed depend on the stage of growth and
reproduction of the animal. The only minerals in addition to salt that are needed for beef cows in
Illinois are calcium, phosphorus, and deficient trace minerals. Selenium and iodine are often
deficient in Illinois' soil and may need to be supplemented. A general guide in determining the need
for supplemental calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) or potassium (K) is given in the following table.
Macro Mineral Levels in Grains and Forages
Ca
Grains
Forages
++
P
+
-
K
++
Generally, trace mineral supplementation is inexpensive and should be considered good
insurance to prevent problems. We recommend that all trace minerals be included in the mineral
mix. Recent research suggests that Copper sulfate is more available than copper oxide. We
recommend supplements that use the sulfate form of copper. Selenium may not be routinely
included in trace mineral premixes. It is deficient in certain areas of Illinois resulting in white
muscle disease, retained placenta, stillbirths, weak calves that are susceptible to diarrhea and
pneumonia, and lowered fertility. Therefore, we recommend selenium supplementation of beef
cattle in Illinois.
Vitamin E interacts with selenium in the deficiencies mentioned so it is advisable to have at least
400 IU/lb. of vitamin E in a mineral mix. Vitamin A may be deficient in some feeds. It is advisable
that it also be supplemented with at least 80,000 IU/lb. in a mineral mix. These mixtures should not
be stored for extended periods because the vitamins can be broken down when mixed with minerals.
If you are feeding high levels of corn gluten feed we would recommend supplementing about 500
mg of Thiamine to prevent polio.
Minimum levels of important minerals in a salt mineral mix for high quality forage diets (assuming
4 oz/day consumption).
6% Phosphorus
10% Calcium
.001% Selenium
.01% Iodine
400 IU/lb Vit E
80,000 IU/lb Vit A
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Minimum mineral levels in salt mineral mix for weathered hay, crop residues or poor pastures.
10% Phosphorus
12% Calcium
.003% Selenium
.01% Iodine
400 IU/lb Vit E
80,000 IU/lb Vit A
Minimum mineral levels in salt mineral mix for corn silage diets.
6% Phosphorus
20% Calcium
.003% Selenium
.01% Iodine
400 IU/lb Vit E
80,000 IU/lb Vit A
Minimum mineral levels in salt mineral mix for high grain diets.
0% Phosphorus
25% Calcium
.003% Selenium
.01% Iodine
400 IU/lb Vit E
80,000 IU/lb Vit A
We would also recommend including magnesium oxide to prevent grass tetany (spring and
fall) and antibiotics to prevent anaplasmosis and pink eye (summer). There are many excellent
commercial mineral mixes available both in a salt mix and alone. Either is acceptable but be sure
that salt is available to supply the animal with sodium. The mineral mixture should be matched to
the type of cattle and type of diet you are feeding. Also be sure that the animals are consuming the
recommended amount of the mixture to avoid deficiencies
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