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Rations for Coming 2-Year-Old Pregnant Heifers
The goal in feeding pregnant heifers is to achieve about 1.0 lb. average daily gain for 120
days prior to calving; for example, from 800 lb. to 920 lb. Under-feeding pregnant heifers can be disastrous
because they are still growing as well as developing fetus and preparing for the stress of their first
lactation. Over-feeding, however, can lead to too much internal fat, resulting in a higher incidence of
calving difficulty.
- High quality pasture
- 20 to 25# hay (full-feed)
- 45# corn silage (30% DM) + 11/4# soybean meal or equivalent
- 55# wet haylage (35% DM)
- 40# dry haylage (50% DM)
- 5# hay + 35# corn silage + 3/4# soybean meal or equivalent
- 10# hay + 25# corn silage + 1/4# soybean meal or equivalent
- 15#hay + 15#corn silage
- 55# forage sorghum silage (30% DM) + 1# soybean meal or equivalent
- 55# oat silage (30% DM)
Rations for Dry 1100-lb. Mature Cow, Middle 1/3 of Pregnancy
The goal here is to maintain the body weight of pregnant mature cows in good condition after
their calves have been weaned.
- Low to medium quality pasture
- 17 to 25# hay
- 10#hay + 15# straw
- 40# corn silage (30% DM)
- 50# wet haylage (35 % DM)
- 35# dry haylage (50% DM)
- 5# hay or 7# straw + 30# corn silage
- 10# hay or 13# straw + 20# corn silage
- 15# hay or 21# straw + 10# corn silage
- 50# forage sorghum silage (30% DM)
- 50# oat silage (30% DM)
- 1 to 2 acres cornstalks per cow + hay or supplement as needed
- Full-feed dry corn refuse(13#DM) + 6# hay
- Full-feed corn refuse silage (15# DM) + 2# corn + 1/2# soybean meal or
equivalent
Rations for Dry 1100-lb. Mature Cow, Last 1/3 of Pregnancy
The goal during the last 90 to 120 days of pregnancy is to achieve an average daily gain of
0.5 to 1.0 lb. per day. Ideally, cows should be on a rising plane of nutrition prior to and after calving so
as to be in proper condition for the start of breeding season.
- Medium to high quality pasture
- 25 to 30# hay
- 50# corn silage (30% DM)
- 60# wet haylage (35 % DM)
- 40# dry haylage (50% DM)
- 5# hay + 35# corn silage
- 10# hay + 25# corn silage
- 15# hay + 15# corn silage
- 60# forage sorghum silage (30% DM)
- 60# oat silage (30% DM)
Rations for 1100-lb. Lactating Cow (Average Milking Ability)
The goal here is to keep the cow in a positive nutritional status so she will conceive by 80
days after calving and average 10 to 12 lb. of milk per day during the first 3 to 4 months of lactation. This
level of milk production would be typical of most British beef cows.
- High quality pasture
- 25 to 35# hay (full-feed)
- 60# corn silage (30% DM) + 1 # soybean meal or equivalent
- 70# wet haylage (35 % DM), full-feed
- 50# dry haylage (50# DM). full-feed
- 10# hay + 40# corn silage
- 15# hay + 30# corn silage
- 20# hay + 20# corn silage
- 75# forage sorghum silage (30% DM), full-feed + 1 # soybean meal or equivalent
- 70# oat silage (30~c DM). full-feed
Rations for 1100-lb. Lactating Cow (Heavy Milker)
The goal is the same as for the average milking cow except that milk production is 20 to 24
lb. per day, which is typical of dairy x beef crossbred females and some dual-purpose exotics. It is
difficult for females of this type to consume enough energy to get back in shape for breeding season so as to
conceive on schedule.
- High quality pasture + grain if necessary
- 30 to 40# hay (full-feed) + grain if necessary
- 75# corn silage (30% DM), full-feed + 21/4# soybean meal or equivalent
- 85# wet haylage (35% DM), full-feed + grain if necessary
- 60# dry haylage (50% DM), full-feed + grain if necessary
- 90# forage sorghum silage (30% DM), full-feed + 2# soybean meal or equivalent
- 85# oat silage (30% DM), full feed + 3/~# soybean meal or equivalent
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