For spring-calving sucklers, now is the time to body condition score (BCS) each cow. Ideally, split the herd into three groups of lean (thin cows – BSC <2), target (majority of cows – BSC 2.25-3.5), and fat cows (over-condition cows – BCS >3.5). Each group will have different nutritional requirements for the first three months of housing, with the aim to have the entire herd on track 50 to 60 days pre-calving. From there on, the entire herd can be penned together and fed the same diet up to calving.
Ideally, changes in condition score or liveweight should only take place in mid-gestation, as for the last two months of pregnancy weight should be stabilised as energy intake at this time is partitioned towards the calf.
Under- or over-feeding the cow in the last months of pregnancy can lead to calving difficulties in fat cows, while thin cows can have other issues such as slow calvings or weak calves.
Lean (BCS <2)
Thin cows with BCS 2 will require ad-lib average-quality 66 to 68DMD grass silage along with 2kg of concentrates per day. For every 0.25 BCS under 2, the cow will require an additional 1kg of concentrates. Thin first-calved heifers will require an additional 1kg of concentrates per day. Over a 100-day period, thin cows should gain 0.7kg/day, equating to 70kg of liveweight or 0.75 of a condition score. Once target condition score is met (2.5), move cows back in with the main herd. All changes in cow BCS need to be completed at least 50 to 60 days pre-calving.
Target (BCS 2.25-3.5)
Cows in this BCS range are on target. These should be fed average-quality 66 to 68DMD silage ad lib right the way through from housing to calving. It is good management practice to assess BCS of cows through the winter.
Fat (BCS >3.5)
February-calving cows with a BCS greater than 3.5 need to be fed a restricted diet during the first three months of housing. This will get cows back into the target BCS of 2.5 to 3. The target here is to reduce the level of fat in the birth canal to help reduce calving difficulty. Once cows get in adequate condition, and from two months pre-calving, cows should be offered ad-lib silage once more and rehoused with the target group or main herd.
Replacement heifers
Replacement heifers need to be kept on target, especially if the aim is to calve them down at 24 months. The first step should be to weigh them at housing to check if they are on target.
The average replacement heifer with a target winter gain of 0.5kg to 0.7kg/day requires ad lib 66 to 68DMD silage along with 2kg of concentrates per day. Where a daily liveweight gain of greater than 0.7kg to 0.75kg/day is required to get the heifers back on track, then an additional 1kg to 1.5kg concentrates is required.
Weanlings
During the winter months, farmers often focus on the cost of feeding the animal, but the most important thing to assess is the cost of each kilogramme of gain.
Supplementing cattle that are not performing can be costly. The aim should be to keep weanlings growing at 0.5kg to 0.7kg of liveweight gain per day, so over a winter period, the target is 80kg to 100kg of liveweight.
Allowing weanling growth rates to fall below 0.5kg/day will result in the inability of them to compensate for this lost growth in the spring.
On average-quality 66 to 68DMD silage, the average weanling will require 1.75kg to 2kg of concentrates per day. This level of feeding should continue from housing right through to one month prior to turnout. Removing concentrates from the diet for a month prior to turnout will allow the weanling to compensate at grass.
Finishing cattle
There are two main finishing methods for bullocks and heifers over the winter months that farmers use. The first is a 50-50 silage-concentrate diet. The length of finish will depend mainly on the diet offered, animal type, weight and fat cover at housing.
The target daily liveweight gain over a 100- to 120-day period should be approximately 1kg/day. With 50-50 (silage-meal) feeding, cattle are housed and offered ad-lib high-quality silage (70 to 74DMD) along with 5kg to 6kg of concentrates right through to slaughter.
The second feeding method which is commonly practised is an ad-lib concentrate-based diet. The length of feeding on the ad-lib diet should be approximately 80 days for steers and 70 days for heifers.
In the first 21 days, there is a gradual build up to ad-lib concentrates in order to avoid digestive upset. On ad-lib concentrate, cattle will eat approximately 2% to 2.2% of their body weight. On ad-lib diets, fibre such as straw needs to be fed at 1 to 1.5kg DM/head.
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Focus: Winter indoor management
For spring-calving sucklers, now is the time to body condition score (BCS) each cow. Ideally, split the herd into three groups of lean (thin cows – BSC <2), target (majority of cows – BSC 2.25-3.5), and fat cows (over-condition cows – BCS >3.5). Each group will have different nutritional requirements for the first three months of housing, with the aim to have the entire herd on track 50 to 60 days pre-calving. From there on, the entire herd can be penned together and fed the same diet up to calving.
Ideally, changes in condition score or liveweight should only take place in mid-gestation, as for the last two months of pregnancy weight should be stabilised as energy intake at this time is partitioned towards the calf.
Under- or over-feeding the cow in the last months of pregnancy can lead to calving difficulties in fat cows, while thin cows can have other issues such as slow calvings or weak calves.
Lean (BCS <2)
Thin cows with BCS 2 will require ad-lib average-quality 66 to 68DMD grass silage along with 2kg of concentrates per day. For every 0.25 BCS under 2, the cow will require an additional 1kg of concentrates. Thin first-calved heifers will require an additional 1kg of concentrates per day. Over a 100-day period, thin cows should gain 0.7kg/day, equating to 70kg of liveweight or 0.75 of a condition score. Once target condition score is met (2.5), move cows back in with the main herd. All changes in cow BCS need to be completed at least 50 to 60 days pre-calving.
Target (BCS 2.25-3.5)
Cows in this BCS range are on target. These should be fed average-quality 66 to 68DMD silage ad lib right the way through from housing to calving. It is good management practice to assess BCS of cows through the winter.
Fat (BCS >3.5)
February-calving cows with a BCS greater than 3.5 need to be fed a restricted diet during the first three months of housing. This will get cows back into the target BCS of 2.5 to 3. The target here is to reduce the level of fat in the birth canal to help reduce calving difficulty. Once cows get in adequate condition, and from two months pre-calving, cows should be offered ad-lib silage once more and rehoused with the target group or main herd.
Replacement heifers
Replacement heifers need to be kept on target, especially if the aim is to calve them down at 24 months. The first step should be to weigh them at housing to check if they are on target.
The average replacement heifer with a target winter gain of 0.5kg to 0.7kg/day requires ad lib 66 to 68DMD silage along with 2kg of concentrates per day. Where a daily liveweight gain of greater than 0.7kg to 0.75kg/day is required to get the heifers back on track, then an additional 1kg to 1.5kg concentrates is required.
Weanlings
During the winter months, farmers often focus on the cost of feeding the animal, but the most important thing to assess is the cost of each kilogramme of gain.
Supplementing cattle that are not performing can be costly. The aim should be to keep weanlings growing at 0.5kg to 0.7kg of liveweight gain per day, so over a winter period, the target is 80kg to 100kg of liveweight.
Allowing weanling growth rates to fall below 0.5kg/day will result in the inability of them to compensate for this lost growth in the spring.
On average-quality 66 to 68DMD silage, the average weanling will require 1.75kg to 2kg of concentrates per day. This level of feeding should continue from housing right through to one month prior to turnout. Removing concentrates from the diet for a month prior to turnout will allow the weanling to compensate at grass.
Finishing cattle
There are two main finishing methods for bullocks and heifers over the winter months that farmers use. The first is a 50-50 silage-concentrate diet. The length of finish will depend mainly on the diet offered, animal type, weight and fat cover at housing.
The target daily liveweight gain over a 100- to 120-day period should be approximately 1kg/day. With 50-50 (silage-meal) feeding, cattle are housed and offered ad-lib high-quality silage (70 to 74DMD) along with 5kg to 6kg of concentrates right through to slaughter.
The second feeding method which is commonly practised is an ad-lib concentrate-based diet. The length of feeding on the ad-lib diet should be approximately 80 days for steers and 70 days for heifers.
In the first 21 days, there is a gradual build up to ad-lib concentrates in order to avoid digestive upset. On ad-lib concentrate, cattle will eat approximately 2% to 2.2% of their body weight. On ad-lib diets, fibre such as straw needs to be fed at 1 to 1.5kg DM/head.
Read more
Focus: Winter indoor management
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