Home > Crops & Livestock > Livestock > Beef Cattle > Nutrition > Winter Cow Costs for 2008-2009 Due to increases in feed, fuel and fertilizer, many producers have not made a decision on how they will winter cows. Further, many ranches have had damaged all over the state due to hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Generally speaking, winter annuals planted in a prepared seedbed or sod-seeded are a popular choice for cattlemen. Economics of Creep Feeding Calves Currently, with regard to beef calves, heavier calves are retaining a considerably higher percentage oftheir value when compared to their lighter counterparts. For instance, there may be only a ten tofifteen percent difference in the price/lb between a 450 and 750 lb calf. Many beef cattle producers aretherefore exploring means to add additional weight on their calves economically and at the same timenot placing too much expense involved with infrastructure (pens, water’s, feed troughs, 2008 Post Weaning Options for Calves Without question, in 2008, for cow‐calf producers to maintain profitability, adding weight to light calves, post weaning is an outstanding way to add value and put more dollars in your pocket. Here are some current trials that highlight supplements and other areas for consideration when backgrounding or developing cattle. Meeting the Nutritional Needs of Cattle with Hay This page provides information on hay quality, supplements and how to ration hay.  more articles... Cottonseed Meal Improves Beef Cow Performance [Image: Cows were supplemented with different levels of cottonseed meal] Beef cattle feed goes through a microbial fermentation process in the rumen before being digested by the animal.Since the majority of the cow’s diet is forage, efficient fermentation of this fiber is critical. Diet supplements provide additional nutrients to improve utilization of the fiber. Health Care and Management of Beef Bulls These guidelines include information on semen quality, supplemental feeding for young bulls, deworming and vaccination. Feeding Optaflexx in the Beef Cattle Industry As the beef cattle industry redefines itself to better meet consumer needs and demands, there are new technologies and new products being developed to enhance this effort by improving production, performance and quality in all segments of the industry. One new product, Optalflexx, was approved in 2003 by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use in some beef cattle diets. Bayou Beef Tips: Winter Feeding of Beef Cattle During the winter, even on the Gulf Coast, beef cattle must have supplemental forage and/or feed. Most cattle producers in the South spend approximately 40% of their operating costs on producing or purchasing hay and purchasing supplemental feeds. Calf Weaning Can Alter Nutrient Requirements of Cows [Image: Calf Weaning Can Alter Nutrient Requirements of Cows] Louisiana forages are often low in quality in late summer. Nutrient intake from forage by a mature cow will usually exceed the requirement for maintenance but may not be high enough to meet the additional requirement for lactation. When nutrient intake is below requirements, the cow must pull nutrients from body reserves to meet her requirements. The result is weight loss and a decrease in body condition. Performance of Beef Cows Grazing Ryegrass, Fescue or Fed Hay [Image: Pregnant Heifers Grazing] The objective of this experiment was to compare performance of mature cows and their calves grazing bermudagrass/bahiagrass pastures that had endophyte-infected Georgia 5 tall fescue established in the sod, grazing similar bermudagrass/bahiagrass pastures that were overseeded each year with ryegrass, or grazing bermudagrass/bahiagrass pastures and receiving hay. Alternate Feed and Fiber Sources: Potential Health Problems for Cattle [Image: Alternative Feed and Fiber Sources: Potential Health Problems for Cattle] The risks associated with alternatives such as corn, soybeans and milo are outlined in this document. Can Computers Feed Your Cattle? Most ration formulation is completed by computers. Numerous software products have been developed to assist nutritionist in matching feedstuffs to nutrient requirements for particular production settings. They can estimate nutrient supply from a diet and reports how well a given diet meets the requirements for the animal specified.