Diet and Nutrition for Cattle | Nutrena
Delivering extra energy and protein
Give your cattle the supplementation to support growth and development any time year, but especially as we prepare for these colder winter months with NutreBeef’s Grow/Finisher Feed. For over 100 years, Nutrena has been providing nutrition you can count on.
Cows eat grass and hay. On a dry matter basis, a cow will eat 4 to 5 tons of forage per year. As long as there is pasture for the cows to eat it is most economical to let them graze. When cattle are on grass the amount of forage consumed will determine how well they will perform, usually expressed in average daily gain (ADG). Growing beef cattle will consume approximately 2.5 percent of their body weight each day depending on forage conditions. It requires approximately 8 to 10 pounds of roughage for every pound of gain.
If possible, the hay should be 8% crude protein or higher. It is a good idea to test the protein value of your hay through local laboratories.
Nutrena NutreBeef Grower / Finisher Feed, 80674, 50 LB Bag
Textured contains a coarse blend of cleaned grains and molasses for increased palatability and animal acceptance. Many textured products will also contain pellets that carry the protein, vitamins, and minerals.
FEATURES
- High-energy textured feed designed for growing and finishing beef cattle
- Supports growth after calves have been weaned
- Designed to help condition and develop calves
Cows are ruminant, meaning they ferment their feed before digesting in the stomach and intestines. The rumen in a mature cow is a 42-gallon drum which has feed, water, and bacteria in it. The bacteria break down the fiber and help the cow get energy from the fiber. Bacteria will continually wash out of the rumen then be-come digested in the intestines.
The bacteria will provide much of the protein the cow needs. There are literally billions of tiny bacteria in the rumen. When we feed a cow, we are really feeding the bacteria so that they can do their job.
If cattle are confined, all nutrients required for growth and production must be supplied. Normally growing cattle over 700 pounds will need to receive rations relatively high in concentrates to gain faster. The concentrate should be processed for maximum benefit to the animal.
Supplements containing vitamins, minerals, and protein (depending on what they are getting from the for-age) are recommended. Nutrena® NutreBeef® is a solution for cattle feed throughout various life stages.
