Consider the Factors Affecting Nutrient Requirements of Your Herd

Consider the Factors Affecting Nutrient Requirements of Your Herd

There are a lot of factors to consider when determining the nutrient requirement of your herd. Remembering the biological priority for nutrients that cows use: first for maintenance, growth, milk production, reproduction and then when all the previous is covered the cows can build body reserves. Washington State University Extension Regional Livestock Specialist Dr. Don Llewellyn continues with other considerations

Llewellyn: "What that really says is that when you feed nutrients to a cow they are going to be used in a particular order for those production practices. Another thing you need to think about it is the stage of production: is the cow pregnant or not; weather plays a big part in affecting nutrients requirements; the cow's body weight and body condition those affect nutrient requirements. Also her projected milk production. If she is a heavy milking cow she is probably going to have a higher nutrient requirement as well. Also the age of the cow is going to make a big difference. Also the physical activity. Are these cows having to walk to feed and water — to a degree that is really a good thing to keep those cows healthy and have them deliver a healthy calf to get that exercise. But then that also increases the nutrient requirements. All things that you need to think about."

Tomorrow's Open Range we will continue our conversation with Dr. Llewellyn specifically addressing the different nutrient requirements of cows depending on their age.

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