Fall Calving vs. Spring Calving
     Some producers prefer fall calving since it allows them to wean calves in the spring when feeder cattle prices are often at their peak. They may also use these calves to utilize summer pasture and then sell them in the fall as yearlings, resulting in more pounds of calf being marketed per cow every 12 months. This also avoids calving during the busy spring planting season.

     This system requires more intensive management of the cow during the winter in the northern U.S., as harvested feeds must be fed during nearly all of the critical lactation and breeding periods. Good quality spring pasture meets requirements in a spring calving system with little additional feed other than minerals. For most producers, spring calving is the preferred system.

Guideline Rations
     In the paragraphs that follow, suggested rations are given for various ages and classes of beef cattle. These rations are based on the requirements listed in Tables 1 through 5.

     In addition to the rations presented below, a salt-mineral mix should be offered free-choice at all times. Several possible mixes are listed later. Vitamin A should also be added to the diet or injected intramuscularly if the forage is of low quality and apt to be deficient in this vitamin. If injected. a dose of 1 to 3 million IU is recommended. The injected dose will last for 90 to 100 days.

     If you are in doubt about the nutrient content of your feedstuffs. it is probably wise to submit a sample to your local extension agent for analysis of crude protein, estimated energy content, and levels of various mineral elements. He can arrange to have the sample sent to a qualified laboratory with equipment to perform such analysis. The Ohio Livestock Ration Evaluation Program, O.A.R.D.C., Wooster, Ohio is one such laboratory.

Rations for Weaned Heifer Calves
     The goal in feeding open heifers is to achieve enough gain in weight so that they may be bred one heat period prior to the main cow herd at about 14 months of age, as mentioned before. Their daily gain from weaning to breeding should average 1.0 to 1.5 lb. per day. The following rations are possibilities.

• High quality pasture + 5# grain
• 12# hay (full-feed) + 5# grain
• 40 # corn silage (30% DM) + 1# soybean meal or equivalent
• 30# wet haylage (35% DM) + 5# grain
• 20# dry haylage (50% DM) + 5# grain
• 5# hay + 30# corn silage + 1/2# soybean meal or equivalent
• 10# hay + 20# corn silage
• 40# forage sorghum silage (30% DM) + 21/2# grain + 1 # soybean meal or equivalent
• 40# oat silage (30% DM) + 21/2# grain + 1/2# soybean meal or equivalent

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