what to feed pregnant cows

Full Answer

What do you feed a newborn calf after birth?

The calf should be fed the cow’s colostrum (the milk produced 4-5 days after calving) within 30 minutes to two hours of birth. If the calf isn’t getting enough colostrum and later milk, pooled colostrum or milk from other cows can be used. Artificial colostrum can also be procured from markets.

What should cattle producers know about pregnant cow nutrition?

Producers need to review their anticipated calving dates, cow body condition scores and cows' diet. Decisions a cattle producer makes about pregnant cow nutrition now can have major impacts on calf health in the spring and cow fertility during the next breeding season.

How do you increase protein in a pregnant cow?

While protein requirements for all pregnant cows increase in the later stages of gestation, they’re highest for young cows. This can be managed by separating the first- and second-calf heifers from the main herd, and supplementing the younger females with protein, or a higher level of protein.

How do you prepare a pregnant cow for calving?

Isolate the pregnant animal 10-15 days before calving is due. Keep it in a clean, well bedded, dry and disinfected maternity pen. Watch the animal every 2-3 hours as calving time approaches. Swelling of external genetalia and udder are symptoms of ensuing delivery. Most Cattle will deliver without any help.

What to feed cows before calving?

Hay should be tested for protein, and cows and heifers should be supplemented accordingly. By-product feeds or straw may be cost-effective in some situations. Some by-product feeds - corn distillers solubles, feather meal, for instance - are high in protein and by-pass protein.

How much feed does a pregnant cow need?

During the last two trimesters of pregnancy, mature cows generally consume 2 to 2.5% of their body weight on a dry-matter basis. For a 1,200 lb cow, this equates to 24 to 30 lb of hay per day on a dry-matter basis, or approximately 27 to 33 lb per day on an as-fed basis.

Is corn good for pregnant cows?

It was concluded from these trials that corn-based diets can meet the nutrient requirements of pregnant beef cattle without adverse effects on production and at a lower cost than feeding hay.

What minerals do pregnant cows need?

Minerals for Beef CowsMineralfor Lactating Cowsfor Pregnant CowsCalcium (%)0.450.30Phosphorus (%)0.200.20Potassium (%)0.700.60Magnesium (%)0.200.124 more rows•Jul 2, 2012

Is salt good for pregnant cows?

The sodium supplement increased the birth weight of their calves but after 6 weeks there was no difference between treatments in calf weight. In addition to milk, calves in both treatments were offered a choice of concentrates with normal or high sodium concentrations (5·8 and 10·8 g/kg dry matter, respectively).

Is molasses good for pregnant cows?

M8U (molasses plus 8% urea) M8U is a common supplement for survival/drought feeding, spike feeding pregnant heifers and cows, and keeping growing steers and heifers growing slowly during the dry season.

Are peanuts good for cows?

In summary, raw, whole in-shelled peanuts can be an easy to feed, energy and protein supplement feed for mature beef cattle. The best usage appears to be no more than 3 lbs per head per day as that amount with hay would meet protein and energy needs in most situations.

How do you take care of a pregnant cow?

A lactating animal should be dried within a period of 15 days after the 7th month of gestation. Pregnant animals should have enough space for standing and sitting comfortably....DAILY FEED REQUIREMENTS OF A PREGNANT ANIMAL.Green Fodder15-20 kgCompound Cattle Feed2-3 kgOil Cake1 kgMineral Mixture50 gSalt30 g1 more row

Is oat hay good for pregnant cows?

Producers should dilute oat hay with low-nitrate feeds to avoid health issues if tests show the oat hay has 1,500 to 3,500 parts per million (ppm) of nitrate nitrogen. For pregnant cows and heifers, nitrate levels below 1,000 ppm are considered safe.

How much calcium does a pregnant cow need?

“We are saying that you need to go to -20 milliequivalents and up to 2% of dietary dry matter for calcium,” he said. Ultimately, a negative DCAD diet with added calcium is useful both for the transition to lactation and for improving future pregnancy outcomes.

What does salt blocks do for cows?

A fine-screened selenium salt block or bagged product specially formulated with trace minerals to help meet the requirements of beef cattle. The trace minerals complement the diet to help promote digestion, growth, maintenance of body tissues, proper reproductive processes, and general animal well-being.

Are salt blocks good for cattle?

Loose salt and salt blocks are great products to be fed alongside a proper mineral program if your cattle need salt. But, they simply don't have enough in them to qualify for a whole mineral program. A great time to use salt blocks is if you are experiencing consumption challenges.

Adequate Nutrition is Vital

Ensuring proper nutrition is an important component of maintaining animal productivity and efficiency. Failing to meet nutritional requirements during pregnancy can have devastating effects on future productivity of the cow.

Meeting Winter Nutritional Needs

Although the nutritional needs associated with pregnancy increases during a time when feed availability is limited for spring calving herds, the good news is that there are many strategies that can be used to minimize costs. Ultimately, producers will have to choose for themselves the feeding practice that best fits their situation and goals.

Evaluation of the Winter Feeding Program

A key area to look at when evaluating the gestational feeding program is body condition. Body condition (1 to 9 scale) of cows should be assessed at weaning to determine whether or not additional feed will be required throughout the winter. The ideal body condition score at calving is 5 to 6.

What temperature should cows be kept at?

Even with heavy winter coats, nutrient requirements for cows begin to increase when the temperature is below the “lower critical temperature” of about 18 F.

How much TDN should a cow need?

This means the same 1,300-pound cow that needed 12.5 pounds of TDN per day at a temperature of 18 F may need up to 14.8 pounds of TDN per day at a temperature of 0 F.

What do producers need to know about calving?

Producers need to review their anticipated calving dates, cow body condition scores and cows' diet. Decisions a cattle producer makes about pregnant cow nutrition now can have major impacts on calf health in the spring and cow fertility during the next breeding season.

Do cows get pregnant after calving?

Studies also show that the need for good nutrition during pregnancy carries over to fertility the following breeding season. Cows that are thin at calving have a greater chance of not becoming pregnant the following breeding season, compared with cows that calve in good body condition.

Do heifers need to be on a greater plane of nutrition than older cows?

Therefore, thin cows and heifers need to be on a greater plane of nutrition than older cows in good condition. Dahlen recommends producers consider sorting heifers and thin cows into their own group for feeding if possible. If not, producers should try to spread feed out over a larger area to reduce the incidence of thin cows being pushed away ...

Nutrition with John McKinnon

In my previous column, I discussed how pregnant beef cows prioritize nutrient use for different physiological functions, including maintenance, lactation, pregnancy and growth.

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What type of hay should I feed my cows?

The level of protein never has to be higher than about 12 per cent, which they would need right before calving. High-quality grass hay, or a grass/alfalfa mixed hay would be ideal for cows in late-stage gestation. Cows are very efficient in their utilization of nitrogen,” he says. “If the fall pasture forage is low on protein you can extend ...

How much urea should I feed my cows?

Feed-grade urea is another option. For cows to use urea efficiently, three or four pounds of grain should be fed per head daily. “Cows need the soluble carbohydrates in order to use the urea,” says Yaremcio. “If you are using urea in a ration, no more than 25 per cent of the total protein should come from urea.

What is DDG in cows?

You need to know the form or structure of that protein supplement coming as dried distillers grain (DDG) plus solubles. “There are other protein sources such as hull products (pea hulls or oat hulls). They may not be as high in protein and may be higher in fibre, but will certainly add to the protein in the diet to meet cows’ requirements.

Do cows need different levels of nutrition?

Cows require different nutritional levels at different stages of gestation. Nutrient requirements in early gestation are not much different from maintenance requirements, but as the fetus grows larger the cow’s nutrient needs increase. And if a cow is lactating, she needs a much higher level of protein and energy than when she is pregnant.

Do ruminants need protein?

ADVERTISEMENT. They do need an adequate level of protein to “feed” the microbes in the rumen that break down forages into usable nutrients and get the energy benefit from dry feeds like mature grass or even straw.

Do cows need more protein?

And if a cow is lactating, she needs a much higher level of protein and energy than when she is pregnant. Protein requirements for pregnant cows increase during later stages of gestation, and are even higher for young cows. If you are keeping the young cows (the ones that will be first and second calvers) separate from the main herd, ...

Can cows be roughed?

The mature cows can be roughed through winter and early spring a lot easier than younger cows, because they are not trying to grow. Ruminant researcher Dr. Tim McAllister at the Lethbridge Research Centre says protein requirements are fairly low in the fall for spring-calving cows, around eight per cent.

How long after calving can you feed an animal?

After calving, the animal must be encouraged to move to the manger for feeding, especially on the day of calving and the first two days after calving. Provide clean drinking water and protection from thermal stress. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

When do cows start calf management?

Calf Management. The Calf management immediately starts after its birth. Below are the detailed information regarding management. Immediately after birth, though the cow licks the calf clean, the extra mucous or phlegm from the calf’s nose and mouth can be removed to stimulate breathing and circulation.

How to keep a calf warm?

If cold, keep the calf warm by rubbing and drying the calf with a dry cloth or gunny bag. Tie the calf’s umbilical cord about 3-5 cm away from its body. Make an incision 1 cm below the ligature and apply tincture of iodine to avoid infection. Advertisement.

How long after calving should a cow have milk?

Advertisement. The calf should be fed the cow’s colostrum (the milk produced 4-5 days after calving) within 30 minutes to two hours of birth. If the calf isn’t getting enough colostrum and later milk, pooled colostrum or milk from other cows can be used. Artificial colostrum can also be procured from markets.

Do cattle deliver without help?

Most Cattle will deliver without any help. In case of any difficulty, provide veterinary help. Advertisement. Do not tire the animal by making it move over long distances, especially on uneven surfaces. Ensure it is not fighting with other Cattle or chased by dogs and other animals.

Can you make colostrum with eggs?

Artificial colostrum can also be procured from markets. However, artificial colostrum can also be prepared using an egg, half liter of fresh warm water, half liter of whole milk, a teaspoon of castor oil and similar amount of cod liver oil.