Abstract
Winter hay feeding is generally the most expensive cost of maintaining a cow for the year. Because of this it is beneficial for a producer to maximize the use of their hay supply. A modeling study was completed that compared the nutrient requirements of three fall calving herds and three spring calving herds to determine differences in nutrient requirements between the herds. Hay feeding should be tailored to the operation and the calving season for the most efficient use of hay.
Highlights
Tennessee’s beef cow herd of approximately 1,000,000 cows grazing approximately 3 million hectares of Tall Fescue (Lolium Arundinacea) throughout the year
The objective of this study was to compare the nutrient composition of hays produced in Tennessee and their ability to meet the nutrient requirements of beef cattle during the winter
The forage samples are expected to be the higher quality hay samples that are produced in the state, due to better producers being the ones that will submit hay samples for testing
Summary
Tennessee’s beef cow herd of approximately 1,000,000 cows grazing approximately 3 million hectares of Tall Fescue (Lolium Arundinacea) throughout the year. When the forage does not meet the requirements of these cows due to dormancy or low quality, hay or supplemental nutrients must be supplied. Hay is the most prevalent and least expensive way to supplement cattle during the winter months. Winter hay feeding generally lasts from mid-November to mid to late-march. Beef cattle production in Tennessee is primarily cow/calf operations (Waller et al, 2013). The traditional calving season is a spring calving season beginning in mid-January and ending in mid-March. Some producers maintain a fall calving herd, and the fall calving cows will begin calving in mid-September and calve through mid-November
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