Forage quality impacts dry matter intake of cows. As the forage quality increases, indicated as an increase in TDN content of the forage, the amount of the forage that the cow can consume also increases. As forage quality increases, there is more leaf as compared to stem.
When quality is low, there is more stem, therefore more cell wall contents that are not as easily digested - the forage does not pass through the rumen very fast. In addition, as forages increase in maturity, there is an increase in lignin content. Lignin is not digested by the rumen microbes.
With the dry conditions this summer and harvested forages at a premium, closely estimating the amount of feed needed to get through this part of the winter will be important to contain cost. In addition, cattle have a certain requirement for specific nutrients such as protein, energy, and minerals and vitamins. The difference between intake on a dry-matter DM basis and an as-is basis can be a challenging concept to explain to my undergraduate students, especially when nutrients for beef cows are on a DM basis.
However, we know that the forages do contain moisture, and not all forages contain the same amount of moisture. As an example, if it were determined the daily DM intake of a group of 1,pound lb.
If the same group of 1,lb. Remember that of the There are a number of different factors that determine the daily intake of a cow. The primary factors are cow weight, forage quality and stage of production gestating or lactating. When feeding the same forage, cows that weigh 1, lb. In addition, cows that are lactating will consume more feed than cows that are not lactating.
Forage quality affects DM intake of cows. As forage quality increases, indicated as an increase in total digestible nutrients TDN , content of the forage, the amount of the forage that the cow can consume, also increases.
Diameter and length of the bale, density of the bale, type of hay, and moisture content all will greatly influence weight of the bale. Weighing a pickup or trailer with and without a bale may be the best method to estimate bale weights. Utilizing the standing forage in native and Bermudagrass pastures to supply much of the forage needs during fall and early winter months will reduce hay feeding.
An appropriate supplementation program will help the cows digest the lower quality roughage in standing forage. When standing forage is in short supply or covered by snow and ice, hay will become the primary source of feed. The number of days that hay feeding is necessary is hard to predict going into the winter months. The rally in cash fed cattle prices continued this week with packers searching for inventory and bidding higher money. Cattle feeders have some leverage for the first time in a long time.
Brazilian authorities said two reported cases of a neurodegenerative disorder in Rio de Janeiro were not related to BSE, but NCBA calls on Secretary Vilsack to immediately suspend all imports of fresh beef from Brazil. The American Angus Association concluded its fiscal year which marked the seventh-consecutive year with more than , registrations, and the breed surpassed 20 million registrations overall.
One of the hardest ideas to get across to people about ruminant nutrition is that ruminants need roughage in their diet to aid the rumen function. People understand better the need for protein, energy, minerals as such in the diet, but they think that an ingredient containing coarse fiber is useless.
However, a minimum level of roughage is necessary to keep the rumen functioning as it should. Of course, they produce better with plants that have lower fiber levels and are more digestible. The roughage effect occurs when this coarse material rubs against the walls of the rumen.
This rubbing action stimulates the muscles in the wall of the rumen to contract and expand, which kind of stirs up the material in the rumen. This agitation in the rumen helps the slurry inside to mix and become more available for action by the microorganisms.
The more contact the microorganisms make with the slurry in the rumen, the more completely they can break it down. As this material is chewed, saliva is mixed in with it for a better consistency. The fiber digesting microorganisms in the rumen work best in a neutral to slightly acid environment.
Sugars, starches, and other more rapidly metabolized particles in the feed tend to make the rumen more acidic. So the extended chewing of the fibrous material helps to keep the acidity in the rumen in a range that benefits the fiber digesting microbes.
So you can begin go see why roughage is so important to a ruminant.
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