Supplement Pasture Cattle Article

With winter just around the corner, cattlemen are taking stock of available roughages (hay, corn stalks or stockpiled pasture) and considering supplement options.  Many utilize grain as a supplement. And why not? Cattle eat it readily and it can be affordable. While cereal grains are an excellent energy source, they are a poor source of protein and will not offer balanced nutrition to your cattle herd.

Protein is an essential building block needed not only by cattle, but also by rumen microbes. Considering that mature forages are poor protein sources and that stored forages contain variable levels of protein, having a consistent source of protein is important.  By providing supplemental protein to the diet, rumen microbes are able to more efficiently digest available roughages.  Research has suggested up to a 10% increase in forage utilization.

Cereal grains are not a nutritionally balanced supplement and do not enhance fiber digestion. Cereal grains are a poor source of protein and do not provide balanced levels of minerals (typically high in phosphorus and low in calcium). Cereal grains are relatively low in protein and high in starch. The microbes that digest starch actively compete with fiber-digesting microbes within the rumen for space and nutrients.  This combination can actively decrease forage utilization.

Utilizing a self-fed CRYSTALYX® Brand Protein Supplement, with or without additional cereal grain supplementation, will provide a consistent source of high-quality protein to your cattle. Self-fed supplements give the advantage of 24-hour access, compared to slug feeding, where you may feed once a day or even once a week.   This means that protein is constantly available to rumen microbes, resulting in better forage utilization and better cattle productivity. Additionally, the licking action needed to consume CRYSTALYX® Brand Supplements will stimulate saliva production, helping to buffer the rumen against acidosis. CRYSTALYX® Brand Supplements also contain the balanced levels of macro and micro minerals and vitamins that cattle (and the rumen microbes) require. CRYSTALYX® supplements ensure predictable intakes in a self-fed product. 

For related resources, visit the Supplementation and Nutrition featured section on CattleNetwork.com.

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/supplementation_nutrition.aspx?fid=Nutrion_supplements

Source:  Teri Walsh, Animal Nutritionist, Ridley Block Operations