By Scout Nelson
Persistent drought and high hay prices continue creating challenges for beef producers. Limited forage supplies and expensive hay increase feeding costs, but replacement heifers remain an important investment because they become the future breeding cows of the herd.
Kim Ricardo, SDSU Extension Forage Field Specialist, encourages producers to carefully plan feeding programs that support steady growth while making the best use of available forage. Proper feed planning, forage testing, and balanced nutrition help reduce costs without sacrificing animal performance.
The first step is completing a feed inventory. Producers should test hay, silage, crop residues, and other feeds instead of judging quality by appearance alone. Feed analysis helps identify protein and energy levels and shows whether supplements are needed.
Replacement heifers should continue growing through fall and winter. Most should reach 55% to 60% of their mature body weight before breeding and 80% to 85% before calving. Steady daily weight gains are usually more economical than rapid growth.
Alternative feed resources can help stretch limited hay supplies. Corn stalks, small-grain stubble, cover crops, and byproduct feeds such as distillers grains, soybean hulls, wheat middlings, corn gluten feed, and beet pulp all provide useful nutrients when included in balanced rations. Producers should also test drought-stressed forages for nitrates and carefully manage grazing on certain cover crops.
Reducing hay waste is equally important. High-quality hay should be reserved for replacement heifers and lactating cows, while lower-quality forage can be fed to cattle with lower nutrient needs. Separating heifers from mature cows also improves feeding efficiency. Limit-feeding quality hay with proper supplements is another way to reduce forage use.
Minerals and vitamins should not be overlooked. Some byproduct feeds contain high phosphorus levels, making mineral balance important. Vitamin A supplements may also be needed when cattle have limited access to green forage.
Photo Credit: istock-123ducu
Categories: South Dakota, Crops, Hay & Forage, Livestock, Beef Cattle