It’s not too early to think about winter nutrition for cows

Summer is here, but soon you’ll need to create a feeding program to take your cows through the winter months. Here are some ideas.

5 Min Read
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Summer is a time when beef cows receive the majority of their required nutrients from grazed forage. And even though we’re in the hottest part of the summer, it’s still an excellent time to consider nutritional programs for the dormant grass winter months. Testing forages for nutrient content is the best way to determine if your forage is meeting the cow’s requirements and whether supplemental nutrients (typically protein) are needed.

“A spring-calving beef cow in late gestation requires more energy and protein, and this further increases at calving to more than 40% above maintenance requirements,”1 says Sara Linneen, Ph.D., Elanco technical consultant and beef cattle nutritionist. “Body condition scoring (BCS) of cows at frost is a proactive management practice for determining their nutrient status, especially for spring-calving cows prior to calving. Cows that calve in poor (BCS ≤ 4.5) body condition have more days from calving to next estrus, and they require more energy to recover condition than cows that calve in ideal condition.”2

Rumensin® is a feed additive that’s trusted by generations with research supporting its improvement in mature beef cow and replacement heifer productivity. Rumensin shifts the rumen microorganism population to favor gram-negative microbial species that increase energy available to the cow. Cows consuming 200 mg/hd/d of Rumensin during gestation and lactation can consume up to 10% less feed than in normal feeding conditions and maintain body weight similar to cows not being fed Rumensin.3

“This translates to feed cost savings through either feeding less hay for the winter season or carrying over more harvested forage to the next year,” says Dr. Linneen. At a feeding cost of $0.02 per cow per day, the potential cost savings per cow from the improvement in feed efficiency is approximately $12-20 per cow depending on feed costs based on a 120-day winter feeding period. 

Rumensin prevents and controls coccidiosis by killing it at three different life cycle stages in the lower digestive tract to prevent multiplication.4,5 This reduces subsequent reinfection of cows by decreasing coccidia shedding in the feces, potentially also providing a cleaner environment for calves. Finally, another benefit of Rumensin in replacement heifers is the improvement in average daily gain. 

“Because they are putting on weight quicker, they reach puberty sooner, which typically has positive implications for lifetime performance,”6,7 Dr. Linneen notes. “Research results indicate that heifers calving in the first 22 days of the calving period will calve earlier and have higher pregnancy rates over their productive lifetime, not to mention be retained in the herd longer than heifers that calve later in the calving period.”8  

Rumensin comes in dry or liquid form, and it must be fed daily to cows in a minimum 1 lb supplement with Rumensin fed at a rate ranging from 50 to 200 mg/cow/d. The ideal method of delivering Rumensin on label is through a protein or energy supplement, whether that’s dry or liquid. Preparing for a winter feeding program with Rumensin will help enable cows to maintain body condition on less feed, even in challenging environmental conditions. 

Talk with your Elanco representative or feed supplier about how Rumensin can augment your winter feeding program, or visit trustedbygenerations.com.

The label contains complete use information, including cautions and warnings. Always read, understand and follow the label and use directions.
 CAUTION: Consumption by unapproved species or feeding undiluted may be toxic or fatal. Do not feed to veal calves. 

Rumensin: Mature reproducing beef cows (on pasture or in dry lot)
•    For improved feed efficiency when receiving supplemental feed: Feed continuously at a rate of 50 to 200 mg/hd/d. Cows on pasture or in drylot must receive a minimum of 1.0 lb of Type C medicated feed/hd/d. Do not self-feed.
•    For the prevention and control of coccidiosis due to Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii: Feed at a rate of 0.14 to 0.42 mg/lb of body weight/d, depending upon severity of challenge, up to a maximum of 200 mg/hd/d.

Rumensin: Growing cattle on pasture or in drylot (stockers, feeders, and dairy and beef replacement heifers)
•    For increased rate of weight gain: Feed 50 to 200 mg/hd/d in at least 1.0 lb of Type C medicated feed. Or, after the 5th day, feed 400 mg/hd/d every other day in at least 2.0 lbs of Type C medicated feed. The Type C medicated feed must contain 15 to 400 g/ton of monensin (90% DM basis). Do not self-feed.
•    For the prevention and control of coccidiosis due to Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii: Feed at a rate to provide 0.14 to 0.42 mg/lb of body weight/d, depending upon the severity of challenge, up to a maximum of 200 mg/hd/d. The Type C medicated feed must contain 15 to 400 g/ton (90% DM basis).
•    Free-choice supplements: Approved supplements must provide not less than 50 nor more than 200 mg/hd/d of monensin.

Rumensin: Calves (excluding veal calves) 
•    For the prevention and control of coccidiosis due to Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii: Feed at a rate of 0.14 to 1.00 mg/lb of body weight/d, depending upon severity of challenge, up to a maximum of 200 mg/hd/d. The Type C medicated feed must contain 10 to 200 g/ton of monensin (90% DM basis).

1National Research Council (NRC). Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle (2016). Chapter: Tables of nutrient requirements. Page 402.
2Houghton PL, et al. Effects of Body Composition, Pre- and Postpartum Energy Level and Early Weaning on Reproductive Performance of Beef Cows and Preweaned Calves. J. Anim. Sci. 1990; 68:1438. 
3Rumensin FOI, NADA 095-735.
4McDougald LR. Chemotherapy of coccidiosis. PL Long (ed.). The biology of the coccidia. University Park Press, Baltimore. 1980;373-427.
5Long PL, Jeffers TK. Studies on the Stage of Action of Ionophorous Antibiotics Against Eimeria. J. Parasitology. 1982;68(3):363-371.
6Patterson DJ, et al. Management Considerations in Heifer Development and Puberty. J. Anim. Sci. 1992;70:4018.
7Elanco Animal Health. Data on file.
8Cushman RA, et al. Heifer Calving Date Positively Influences Calf Weaning Weights Through Six Parturitions. J. Anim. Sci. 2013;91:4486-4491.


Rumensin, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. 
© 2020 Elanco. PM-US-20-1233
 

 

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