12/29/05 Pre-calving nutrition

Pre-calving Nutrition Sometimes it's not what you do that makes a difference, it's when you do it. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be right back to explain. Dr. Art Linton, extension beef specialist, Washington State University recently reported on a three-year experiment conducted by University of Nebraska scientists studying the effects of pre-calving protein supplementation for spring-calving beef cows. Specifically the scientists wanted to monitor differences in reproductive efficiency and calf performance through the feedlot. The crossbred cows used in the test were divided into two groups before calving. Both groups were grazing on native range, but one group received 1# /day of a 42% protein supplement while the control group did not. Both groups were fed grass hay only during calving. I would have thought the protein supplementation would have shown up in the following year's pregnancy rate, but the greatest differences were noted in percentage of calves weaned and heavier weaning weights. Also, of course, daily gain from birth to weaning was higher. But the most interesting result to me was that average daily gain from birth to harvest was higher for calves from the supplemented cows, meaning these calves even gained better in the feed lots than calves from non-supplemented cows. All the time we spend packing protein to the cows before and during breeding season to help increase conception rates might have provided more return on investment by supplementing the cows before calving. I'm Jeff Keane. Ketch Pen December 2005