Protein supplements help cows maintain body condition through winter

As temperatures begin to drop and Kansas pastures enter dormancy, Kansas State University cow-calf specialist Jason Warner says cattle producers should begin evaluating their cow herds’ nutritional needs to maintain body condition throughout the winter months.

Warner said declining forage quality during the fall and winter makes protein supplementation an important consideration for producers managing spring-calving herds.

“When we think about our low-quality forages, protein often is the most limiting nutrient for (cattle),” Warner said. “We see really nice responses to protein supplementation when we offer that to those cows that are grazing low-quality forages.”

As native grasses become dormant, their protein content declines, potentially limiting a cow’s ability to digest forage and obtain the energy needed to maintain body condition.

Warner said although protein requirements for spring-calving cows are relatively low during the early fall, those needs gradually increase as cows approach calving.

“When we think about trying to maintain protein in the diet of a cow so that it can have adequate forage digestion to get enough energy from forage that the cow consumes, it is important to remember our goal of meeting her needs on average across the feeding period,” Warner said.

Choosing the right supplement

Producers have several options when determining how to deliver supplemental protein, including self-fed products, such as lick tubs or blocks; and supplements delivered through feeding equipment or by hand.

Warner said the best option often depends on the operation’s available resources, pasture locations and the ability to access cattle regularly.

“A self-fed supplement that’s provided through a lick tub or a trough might be a good fit if it is difficult for producers to provide supplement to the herd on a daily or even every other day basis,” Warner said.

For producers with cattle located closer to feeding facilities, delivering supplements through a pickup-mounted cake feeder or feed mixer may provide a more practical option.

“There is a lot of flexibility with how these products can look,” Warner said. “When we think about protein, it’s the nutrient. We’re thinking about supplying the nutrient for the cow herd, and the way that it can be delivered can take a lot of different forms.”

Meeting nutritional requirements

Understanding the nutritional value of available forage is the first step in determining how much supplemental protein a cow needs.

Warner said producers should evaluate forage quality alongside the cow’s stage of production to determine the amount of additional protein needed.

“Supplying a half to a pound of protein per day in addition to grazing is normally adequate for late-gestation cows,” Warner said.

Cows entering the later stages of gestation may require approximately 1.6 to 2.5 pounds of total dietary protein per head daily, depending on forage quality and their stage of production.

Warner emphasized that supplement programs should focus on maintaining forage intake and body condition rather than simply increasing the amount of feed provided.

“Bringing protein into the system improves forage intake on low-quality forages very strongly and consistently,” he said.

Comparing protein costs

While cattle prices have remained favorable for producers despite recent market volatility, Warner said managing supplementation expenses continues to be an important part of maintaining profitability.

Rather than comparing feedstuffs based solely on their purchase price, producers should evaluate the cost relative to the amount of protein each product provides.

“That’s where we are pricing the supplement out on a cost per unit of protein basis, and it is a really valuable comparison,” Warner said.

To determine the cost of protein, producers can divide the price per ton of a supplement by its crude protein concentration expressed as a decimal.

For example, dry distillers grains priced at $225 per ton with a crude protein concentration of 30% would cost $750 per ton on a 100% crude protein basis.

In comparison, wheat middlings priced at $250 per ton with 17% crude protein would cost approximately $1,471 per ton on the same basis.

Warner said comparing feedstuffs this way allows producers to better understand the value of different protein sources, even when their initial purchase prices are similar.

“Pricing feedstuffs this way allows you to compare supplements on an apples-to-apples basis by equalizing the amount of protein delivered,” Warner said.

Ultimately, Warner encouraged producers to maximize available forage resources while selecting supplements that meet their herds nutritional needs at a reasonable cost.

“The straight cost of the nutrient can vary a lot depending on how it’s packaged,” Warner said.

More information about beef cattle nutrition and supplementation is available online from K-State Extension or from local extension offices in Kansas.

PHOTO: Journal photo by Lacey Newlin