Cow, Calf, Stocker Nutrition

Assuming that a producer is experiencing a poor pregnancy rate (70-80% conception) in his cow herd. The females have a discolored hair coat and significant recurrence of estrus activity even though the females are apparently bred. Some calves have died at 7 - 10 days of age with no apparent illness noted. What is the potential problem and what should be done nutritionally to help in this situation?
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Assuming that a producer is experiencing a poor pregnancy rate (70-80% conception) in his cow herd. The females have a discolored hair coat and significant recurrence of estrus activity even though the females are apparently bred. Some calves have died at 7 - 10 days of age with no apparent illness noted. What is the potential problem and what should be done nutritionally to help in this situation?
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Explain the visible signs of a potential copper deficiency in black-hided vs. red-hided cattle.
You will start to see the end of the hair turn brassy or red on black hided cattle.
True detection of a copper deficiency requires an organ assay. Which organ is tested to determine copper levels? What is normal level of copper in this organ for mature cows? Newborn calves?
-Liver Biopsy
40-60ppm is normal in mature
300ppm is normal in newborns
The importance of proper levels of trace minerals in the diets of beef cattle has been well established. Copper deficiency has been noted in many regions of the U.S. Copper deficiency affects reproduction as well as the immune function of baby calves. Organic and inorganic sources of copper have differing absorption rates in beef cattle. Copper sulfate and copper oxide are inorganic minerals. The copper lysine complex is an organic mineral source.

-How do they differ in terms of absorption rates?
-If a producer desired to manage a copper deficiency, which sources are the most desirable to use?
-Given examples of feed tags listing the ingredients, be able to identify organic and inorganic sources of copper on a feed tag.
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-What vitamin is typically a problem in the wintering beef cow grazing warm season variety forages?
-What symptoms are noted in this deficiency?
-Why is this vitamin not a problem in wintering beef cows grazing cool season variety forages?
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Winter stress is an important consideration in this state as well as many states to the north. Assuming that a 1200 lb. average milking beef cow has a TDN requirement of 16.8 lbs. of TDN per day. The beef cow is suffering from winter stress. The outside temperature is 10 o F with a wind speed of 25 mph, resulting in a wind chill index of -17 o F.

-If the cow's critical body temperature is 30 o F, what would be her new TDN requirement adjusted for the winter stress?
-How many pounds of bermudagrass hay (TDN = 65% on a dry matter basis) must be fed to satisfy this new TDN requirement?
-If the forage is of excellent quality (2.7% of her body weight in dry matter intake), can the female consume sufficient forage to satisfy her TDN requirement? Explain.
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The newborn is born without important immunoglobulins (antibodies) against disease. Nursing and receiving these valuable antibodies from mother's milk is essential for life. The first milk, colostrum, contains these very vital antibodies. Buildup of the antibodies in the mammary gland of the mother starts approximately _________ weeks prior to parturition. Since these antibodies are protein molecules, late gestation nutrition of the cow is vitally important.
6 weeks prior to parturition
Once the calf nurses, the antibodies are absorbed rapidly. How soon after nursing can these antibodies be detected in the newborn's bloodstream?
within 2 hours
The absorption of antibodies present in the colostrum by newborn calves is very restrictive due to the closure of the esophageal groove to the large protein antibody molecules. The greatest absorption occurs within the first __________ hours of life. Absorption of the antibodies decreases by 50% at _______ hours after birth and the esophageal groove will seal by 24 hours and the absorption of antibodies in the first milk will be 0%. Administering colostrum to a 2 day old calf does little good other than the protein and energy rich milk. Due the sealing of the esophageal groove at 24 hours of life, the antibodies present in the colostrum cannot be absorbed from the intestine after 24 hours of life.
-first 6 hours are critical
-decreases by 50% after 12 hours
Feeding insufficient energy and/or protein to the late gestating female can potentially cause many problems. What potential problems can result from improper feeding of the late gestating female?
Results in low levels of colostrum produced. Calves need colostrum for antibody protection to prevent scours.
E. coli scours results in a very characteristic colored fecal material. What is this color? With evidence of this fecal material, what should a producer do to aid in the treatment of calf scours?Yellowish- virus orange- blood mixed with feces treat symptoms first- provide fluids, etc.Calf scours or diarrhea at 7 - 14 days after birth is the result of insufficient colostrum consumption and/or insufficient absorption of antibodies in the newborn calf. What symptoms in the calf might a producer notice as characteristics of E. coli calf scours?-DIARRHEA -depression -sunken eyes -weakness -acidosis -DeathA producer called recently concerning the use of growth implants in pre-weaning calves. He normally retains at least half of his heifers as herd replacements, but sells his steers and the remainder of heifers at weaning. Ralgro, Synovex-C, Component E-C, Compudose, and Encore are names of growth implants that have been licensed for use in pre-weaning calves. What is the cost of these implants per dose? What added weight gain at weaning can be expected from their proper use? Is there an age restriction for use of these implants on heifers, especially if the heifers will be retained as a potential replacement heifer? Explain.-$1-2 per dose -Assume a 25lb increase in weaning weight -Implants given at 1-2 months of age.In terms of bull calves, steer calves, potential replacement heifers and non-replacement heifers, what is the proper recommendation concerning pre-weaning growth implants?Implant all calves to be marketed. If you can identify replacement heifers, do not implant, increased cost with no real benefit, and potential for reproductive developmental issues. You are not trying to grow them at a super fast rate.What is creep feeding?Supplying supplemental feed to a nursing calf without allowing its damn access to the feed.The most commonly used creep formulation is a 16-18% CP grain-based ration consisting of corn, oats, soybean meal, molasses, added roughage plus minerals and vitamins. We have formulated creep rations several times in lab. Answer the following questions concerning grain-based creep feeding: -In spring calving situations with adequate forage available, what is the expected weight gains at weaning associated with the added supplemental creep feeding? How many lbs. of creep feed are typically required per lb. of additional calf gain? -In fall calving situations on dormant native range grass, what is the expected weight gains at weaning associated with the added supplemental creep feeding? How many lbs. of creep feed are typically required per lb. of additional calf gain? -Suckling intensity of calves has a direct effect on the estrus activity of females. Many producers feel that creep feeding will reduce nursing pressure on cows and heifers that are thin in body condition; therefore, removing the suckling intensity and allowing the female to return to estrus. What effect does grain-based creep feeding have on suckling intensity and milk consumption of the calves? Explain. -Calves being provided a supplemental source of protein and energy in the form of creep rations have shown a preference for feedstuffs. When comparing milk, creep and forage, what is the order of preference of nutrients by calves? -Is creep feeding desirable for young pre-weaning heifers? YES or NO. Explain.What is the purpose of the stocker industry? What is the stocker industry's role in beef production?-Enhance the quality of feeder cattle by adding weight and age -Enhance beef industry competitiveness -Adjust production response to feed and market changesWhat is the name of the precondition program discussed in class? What are the key elements of this program-Oklahoma Quality Beef Network Program (OQBN) -Built around 45 day weaning period -calves castrated and dehorned -calves receive 2 rounds of vaccinesKnow the difference between Oklahoma Gold, Oklahoma Super Gold, and Oklahoma Green Gold supplements (protein content, feeding rates, etc.), and which types of forages each would be used for.Oklahoma Gold: - All Natural -37-40% Crude Protein -Fed every other day, Pro-rated MWF Super Gold -All-natural -25% Crude Protein -Fed every day or every other day based on feed additive directions Oklahoma Green Gold Supplements -Forage 12-16% Crude Protein until December -Fed everyday or every other day.In class, we discussed the use of different forages for different weights of stocker cattle. The three most widely used forages in a stocker program are winter wheat pasture (DM crude protein value ~ 28%), summer Bermuda grass (DM crude protein value ~ 14%) or summer native pasture (DM crude protein value ~ 9%). Typically two different weight classes of cattle are used in stocker programs: light weight cattle (350-500 lb) and heavy weight cattle (500-650 lb). -Due to their small size and inability to consume large quantities of dry matter due to rumen fill, should 350-500 lb. calves graze cool season or warm season variety forages in order to sustain daily gains in excess of 1.5 lbs. per day? Explain. -Because of their increased size and ability to consume greater quantities of dry matter per day, should 500-650 lb. calves graze cool season or warm season variety forages in order to sustain daily gains in excess of 1.5 lbs. per day? Explain. -What types of forages are most ideally suited for stocker programs for calves born in the spring and weaned in the fall? Why? -What types of forages are most ideally suited for stocker programs for calves born in the fall and weaned in the spring? Why? -Know a reasonable ADG estimate (discussed in class) for winter wheat pasture, summer Bermuda grass, and summer native pasture.