This fall we have had ample moisture here in Pottawatomie County in most areas.
While our early fall was cool, our mid fall has provided very good growing conditions for fall wheat. Many producers use wheat to forage cattle on throughout the winter.
Utilization of wheat as forage and how it’s grazed should depend upon the type of cattle we are feeding. In some instances, we can extend the grazing period of high quality forage as well as preventing or at least slowing down some health concerns.
While small grain pastures are typically thought of as feed for stocker calves, cow-calf producers sometimes find themselves in a situation that makes them evaluate the use of these high quality winter forages for the cow herd. Experience has shown wheat pasture can be a valuable asset to the cow-calf producer when sound grazing and health management practices are followed.
Simply put, small grain forages such as wheat pasture, are too good for full feeding to cows. A lactating cow giving 10 to 15 pounds of milk per day requires about 2 pounds of crude protein and 13 pounds of TDN per day. Wheat pasture often contains more than 20 percent protein and 75 percent TDN (dry matter basis) and a cow can easily consume 30 pounds of wheat forage dry matter each day. This means a cow grazing wheat full time, can be consuming 6 pounds of crude protein and more than 22 pounds of TDN. These nutrient intakes are far beyond the amount the cow can utilize.
Limit grazing has proven the most efficient approach to utilizing such high quality forage. The protein requirement can be met by grazing her on wheat for one day, then returning her to dry pasture for the next three to four days.
A pattern of one day on wheat and two to three days off, should meet the needs of the same cow after calving.
A “day” on wheat should be defined as the amount of time required for the cow to graze her fill of wheat forage (usually three to five hours) and not a full 24 hours. This three- to five-hour limit allows the cow to consume adequate amounts of protein to carry her for the ensuing days on dry grass while limiting the loss of forage due to trampling, bedding down, etc. Under normal weather conditions, enough wheat forage should be accumulated by early December to supply the protein needs of about four cows per acre throughout the winter months when limit grazing is practiced.
Cows can suffer bloat problems the same as stocker calves. The same precautions should be taken.
In addition to bloat, the possibility exists for serious problems with grass tetany. While rare in stockers, tetany is not uncommon with cows lactating and calving on wheat pasture.
It can be caused by a deficiency of calcium and/or magnesium. Grass tetany can usually be prevented by feeding free-choice mineral containing about 15 percent calcium and 15 percent magnesium. A good mineral mixture consists of 35 percent salt, 35 percent limestone, 25 percent magnesium oxide, and 5 percent cottonseed meal.
A number of commercial mineral mixes are available with similar mineral content. It must be remembered that magnesium is useful for preventing tetany — it does nothing for bloat.
If you have questions concerning this topic or related topics, please contact the OSU Extension Center at 405-273-7683, stop by the office or visit our Web site countyext.okstate.edu/pottawatomie.
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This fall we have had ample moisture here in Pottawatomie County in most areas.
While our early fall was cool, our mid fall has provided very good growing conditions for fall wheat. Many producers use wheat to forage cattle on throughout the winter.
Utilization of wheat as forage and how it’s grazed should depend upon the type of cattle we are feeding. In some instances, we can extend the grazing period of high quality forage as well as preventing or at least slowing down some health concerns.
While small grain pastures are typically thought of as feed for stocker calves, cow-calf producers sometimes find themselves in a situation that makes them evaluate the use of these high quality winter forages for the cow herd. Experience has shown wheat pasture can be a valuable asset to the cow-calf producer when sound grazing and health management practices are followed.
Simply put, small grain forages such as wheat pasture, are too good for full feeding to cows. A lactating cow giving 10 to 15 pounds of milk per day requires about 2 pounds of crude protein and 13 pounds of TDN per day. Wheat pasture often contains more than 20 percent protein and 75 percent TDN (dry matter basis) and a cow can easily consume 30 pounds of wheat forage dry matter each day. This means a cow grazing wheat full time, can be consuming 6 pounds of crude protein and more than 22 pounds of TDN. These nutrient intakes are far beyond the amount the cow can utilize.
Limit grazing has proven the most efficient approach to utilizing such high quality forage. The protein requirement can be met by grazing her on wheat for one day, then returning her to dry pasture for the next three to four days.
A pattern of one day on wheat and two to three days off, should meet the needs of the same cow after calving.
A “day” on wheat should be defined as the amount of time required for the cow to graze her fill of wheat forage (usually three to five hours) and not a full 24 hours. This three- to five-hour limit allows the cow to consume adequate amounts of protein to carry her for the ensuing days on dry grass while limiting the loss of forage due to trampling, bedding down, etc. Under normal weather conditions, enough wheat forage should be accumulated by early December to supply the protein needs of about four cows per acre throughout the winter months when limit grazing is practiced.
Cows can suffer bloat problems the same as stocker calves. The same precautions should be taken.
In addition to bloat, the possibility exists for serious problems with grass tetany. While rare in stockers, tetany is not uncommon with cows lactating and calving on wheat pasture.
It can be caused by a deficiency of calcium and/or magnesium. Grass tetany can usually be prevented by feeding free-choice mineral containing about 15 percent calcium and 15 percent magnesium. A good mineral mixture consists of 35 percent salt, 35 percent limestone, 25 percent magnesium oxide, and 5 percent cottonseed meal.
A number of commercial mineral mixes are available with similar mineral content. It must be remembered that magnesium is useful for preventing tetany — it does nothing for bloat.
If you have questions concerning this topic or related topics, please contact the OSU Extension Center at 405-273-7683, stop by the office or visit our Web site countyext.okstate.edu/pottawatomie.
