Beef Cow Nutrient Requirements
Protein & Energy Requirements – Mature Cows
Last 1/3 Gestation (predicted gain 0.9 lb/day)
Dry Matter
Crude
TDN,
Weight, lb*
Intake, lb/d Protein, lb/d
lb/d
1100
21.0
1.6
11.2
1200
22.3
1.7
11.8
1300
23.6
1.8
12.5
1400
24.9
1.9
13.1
*in average body condition (BCS=5)
from Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle, 6th Ed., 1984
Calcium,
grams/d
25
26
28
29
Phosphorus,
grams/d
20
21
23
24
Protein & Energy Requirements – Mature Cows
1st 3-4 months lactation (predicted gain 0.0 lb/day; 20 lb milk/day)
Dry Matter
Crude
TDN,
Calcium,
Weight, lb*
Intake, lb/d Protein, lb/d
lb/d
grams/d
1100
22.3
2.6
14.5
38
1200
23.8
2.7
15.2
39
1300
25.3
2.8
15.9
41
1400
26.7
2.9
16.5
42
*in average body condition (BCS=5)
from Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle, 6th Ed., 1984
Phosphorus,
grams/d
27
28
30
31
Relationship Between
Crude Fiber (on the tag)
and TDN Content
Crude Fiber, not more than
TDN*
4
79
6
76
8
73
10
70
12
67
14
64
16
61
18
58
20
55
22
52
24
49
*TDN (Total Digestible Nutrients) is a calculated value.
Crude fiber sources differ in their digestibility. Therefore,
the TDN values shown here are approximations.