The difference between a year of high conception rates for cows and heifers, and a year of average or poor conception rates, is often put down to “the season”. In a good season, when there is plenty of feed on offer, farmers will generally see very good conception rates, and not question the effect nutrition can have on fertility. Milne Feeds’ Ruminant Specialist, Dean Maughan, takes a look at what is really behind the "poor season" effect.
When "the season" is identified as the reason for having 10-20% less weaners in the paddock, each worth potentially $1500 or more, what is really being said is that the conception rates were less than desired due to less than ideal nutrition. Call it “the season” or seasonal variation, but ultimately it comes down to inadequate nutrition. It is well documented that one of the first things a cow will do when she is not fed well enough, or is lacking in essential nutrition, is to stop cycling.
This raises the question, what if you could take care of “the season’s” impact on conception rates and the number of calves born, no matter what the rainfall or season was?
Dean recommends looking at a couple of options to ensure your cattle are receiving optimum nutrition all year round, regardless of seasonal variations. To achieve this, short term supplementary feeding with a safe and easy-to-introduce feed, such as EasyBeef® or Vitalize®, is an ideal way to provide consistent, balanced nutrition. This removes the “poor season” effect of having too many empty cows and not enough calves to sell into a strong market, as a result of inadequate nutrition and lowered conception rates.
In the past, hay has often been fed to try to “cover” for a poor season. The issue with this is that the quality, and nutritional value, is unknown. Whilst providing plenty of fibre, hay can often be much lower in digestible energy and protein than is required to meet the nutritional needs of a cow or heifer. Hay is also lower in nutrients than the pasture from which it is cut, and it is definitely not a nutritionally balanced supplement when pastures are poor.
For profitable enterprises, current weaner prices demand that as many cows and heifers as possible get pregnant. Receiving the correct nutrition prior to, and shortly after, mating is essential to ensure high conception rate. Dean suggests that, in this market, focussing a little more on nutrition makes good sense, as an empty cow is now far too costly.
Milne has several practical, cost-effective options for supplementary feeding. Dean mentions that each feed is carefully formulated to provide the correct balance of digestible fibre, to maintain rumen health, and protein and energy, and to assist with body condition. These pelleted feeds also contain a complete mineral profile.
EasyBeef®(14.5% CP and 11 MJ/ME) can be trail fed directly in the paddock or fed using a “sheep” feeder. Supplementing weaner heifers with 1-2 kgs/day will help them to maintain a daily growth rate of 0.7-0.9 kgs/day and achieve the desired mating weight to maximize conception rate. Cows can be trail fed EasyBeef® at a rate of 1-5 kgs/day, depending on their body condition. The higher rate fed to a lightweight cow will give her every chance of producing a calf for you.
Vitalize® (14.5%CP and 12.5 MJ/ME) is a higher energy supplement that comes as a 9mm pellet for trail feeding or a 4mm pellet for feeding in restricted or lick-feeders. Restricted supplementation using the 4mm Vitalize® pellet is ideal if you have a self-feeder or a lick-feeder and wish to limit the supplementation without having to feed every day or so. Dean says a number of farmers have adapted standard self-feeders with grates, to be able to restrict the animals’ intake and enable consistent growth rates, without allowing animals to gorge.
For those looking to “make every cow a winner” by getting improved pregnancy rates, considering a safe, well-managed supplementary feeding program with a nutritionally balanced pellet, such as EasyBeef® or Vitalize®, is a practical, cost-effective option.
Milne Ruminant Specialists, Jess Andony and Dean Maughan, are always on hand to provide more information on cattle nutrition and discuss feeding plans to suit individual farming situations.
