MINNEAPOLIS, Kan. — A few months ago some friends and I had a serious discussion.
Debate may be a better word. Dispute or argument may be even more accurate descriptors. Nonetheless, we were providing points and counterpoints on which meal is officially called dinner. That’s right folks, we argued what time of the day dinner takes place; vehemently.
Both sides of the aisle made impassioned statements on how dinner was “obviously” also known as lunch or “clearly” supper means the same thing. As a natural peacemaker I urged the two parties to concede that whatever you called a meal, the key was it is delicious and served with sweet tea. We all agreed on that.
Cubing, haying, chorin’, rolling, or feeding; no matter what you call it, providing feedstuffs to cows on pasture is called supplemental feeding. When grazing grass, crop residue, or other forages these represent the primary nutrition cows consume. Additional hay, cubes, lick tubs, or feeds are supplementing a forage based diet. As pasture nutritional compositions wain managers must provide supplemental feedstuffs to meet cow needs. Pregnancy and eventually lactation enhance cow caloric demands.
How do you choose what to supplement? Which feedstuff(s) fits your herd best? Truth is, it depends. Storage facilities, feeding machinery, distance to cattle, and good old fashioned time all factor into the decision. Add in variable grain prices and sagging calf prices and the side of gravy with dinner gets murkier.
Economic data points out that as much as 40-60% of annual cow cost of production is feed cost. That figure can be staggering. Is it time to put your cows on a diet? Perhaps, doing some meal prep can save you dollars. On Thursday, November 9th Central Kansas District Livestock Extension Agent Anthony N. Ruiz will be hosting “Cow Supplemental Strategies” in Minneapolis, Kansas. Held at the Ottawa County Courthouse Basement Meeting Room, “Cow Supplemental Strategies” is free to attend. To accommodate guests two separate sessions will be held on Thursday, November 9th; one at 2:00 pm and another at 7:00 pm. Both sessions will address research-based information on cow nutrient requirements, reasons to supplement, and comparing commonly available feedstuffs. Please RSVP to 785-392-2147 or anruiz@ksu.edu to reserve your spot.
No matter what you call supplemental feeding it is a substantial cost associated with cow/calf production. Join us in Minneapolis on Thursday, November 9th at 2:00 pm or 7:00 pm to discuss “Cow Supplemental Strategies.” Whether it is breakfast, lunch, or dinner providing your cowherd with appropriate supplemental nutrition makes you a winner!
Click here for a flyer: Cow Supplementation Strategies Flyer, 11-9-2017
— Anthony N. Ruiz,
Livestock Extension Agent
Central Kansas District
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