Feedlots and cow/calf operations in the beef industry who feed 500 or more has annually on grains and concentrates; maintain 500 or more beef cows; backgrounder, stocker/grower, preconditioner; veterinarian, nutritionist, consultant
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e specially if they must be exposed to wind in order to graze. Energy supplementation can help maintain body condition score in grazing sit- uations. We recommend fiber- based energy supplements such as soybean hulls, gluten feed, distill- er's grains, etc. to provide energy without reducing forage digestibil- ity. If weather conditions prevent cows from grazing, feed enough good quality grass or small grain hay to keep cows full. Grass or small grain hay with high TDN tests are recommended as they provide similar energy as alfalfa hay with reduced rate of passage, thus they are a more ef- fective aid in maintaining core tem- perature. Avoid the temptation to f eed cows more than 0.3% of body weight in corn or other grain dur- ing cold stress, unless your diet is specifically designed to do so. Al- though concentrates contain more energy, forages produce more heat in the rumen and aid cows in main- taining core body temperature. I have heard all kinds of fore- casts for this winter, and I am sure all of us will experience at least some cold and/or snow this winter. Plan ahead, and communicate your plan to all involved, so winter weather will have minimal impact on your operation. Jeremy Martin, Ph.D., is a Nutritionist with Great Plains Livestock Consulting (www.gplc-inc.com). FL FEED•LOT November 2015 7 We recommend removing snow from pens any time accumulation could lead to wet or muddy pens. The cost of doing so will be more than made up for in cattle health and performance. — Jeremy Martin, Ph.D. when major fronts and/or associ- ated moisture cause interruptions in the daily routine of the cattle or feeding crew. If cattle are being fed on schedule and consumption is n ot limited substantially by weath- e r conditions, there is no need to use a storm ration. In many cases, a good storm ration strategy is sim- ply to back up one ration, increas- ing the roughage level and diluting the energy to prevent digestive deaths when the storm passes. By doing so, it is possible to maintain dry matter intake with limited risk to the cattle, and limited loss of per- formance. In extreme cases of cold weather, cattle may back off feed even if no storm is involved. In these cases, it is wise to use a storm ration before cattle come ag- gressively back to the bunk. Cowherd management in cold weather depends on whether cows are drylotted or grazing. Cows in a drylot will generally eat more in cold weather, and simply deliver- ing more feed is a viable option to minimize the effects of cold stress. Again, maintaining a dry, smooth pen surface is critical. Grazing animals often have reduced intake during cold snaps, S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; S&W; The Original Blow-Hard Bunk Cleaner End Your Bunk Cleaning Problems • Never miss a feeding • Works in any shape bunks • Replaces men and shovels • Fly spraying attachment available • Over 32 years of proven performance S&W; Welding, Inc. 1-800-881-5510 402-372-5510 www.swwelding.com References Available Be R e a dy F o r O l d Ma n W i nt e r