Cow-Calf Corner: Missed Opportunities

Beef cows are largely kept for the purpose of turning various forages and crop residues at ideally at low cost into beef production...

04/23/2009

Generally a minimal amount of additional supplementary feeds are required past a good mineral/trace mineral and vitamin program.

Feedstuffs

It has been proven that most of the grain and forages in Ontario are deficient in several trace minerals whether it be in spring/summer pasture or stored/ensiled forages for winter feeding.

The following chart from the Animal Health Lab University of Guelph 1999-2000 documents the facts that trace mineral and vitamin deficiencies do exist at a higher rate in the Ontario Beef Cow Herd than once thought.

Ont. Cull Beef Cows: Livers of 55 Cows

Nutritional Item mcg/ml	Mean	Min	Max	Adeqate Range
Vitamin E	11.59	2.1	34.6	20-40
Selenium	0.81	0.3	1.40	0.9-3.5
Copper	100	8	328	75-300
75-300Manganese	8.55	5.3	13.0	7.5-18
Zinc	127	80	360	75-300

***A similar study was done with blood samples collected from beef herds with no know problems and results were similar to the previous liver study.

What can a lot of Performance Shortages/Cow Cost your bottom Line ??

Some Examples:1.Failure to produce adequate quality colostrum:

Supplementary Feeding of FirstStart50 Colostrum Replacer

2 pkgs x $12.00= $24.00/cow

2.Slow return to Estrus in early Part of Breeding Season:

21 days delayed breeding x 2 lbs ADG of Calf x $1.00/lb value= $42.00/cow

Where Do You Start with a $30-$40.00/cow Balanced Mineral Supplement Investment Program?