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Feeding Grain on Pasture

B

burnt

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Feb 28, 2008
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Location
Mid-western Ontario
O.K. this might sound like a stupid question but how do ya learn if you don't ask?? :)

I have wondered about feeding grain to young cattle on rotational grazing in high percentage alfalfa pasture where the protein can hit high in the 22 - 24% range. They would get Rumensin bolus' to help prevent bloat.

Would the cattle not benefit from a higher energy level since they are getting so much protein? I am thinking about maybe 3-4 lbs/hd/day of cracked corn to 7cwt. black heifers.

Any experience or input on this question?
 
I would advise against it, burnt. For one thing, cattle don't eat corn
(energy) very well when it's hot outside. In feedlots, they have a dickens of a time keeping cattle on feed in the summer. Energy supplies heat, which is what is needed in the winter, not the summer.

I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish by adding the corn.
Remember, your alfalfa hay has a lot of moisture in it at this time.
If anything, I would suggest putting out a hay bale for some dry matter. That seems to help cattle settle down better in the spring and breed better. I must caution you tho, that high protein can go against
getting cattle to settle with calf.

This is my opinion and I want to wish you the best of luck!!
 
Oh these are not breeding heifers! The idea would be to try to increase the rate of gain a bit by supplying more energy. If the cattle are getting more protein than they need, can it be utilized better by increasing the energy level in the feed intake?

I never thought of the effect of hot weather on consumption of a higher energy feed.
 
Getting a bit of corn in yearlings on lush spring forage is a great idea. The only thing they might be lacking is some energy and the corn will provide it .We do this all the time and have for many years. As with anything you do ,you need to put a pencil to it . We expect an additional .5 to .75 # / hd /day over just grass and mineral. Do your math and good luck!
 
burnt said:
Oh these are not breeding heifers! The idea would be to try to increase the rate of gain a bit by supplying more energy. If the cattle are getting more protein than they need, can it be utilized better by increasing the energy level in the feed intake?

I never thought of the effect of hot weather on consumption of a higher energy feed.
Click to expand...


I don't know where you are....but here--the South-- corn will burn cattle up in the summertime. It's a big NO NO.
 
kolanuraven said:
burnt said:
Oh these are not breeding heifers! The idea would be to try to increase the rate of gain a bit by supplying more energy. If the cattle are getting more protein than they need, can it be utilized better by increasing the energy level in the feed intake?

I never thought of the effect of hot weather on consumption of a higher energy feed.
Click to expand...


I don't know where you are....but here--the South-- corn will burn cattle up in the summertime. It's a big NO NO.
Click to expand...

Maybe the black ones,,,,,,but not the white ones. But of course the blacks stay in the pond all day anyway. :roll:
 
At what levels of feeding? These cattle would only be getting a bit of corn as I said earlier.

We have fed black cattle out to finished weight in the summer on full feed of shelled corn and not seen anything like that happening. They were in a barn/open yard.

We seldom get over 90F here in Ontario. I know my buddy from Mississippi likes coming here in the summer because he thinks it is cool at 85F. :lol:
 
burnt said:
At what levels of feeding? These cattle would only be getting a bit of corn as I said earlier.

We have fed black cattle out to finished weight in the summer on full feed of shelled corn and not seen anything like that happening. They were in a barn/open yard.

We seldom get over 90F here in Ontario. I know my buddy from Mississippi likes coming here in the summer because he thinks it is cool at 85F. :lol:
Click to expand...
90F is cool here in the summer!!!! Come on down, burnt...you can experience a Mississippi sauna...quarter inch mid-day shower followed by +100F in the shade. You can literally see the steam rising!!!!! :o :shock:
 
I'm no nutritionist, but I'd say that feeding a little supplemental energy on such a high protein diet would work rather well. Your northern climate and relatively low high temps would make it a suitable consideration. Your suggested level of 3 to 4 pounds would sure be alright for 7-weights. I suppose you run the risk of getting them too fleshy for some buyers, if you're selling, but you'd still be rewarded with all of the weight that you'd have on your hands in the end. If you're not selling as yearlings, but feeding them out instead, then the resulting carcasses should be well-marbled and high grading.

HP
 
Give it a try Burnt. Too cold here to grow corn so no experience with it but my Dad grass and grained (bly) to fatten yearling for years. I think they took them all the way to free choice with a self feeder. Not suggesting to do that but it shows that you can push the idea a long way.
 
We move our cattle daily and try to keep a fairly high stock density. All our pastures are fescue and white and red clover. We also see some summer annuals mainly crabgrass and a fair amount of lespedeza. Three pounds of corn would be a good place to start. In our area we have been getting DDGS much cheaper than corn and have been using that . Our fescue is moderately infected with endophite, which raises body temperature, and we have never had any problem supplementing our grass with a corn ration.
 
Robert mac that Mississippi Sauna sounds good to a frozen northen boy.Maybe you could send some up :wink:
 
I am a ruminant nutritionist so just a simple answer. Cracked corn will not work well because the lush grass has such a fast rate of passage that it will not have enough time for the corn to break down in the rumen. Try a screenings based pellet with more sugar (barley/wheat) to get full bang for your buck. You will get better breakdown and can feed alot less/head/day to get the same gains
 
Thank you, Just Ranchin'. That is the kind of input needed. I'm not sure what the cost of a pelleted would be, but I wonder if it might cancel the value of the extra feeding? I would have to work it out. We do have a bit of HRS wheat left from last year.
 
I had never heard of it on lush pasture but an old guy around here used to start feeding 5 pounds of grain to his yearlings for about the last 45 days before selling. He always sold an extra 50# per head.
 

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