Understanding that diet quality effects passage rate in the rumen and therefore pasture intake is key to creating an effective supplement program, particularly during winter.
With the current season being drier than usual and many parts of Queensland and Northern New South Wales recording lower than average summer rain falls, it is time to start thinking about supplementation during Autumn and Winter. Pasture quantity and quality are key drivers of production. As the winter months creep forward, nutrient density in pastures change, primarily associated with plant maturity. As grasses reach maturity, phase 4 or when seed head has lost all seeds, these plants are both low in protein and energy. During this time, it is important to assess grasses and provide stock with adequate protein and energy to prevent weight loss and maintain production.
As plants mature and become more lignified, they become harder to digest. Due to this reduction in digestibility of plants, the movement in the rumen in slower and ‘gut fill’ increases. As a result, the animal is unable to consume the required pasture intake to meet daily requirements. Typically, tropical grasses, during winter have a Crude protein and metabolisable energy level of 6% and 5 MJ respectively. At this level, cattle can not consume enough pasture to meet requirements, with particular emphasis on breeding stock with higher maintenance requirements due to pregnancy or lactation.
Nutrient requirements increase substantially with milk production and pregnancy. Protein and energy requirements are greater during lactation than at any other time during the 12-month production cycle of a cow. Cows require 20% more protein and 14% more energy during the last third of pregnancy when compared to the middle third of pregnancy. As stated above, passage of forage through the cow’s digestive tract becomes slower and total intake is reduced as lower quality, more mature grasses are consumed. Inability of an animal to consume enough nutrients in a forage diet is greatest when density of the nutrient is low and/or when animal requirements are high. A cow consuming forage of 5%-6% crude protein is not likely to consume enough forage to meet protein requirements during lactation or late gestation.
Protein supplements can improve the nutritional status of the cows by increasing digestibility and intake of low-quality forages and increase nutrient flow of protein from the rumen to the intestine. Supplying protein supplements to cattle provides a source of nitrogen and sulphur for the development of large populations of desirable rumen microbes. Protein fed to ruminants can be divided into two broad groups:
Protein meals (Cottonseed, canola, Dried distillers grains) are great sources of rumen degradable protein, bypass protein and energy. Urea is also a great source of nitrogen; however, it contains no energy or bypass protein properties and is referred to as a non-protein nitrogen source. Urea is utilised with sulphur by rumen microbes to improve rumen function and supply a source of microbial protein.
It is important to note that with effective protein supplementation, animals can consume up to 30% more feed. This 30% increase in intake could mean the difference between losing weight and maintain weight. There is also an increased economic benefit to supplementation. Starting supplement programs early is a key factor in maintain weights over winter and avoiding the need for supplementary feeds such as hay or grain.
Make sure you are ready this dry season with a supplement plan. Talk to one of our friendly staff members about creating a supplement plan that best suits you and your production goals. Keep an eye out for our winter specials on supplements and stockfeeds. Click here to see all our complete range of supplements for Breeders.
Nutramix is an Australian stockfeed and agri-processing businesses in Queensland and New South Wales. Operating since 2001, our head office and premix plant is based at Warwick, Qld
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