K-State Ag Today: Beef expert gives advice for supplementing pasture cattle
10:10 a.m. Thursday, September 4, 2008
When distributing a weekly amount of supplementation to a cattle herd, is it better to ration out daily portions? Or put out the entire week's worth in one setting?
Ted McCollum, a beef specialist for Texas Agrilife Extension, addressed the issue at this year's K-State Beef Conference.
He says a single feeding offers better opportunities for each animal.
"Let's say we have 100 cows. We go out, and we're going to feed two pounds of feed to each cow, that's 200 pounds of supplement that we're going to distribute out -- either in a trough or perhaps on the ground," McCollum said. "Well, if you think about it, two pounds of that supplement will fit in my hands... and so if we've got 100 cows fighting over 200 pounds of supplement, then there's a high chance that some cows will never be able to consume supplement.
"On the other hand, if we go to the other extreme, and I'm going to feed all their supplement one day a week, then for 100 cows that would be putting out 1,400 pounds of supplement out at one time. Then, every cow has a much greater chance that she may not eat exactly 14 pounds, but she's going to have a greater chance of eating close to 14 pounds, than if we're on that everyday feeding program where we're putting out a small amount out for the cows."
You can find more information at your local extension office.
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