A, B, Cs of Basic Cattle Nutrients

October, 2009
Courtney B. Davis, Glades County Extension Agent I

All cattle need basic nutrients. Nutrition is vital for cow reproduction, cow and calf health, and growth for all classes of cattle. Beef cattle require nutrients to support body maintenance, reproduction, lactation and growth. The nutritional needs of beef cattle vary by age, class, stage of production, performance level, and weight. Physiological and environmental stressors such as animal health and weather can also impact nutrient requirements. Nutrients required by beef cattle include water, energy, protein, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, and vitamins. It is very important that cattle producers have a solid understanding of the basic nutrient requirements of beef cattle.

Water is required by beef cattle in the greatest amount of all nutrients. Water is used in many body functions including temperature regulation, growth, reproduction, lactation, and many metabolic functions. Water requirements are different for several factors including pregnancy, lactation, activity, type of diet, and level of intake. Clean water is important for all beef cattle, but especially for young growing cattle. Dirty water can decrease cattle performance and be a potential source of disease.

Energy is also very important to the beef cattle. Energy is supplied by carbohydrates, fats and protein. Energy values include total digestible nutrients (TDNs), net energy for maintenance (NEm) and net energy for gain (NEg). TDN is the sum of digestible starch, fiber, protein, and fat in feedstuffs. Energy requirements are expressed as TDN. The Net Energy system assigns energy values of feeds according to how the energy within a feedstuff can be assigned to either maintenance or growth/lactation/pregnancy.

Protein values are expressed in terms of Crude Protein (CPs). CPs are reported on many forage analysis reports and feed tags. The requirement for protein is dependent upon the age of the cow, the stage of production, and level of production. Protein requirements, like energy, are additive during any point in the cow's production cycle. CP concentration in forages should be 7% or higher to meet a mature cows CP requirement. If forage has sufficient amounts of CP concentration a mature cow can maintain during certain phases of the cows production cycle. Lactation will be the most stressful time in a cow's production cycle. Milk contains a large concentration of protein. Protein from the diet is an important nutrient consideration during this time of production. Cows in late gestation also require more protein requirement during the last two months of gestation. During this time, the cow will sacrifice her body condition to support fetal growth.

Minerals and vitamins are required by beef cattle in smallest amount of the nutrients listed but are essential to animal health and productivity. Mineral requirement values are often reported as percentages for macro minerals and micro minerals (trace minerals) as parts per million (ppm). Vitamins requirements are routinely expressed as International Units (IUs).

The biggest thing to remember about nutrients is that cattle need to be fed to meet nutrient requirements. Energy and other nutrients will first be utilized to meet the cow's maintenance requirements, and then nutrients and energy will be allocated to production uses i.e. - growth, reproduction, and lactation. If you have any questions about nutrition requirements, contact your local Extension Agent.

Sources

  • This article was adapted from "Basic Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cows" by Matt Hersom.

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