Working Ranch Magazine - Index

Working Ranch Magazine - magazine - Index

gram is going to cost you somewhere in
the neighborhood of ten dollars a year
per cow, something in the two to three
cents per head per day,” says Hansen. “
We should get by with something less
than seventy dollars a year (for the maximum
supplementation program).”
If you are new to the cattle production
business, or want to learn more
about how supplementation could
increase the profitability of your herd,
Hansen says a great place to start
would be your university extension
service. “Most of the ranchers would
hopefully depend on their local extension
services for that kind of information.
Usually, the local extension agent
has a good background for the local
area in terms of forage analysis and
those kinds of things so he can make
good recommendations in terms of
what really fits in a particular area.”
Cattle supplementation programs
have the ability to improve the gain to
your calves and put a little more cash
on your bottom line. It might be time
to look at a possible program for your
herd or maybe review your current
program. Either way, a visit with your
local extension service or your nutrition
specialist could work out to
healthier cattle and make way for
those elusive extra dollars to find their
way into your Wranglers.
PHOTO BY DUANE MCGARVA
THE POINT OF CONCEPTION
How a supplement strategy works to get your cows bred on time
Science has been able to take much of the mystery out of mineral
selection and the cow/calf unit can benefit if the appropriate
minerals are provided prior to conception. Generally speaking,
the maintenance, growth, reproduction and lactation cannot be fully
realized without some additional mineral supplementation.
Adding inorganic trace minerals like Zinc is very helpful in healing
up the endometrium of the uterus after calving which helps the cows
re-breed much quicker. This can also translate into a more predictable
calving cycle. Manganese
can help tendon growth
in your calves and you
may see less knuckled
and crippled calves
when they’re born.
These type of minerals
are good for both health
and production issues.
In many cases, an
unrecognized mineral
insufficiency is difficult
to pin down, and one of
the first areas impacted
by low mineral intake is the immune system. Supplying the correct
minerals also helps with issues like feed efficiency and forage
digestibility. The addition of macro minerals like Phosphorus have
proven helpful for improved pregnancy rate and weaning weight.
With a proper supplement program and good forage you may be
able to recognize a 90% or better weaning rate for cows exposed to
bulls. A good program can lead to healthier cattle, stronger calves
with better gain and quicker re-breeding for your cows.
With producers looking for healthier calves, larger gains and better
prices at sale time, today’s nutrition industry is one place to look for
that extra boost for your business.
In a range operation where the cow
herd is out on grass for several months
of the year, the nutritionist looks at all
the factors in the local grasses and
imported feed used and calculates what
may be lacking and what the cattle producer
might need to do to correct it.
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2008 | WORKING RANCH | 33
PHOTO BY BERT ENTWISTLE,
WESTERN IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY