Feed intake is a critical element in determining a cow’s nutrient requirements at different stages of production and to establish appropriate stocking rates.
Vitamin A is critical to cattle health and is generally consumed in adequate quantities. But Vitamin A in stored feedstuffs declines over time with exposure to sunlight and high temperatures.
Improving hay feeding efficiency represents “low-hanging fruit” in many seedstock and commercial operations. Feeding strategies for large round bales can be separated into use of a hay feeder and rolling bales out.
Grazing cattle generally benefit from a vitamin and mineral supplementation program, but achieving “balance” between animal requirements and vitamin or mineral supply can be a challenge.
The value of added weight gain from creep feeding usually will not cover the added feed, labor and equipment costs unless feed is exceptionally inexpensive and (or) when value of added weight gain is exceptionally high.
