K-State Research and Extension

“Deworming Feeder Cattle”

by Chris Reinhardt, feedlot specialist

The value of deworming pasture and feedlot cattle has been clearly demonstrated to the livestock community; the research is definitive and media surveys indicate that ranchers and cattle feeders have gotten the message loud and clear.

But if you dig very deep into the science of deworming, into specific parasites, life cycles, and mode of action of dewormers it is very easy to become overwhelmed with the seeming complexity of the situation and potential solutions. The good news is you don’t have to dig very deep to understand the issue.

Parasites live most of their life inside the animal, but require green grass, moisture, and relatively warm temperatures to start the life cycle over. Eggs are laid by mature females living inside the animal and excreted in feces; warm temperatures stimulate the eggs to hatch and release larvae; larvae reside in dew drops on blades of grass and are consumed by the animal; the larvae then mature inside the host. In short, if there are eggs in the feces, the cattle have mature worms inside their digestive tract.

If you receive cattle which have been grazing green grass, they are likely carrying some level of internal parasites. If you receive cattle which have been in drylot and were effectively dewormed upon arrival in that drylot they should have little to no parasite burden. There is a simple test that your veterinarian can conduct, using a small amount of fresh manure, to determine the level of internal parasites and the effectiveness of your deworming program.

Parasites make it difficult for cattle to respond to vaccination and to fight off viral infection because the 2 different types of immune battles are competing for immune resources. If you are having unexpected health problems several weeks or months into the feeding program, you may wish to have the cattle examined for internal parasites.

“Feedlot Implant Programs”

by Chris Reinhardt, feedlot specialist

Few topics can stir up as much fervent debate in the coffee shop or in the ivory tower as that of growing/finishing implant strategies. Fortunately, there is a great deal of good, controlled, scientific information available to help with the decision. Unfortunately, few “experts” take the time to actually peruse the data to help come up with a science-based recommendation. A wise man once replied after being asked for an implant recommendation, “Use ‘em!” There is truth in that succinct approach—Implants work. Implants capitalize on the very same complicated hormonal cascade that controls all growth in the beef animal; similar to if you had used a larger framed bull to accomplish the very same end result: a larger, more efficient animal. Implants may be as close as we have in the beef industry to a free lunch.

But if we do decide to further complicate the discussion, we have to acknowledge that with choices come compromises. A more potent, higher dosage implant program will result in greater growth and greater efficiency, but also lower marbling content. A milder implant program may preserve greater marbling, but you will give up efficiency and pounds. Based on current economics, my standard recommendation is to match implant dosage to animal size and energy content of the diet. In other words, freshly weaned calves being fed a starting/growing diet should probably receive a mild estrogenic-based implant. Backgrounded calves can receive a more moderate dosage combination implant. And yearlings on a high-grain, finishing diet can receive a high-potency conventional terminal implant.

Invariably, we encounter the question about feeding for a “natural” market. Make sure you have the market and the premium guaranteed, in legally binding form, before making a decision to not implant your cattle. Because on this scientists agree: implants add a great deal of efficiency and weight to your cattle, regardless of what strategy you decide to employ.

“Feedlot Finishing Rations”

by Chris Reinhardt, feedlot specialist

The decision to feed calves on beyond the growing phase through to finish should not be taken lightly. Depending on the economics, some producers may elect to sell all the calves after growing, sell some calves after the growing phase and finish the remaining calves, or finish the entire group. But some form of price risk protection should be considered. Also, even if future price is protected, performance risk is still a factor—the unexpected blizzard will throw all our performance projections out the window.

The composition of the finishing ration will depend primarily upon two factors: ingredient availability and mixing facilities. If mixing facilities are not available, you may decide to finish the cattle on a self-feeder, which necessitates a dry ration which will flow through a gravity system. If you have excellent mixing facilities you may wish to include wet forages and/or wet grain by-products. NOTE: Some feed wagons have been used for mixing and do not do an adequate job of mixing feed. Improperly mixed rations can lead to disastrous consequences in performance and potentially lead to death by acidosis.

As discussed previously, roughage level should be determined by the other ingredients fed, quality of mixing facilities, and experience of those feeding the cattle. Many feeders have started feeding cattle using a 12-15% roughage level the first year, and slowly decreased their roughage level as experience taught them lessons. Diets high in grain by-products (≥30% on a dry-matter basis) may facilitate a reduction in roughage level, but only if experience and facilities make that possible.

Next month: Bunk management

“Calf Growing Rations”

by Chris Reinhardt, feedlot specialist

After weaning and deciding to hold the calf on the ranch for a few months prior to selling, finishing out at home, or shipping to the feedlot, you’ll need to determine what your goals are for the growing phase. This decision should be driven by the markets (fed cattle, feeder cattle, and corn), the weather, your facilities, and available feed supplies. These factors will determine how long you decide to feed the calves, and at what rate of gain.

Assuming that you have an abundant supply of low-cost forage available, the question of desired rate of gain will drive your decision of how much grain and/or grain byproducts to incorporate. Generally, for growing or forage-based diets, we can assume grain byproducts to have nearly equivalent energy value to cracked corn, although some have more value than others. Typically it can be said that distillers grains (wet or dry) have about 105% the energy value of corn, corn gluten feed about 95%, soyhulls about 80%, wheat midds about 75%, and should be priced accordingly. These numbers will vary depending on the feeding situation and ingredients making up the rest of the diet. If silage is used, a higher inclusion rate of dry byproducts can be considered; if only dry forage is used, wet byproducts are an attractive alternative.

If you are feeding corn or sorghum silage and your goal is for the calves to gain about 1.80-2 lb per day, you will need a ratio of 50:50 forage:grain (as-fed basis); if your goal is 2.5 lb per day, you’ll need roughly a 65:35 ratio. Using a blend of alfalfa/grass hays, you’ll need a forage:grain ratio of 70:30 to achieve 1.80-2 lb ADG and a 50:50 ratio for 2.5 lb ADG. Distillers grains or corn gluten feed can help balance protein needs; otherwise you’ll need an additional protein source such as soybean meal, cottonseed meal, or a commercial protein supplement. You may also need to balance for additional Calcium, vitamins, and trace minerals. If you do not have excellent mixing equipment you should consider purchasing and blending a commercial base mix or supplement to ensure that all cattle receive a balanced diet and performance is optimized; this is also an excellent way to provide an ionophore.

“Weaning Calf Rations”

by Chris Reinhardt, feedlot specialist

‘Tis the season: weaning time. This month we’ll address on-the-farm weaning rations.

The biggest hurdle in getting calves started off right in the fall is the weather. That’s one reason to consider early weaning and subsequent backgrounding. If calves get through the stressful process of weaning from their dam and onto feed ahead of the annual late-October 35º rain, they have a good chance at success.

Good quality grass hay is very palatable and a good way to attract bawling calves to the bunk. Don’t use a bale ring; you’ll just need to re-train them to the bunk later. After 1-2 days of hay feeding, limit hay consumption to about 1.0% of bodyweight (5 lb for 500 lb calf) and top-dress 3-5 lb/head (for 500 lb calf) of the weaning ration on top of the hay. As calves consume this small amount of mixed diet, begin to further reduce the amount of hay you feed each day and increase the amount of mixed diet. CAUTION: Increase the feed offered per head very gradually. Excessive consumption of even a moderate energy starter diet can cause acidosis in a calf which hasn’t been fully adapted to grain. Increase the ration no more than 2 lbs/head every other day. If calves are hungry, feed 1-2 lbs of extra hay in the bunk. If stools become loose, you may have increased the ration too rapidly. If this happens, feed an additional 1-2 lbs/head of hay. Healthy calves should consume about 3% of bodyweight by 14 days on feed. Sick calves may take longer to reach this level of consumption. Gauge any changes you make to feed deliveries on cattle behavior and disease status—slower may be better in the long run.

You want to make the weaning diet as easy of transition for the calves as possible. You need to deliver energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals, all in a form that they will readily consume. A standard mixture of 50% ground hay (grass or grass/alfalfa mix), 50% concentrate (including cracked or ground grain and starter supplement) can be fairly easy to blend and manage. However, if byproduct feeds such as wheat midds, soy hulls, distillers grains, or corn gluten feed are available and inexpensive, they can be substituted for a portion of the grain component. Silage should be limited to ≤10% in the starter ration but can be increased in later step-up diets.

Avoid the temptation to skimp on QUALITY of starter ingredients; also, avoid the temptation to rush the QUANTITY of starter ration you provide for the calves to eat. When calves have consumed 3% of their body weight of the starter ration continuously for 3-5 days, you can move them up to the next step-up ration.

“Storage of Wet Distiller’s Grains for the Beef Operation”

by Chris Reinhardt, feedlot specialist

If you have interest in using some wet distillers grains (WDG) now may be the time. The spot price will typically reflect corn prices but there is also an additional “supply-demand” dynamic at play. To avoid cost of drying distillers grains, ethanol producers would prefer to market the product as WDG, provided the price is right. For operations that are a reasonable distance from an ethanol plant, WDG may be an excellent choice of feedstuffs. WDG not only have very good energy and protein values, the moist nature of WDG make it an excellent ration conditioner in diets containing only dry ingredients.

In the summer, and especially this summer, many feedlots feed reduced numbers of cattle, which reduces the demand for WDG. This may actually cause the price of WDG to fall below its normal range of 90-110% the price of corn on an equal dry matter basis—in other words, a bargain. Assuming that freight and the cost of hauling the moisture portion of the WDG doesn’t consume the price advantage; this is a buying opportunity for beef producers.

Unfortunately, WDG have a very limited shelf-life of 5-7 days if stored out in the open due to mold development, and some producers may not feed sufficient numbers of cattle to feed through a full 20 ton load of product in less than a week. One way to capture a greater amount of this potential discount is to buy several loads and store the product in an anaerobic environment. This can be as simple as dumping the product on a concrete slab and covering with plastic and tires, as we normally would a bunker silo. Another method is to have the wet product bagged by a commercial bagger on site. A third option is to blend the wet product with 25-30% of dry forage such as hay, straw, or corn stalks. The benefit of this option is that this blend can be packed in a bunker silo with a tractor similar to corn silage. This third option presents one challenge in that the final product should be tested for nutrient content for proper ration balancing.Make sure to push a sharp pencil when evaluating the cost-value opportunities of WDG. But there may certainly be an opportunity to include WDG as part of your fall and winter feeding program.

“Feedlot Nutrition Made Easy – Use of Distiller’s Grains in Growing and Finishing Diets”

by Chris Reinhardt, feedlot specialist 

Because of the modern “Bio-economy”, distiller’s grains (DG) are here for the foreseeable future and, depending on their price relative to corn and soybean meal, can be efficiently utilized in beef cattle diets. Distiller’s grains provide energy, protein, and minerals to the beef cattle diet, and are highly palatable. However, there are just a few guidelines to keep in mind when formulating diets with DG.

In forage-based diets for growing cattle, the fiber in DG can be an excellent source of energy. If the forage is of good quality, there are few limitations on the use of an energy source like DG. However, if you are trying to utilize very poor quality forage such as winter range, corn stalks, or wheat straw, addition of more than 4-5 lb per day (dry matter basis) may depress digestion of the forage.

In grain-based finishing diets, optimum inclusion level is based on fat and sulfur content. If your water is high in sulfur, you may not wish to exceed 20% of the dry matter as DG; if your water is extremely high in sulfur, you may not wish to use any DG. However, if sulfur is not an issue, feed conversion has been demonstrated to be maximized with inclusion of 25-35% (dry matter basis) wet DG in dry rolled corn-based finishing diets. If DG are priced well below corn, you may wish to exceed this level to improve cost of gain, although feed conversion may increase slightly.

Wet DG makes an excellent “conditioner” for a dry diet, holding ingredients together and reducing sifting out of denser ingredients. Conversely, dry DG is best used if there is a wet ingredient included, such as silage.

The value of DG is driven by its intended purpose. If we are feeding very low quality forage, we will determine price on an equal lb of crude protein basis in comparison to soybean meal, as protein is the first limiting nutrient we need to supplement. If we are feeding high quality forage such as corn silage, spring pasture, or alfalfa hay, the first limiting nutrient is energy, so we should price DG against corn.

“Feedlot Nutrition Made Easy – Step Up Programs”

 by Chris Reinhardt, feedlot specialist

Last month we explored finishing diet roughage levels. This month we’ll explore different ways to get there.

The initial roughage level of the receiving diet is determined by the kind and background of cattle we’re feeding. If we’ve been developing calves on a moderate level of roughage (25 – 50%, dry matter basis) we can more rapidly move cattle toward the finishing ration. If we’re working with young, light weight, high risk calves we’ll have to move through the transition period more slowly. Like many issues in cattle feeding, success of the program is more often determined by management of the program than by the nature of the program itself.

The most common step up program involves a series of step up diets (either 4 or 5), starting with about 45% roughage (the #1 ration) and terminating in the finishing ration (the #5 ration; commonly 8 – 10% roughage). We then need 3 diets in between containing about 30-35% (#2 ration), 20-25% (#3 ration), and 12-15% (#4 ration), depending on final diet roughage content. The other component of the step up program is how many days to feed each of the first 4 step up rations. Again, on large, adapted cattle we can be more ‘aggressive’, meaning we can spend fewer days on each ration and on lighter, unadapted cattle we should move more slowly. A common guideline is that we will feed each step up ration a minimum of 5 days each, but we can reduce or extend the number of days depending on intake, respiratory disease or acidosis in the pen.

Being overly conservative with the step up transitions may ultimately add a few days to the total finishing program, but being overly aggressive may cause acidosis, cyclical intakes, and chronically poor intakes for the entire feeding period. This latter situation will dramatically extend the time to finish the cattle and greatly increase the cost of gain. Once again, management is much more important than what program you use. And one way to ensure good management of the step up program is to err on the side of caution.

“Feedlot Nutrition Made Easy – Roughage levels”

by Chris Reinhardt, feedlot specialist

Don’t get me wrong, nutrition is extremely complex, especially when we consider the ruminant animal. That said, we ‘experts’ sometimes like to make things seem every bit as complicated as possible to ensure job security. But the reality is that there is always a hierarchy of topics to be addressed based on importance. For example: feed the cattle every day vs. formulate the correct Manganese concentration. There’s a lot of ground in between those 2 concepts, but that’s exactly the point.

When teaching the fundamentals of feedlot nutrition, regardless of the audience, we need to start with the basics. For me, that means things like bunk management, transition ration step-up programs, and final ration roughage content. Without having a firm grip on these ideas, any deeper investigation into ration formulation is wasted, because acidosis will suck out any performance advantage provided by a formulation change.

This month, we’ll discuss final roughage content and move on from there next month. Final diet roughage content will be driven by 1) diet composition, 2) available roughage sources, and 3) producer management ability. Final roughage concentration could range from 0-5% in some situations to 12-15% in others. (1) Diets containing a moderate to high concentration (≥ 25% on a dry matter basis) of wet corn milling by-products would (in my opinion) require less roughage, particularly in the warm, stable, weather months, than a diet of straight corn. (2) If all ingredients in the diet are dry, there is a greater likelihood of ingredient separation in the bunk. So you may consider using a little more dry roughage than if all or a portion of the roughage were silage, which helps maintain ration mix. (3) Producers with extensive cattle feeding experience and excellent mixing and feeding equipment can probably be successful feeding a lower roughage diet than the novice cattle feeder, or one with inadequate facilities.

In summary, we can help any producer finish cattle. It’s up to us to help maximize their respective opportunities.