Making Supplementation Decisions
Is there enough pasture that each cow can consume all they want?
If no...
- Forage supply is in sufficient
- Lower stocking rates and/orinclude supplemental feed
If yes...
- Forage supply is sufficient
- Energy supplementation may not be needed
Next. What is the quality of my pasture?
- Species present
- Maturity
- Nutrients: CP, fiber
Poor quality
- Late-bloom to mature
- Less than 7% CP
- Protein supplementation is needed
- Brown in color
Good quality
- Vegetative to Mid-bloom
- Greater than 7% CP
- Supplementation may not be needed
- Green in color
If you do not have enough pasture that cows can consume all they want with poor quality pasture, then energy and protein supplements are needed.
If you have enough pasture for cows to consume all they want but it is poor quality, then you just need to supplement protein.
Other questions to consider
- Are my cows in good body condition?
- What is the stage of production?
- Are these heifers or mature cows?
- What supplements are available?
- What is the price of the supplements?
|
Developmental stage and forage quality. |
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|
Developmental Stage |
TDN |
ADF |
NDF |
CP |
RDMI |
Rel. Yield |
|
|
Alfalfa and Red Clover |
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|
Late vegetative |
63 |
29 |
38 |
20 |
1.02 |
0.70 |
|
Early bloom |
60 |
31 |
40 |
19 |
1.00 |
0.90 |
|
Mid bloom |
58 |
35 |
46 |
18 |
0.94 |
0.95 |
|
Full bloom |
55 |
37 |
49 |
16 |
0.91 |
1.00 |
|
Late bloom |
52 |
39 |
52 |
14 |
0.88 |
1.00 |
|
Mature |
50 |
44 |
58 |
13 |
0.83 |
0.95 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orchardgrass and Tall Fescue |
|||||
|
Early vegetative |
72 |
31 |
55 |
18 |
0.92 |
0.40 |
|
Boot |
71 |
32 |
57 |
17 |
0.91 |
0.65 |
|
Early bloom |
65 |
34 |
61 |
15 |
0.86 |
0.85 |
|
Mid bloom |
57 |
41 |
68 |
11 |
0.78 |
0.95 |
|
Late bloom |
54 |
45 |
72 |
8 |
0.74 |
1.00 |