Winter Time Checklist or Check off
Winter care for livestock is not on everyone’s mind during the holiday season and winter season, but can quickly become a problem when neglected. Small steps of prevention reduce the need of feed, grain and medical bills in both the long and short runs. The biggest factor that Kentucky producers have had to fight thus far in the fall and coming winter is the mud. Intake decreases as the mud increases, it is advisable to vary the areas that you feed grain and hay. This not only keeps the mud down, but it keeps the livestock from congregating in areas prone to mud and prevents the spread of disease. By varying the locations of feeding, producers are creating forced exercise for animals during a time in which exercise decreases due to low amount of grass forages.
When cold weather or temperatures drop below freezing, animals tend to burn more calories to stay warm. If the animal is wet and cold the energy consumption of the animal doubles. This translates into feeding higher energy feeds so the animal can stay warm and still continue to gain weight or maintain condition. As a general rule of thumb when temperatures drop below freezing you will want to increase the ration by one percent of the animal’s body weight, when the weather is dry but cold. Producers want to increase the rations by two percent or more if the wind-chill, snow or ice becomes a factor.
Shelter and water are the two things most ignored by producers in the winter months; these two essentials are the main factors that are going to save money down the road. If an animal has access to a wind break, barn, tree line or bluff that is going to keep the wind off livestock and potentially protect the livestock from snow, ice or rain you are less likely to end up with animals sick, run down or light weights at the end of the season.
It is advisable to keep your animals water flowing fresh at all times; often if snow is on the ground people think they can get their water needs from here. This is a bad idea because the animal is having to consumer 3 to 4 times the amount of snow to reach the same amount of water intake and the body temperature is lowered, causing a demand for energy because the animal has to warm back up. Water in livestock fields and stalls should be checked twice a day. If watering livestock from a pond create enough holes or watering areas so that all animals have adequate access. Most injuries occur when access is limited; also look to see where livestock usually water from, and attempt to keep the livestock coming to the same place.
If looking for parts for water tanks or looking for hay feeders, feed bunks and quality feed, please contact the office or drop in and see what we can do to keep the money in your pocket.
Time to Feed High Mag Mineral (January - June)
Warmer days (finally) and more sunshine mean that spring is upon us. The welcome signs of greener, more lush pastures are beginning to appear and folks are starting to feel "grass fever." After a long winter with short hay supplies, the grass is definitely welcome as a more affordable feed source!
However, spring grass can cause problems in the livestock herd if not properly managed. Rapid grass growth caused by increasing temperatures and more hours of daylight can lead to a condition known as grass tetany.
Grass tetany, hypomagnesemia, can affect cattle, sheep and sometimes goats. It is caused by low concentrations of magnesium relative to potassium and nitrogen in rapidly growing grasses. This leads to decreased magnesium absorption and the onset of clinical signs of the disease. Pastures top-dressed with either potassium or nitrogen have an even greater chance of causing grass tetany.
Symptoms range from chronic to acute. With the chronic condition, stock may show vague signs such as general unthriftiness and poor appetite which may progress to more definitive signs of an unsteady or staggering gait, wild attitude and throwing the head about. Convulsions, lasting several minutes, may be caused by loud noises or sudden movements.
In the acute form, cattle and sheep may progress suddenly from normal grazing behavior to maniacal behavior. Tossing of the head, bellowing, and galloping are common, followed by staggering and collapsing into convulsions. Eye twitching, paddling of the legs and frothing and champing of the jaws are common during the convulsion. Once the convulsion subsides, the animal usually lies quietly, but touch or other stimulation may result in recurrence. Animals respond well to treatment, however mortality is generally high because it is only about an hour from the onset of symptoms to death.
To lessen chances of grass tetany developing in your herd or flock, feeding a mineral supplement containing high levels of magnesium is necessary. Many choices are available commercially and should ideally be fed from at least mid-February through the end of May. Additionally, you should continue feeding some hay or grain to livestock during the onset of lush pasture growth.
A word of caution: High Mag Mineral should not be fed year-round. An over-abundance of magnesium in the diet can cause decreased absorption of trace minerals, therefore causing deficiencies over time. A good rule of thumb is to feed High Mag mineral from January 1 - June 30. While this is often a bit longer than needed, the six-month timing is easy to remember. Feed a high quality free choice mineral cotaining adequate trace minerals specific to your region during the remainder of the year.
Another word of caution: Similar circumstances may develop during the fall of the year when periods of abundant rains follow a dry summer. If these conditions develop, High Mag Mineral should be fed during the period of lush grass regrowth.
How can I manage my feed supplies during a drought?
We are hearing this question on almost a daily basis now. Several options exist to extend pasture and hay supplies. Commodity feeds are currently the most popular choice to supplement energy needs. Corn Gluten, Soyhulls, and Mixed Grain Screenings can be fed to provide a high energy, affordable ration that is appropriate for mature cows. Free choice mineral must be provided at all times to ensure a balanced diet.
For producers wanting to provide a complete feed, but who do not have a feeding area/feed bunks, Pasture Nuggets or Cubes are a popular choice. Resembling a large pellet, cubes can be fed on the ground to provide energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. Usually fed in the amount of 3-4 lbs/hd/day to mature cows.
Yellow shelled corn and soybean meal are still appropriate stand-bys for the cowherd. Hay can be limit-fed in the amount of 5-6 lbs/hd/day along with 6-8 lbs/hd/day shelled corn and 1 lb/hd/day of 44% soybean meal. Again, free-choice mineral must be provided.
While these are a few suggestions, many options exist to best meet your individual needs. Also, forage testing is necessary to ensure a balanced ration is achieved. For a complete and accurate recommendation, contact one of our customer service representatives.
This is also a good time to make culling decisions. Cull cows that calved late in the calving season, are hard keepers, or have poor dispositions. Your money is better spent developing replacement heifers than continuing to support cows who are costing you money rather than making you money!
For more information, contact Miranda Quarles at 502-747-8968 or toll-free at 800-928-3333.