February/March 2022

Page 14

FEEDING FACTS

ENERGY REQUIREMENTS HOW MUCH ENERGY DO THEY NEED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS?

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B Y J I M M Y PA R K E R

ate winter feeding for cattle is often one of the more costly things we do each year. It is also one of the more important things we do that change profitability for the next few months. Given those two things, it is critical that we get it right for both our near-term profitability, our long-term profitability and the overall health of our cow herd. So, what do we need to do to get through the next 60 days? What we need to do depends on a number of factors. Stage of production, body

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Cooperative Farming News

score of the animals, upcoming weather and the region of the state are all important things to consider. If your cattle are in the southern end of the state, hopefully you will have some lush early grazing that will offset most of the issues that can be seen in the northern part of the state in late winter and early spring. If you are in the northern end of the state or if you don’t have lush winter forages to provide high levels of nutrition, then we need to dig a bit deeper. All other factors aside, energy will


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February/March 2022 by afccooperativefarmingnews - Issuu