Springtime Feeding

How to manage feeding programs as the season changes

Springtime brings many changes to feeding programs and animal requirements. Hopefully most producers had enough hay to get through to the first good spring grass and your animals all wintered well. As temperatures warm up and grass becomes abundant, the way our animals are managed changes. There are still a number of things to consider while making management decisions concerning our livestock.

First, as we look at the welcome signs of green grass growing faster than our animals are able to mow it down, you need to consider that this early growth is really high in moisture and low in fiber. While these plants are usually very nutritious, until they mature, the amount of water they contain, coupled with the lack of fiber, allows them to pass through the animal so quickly that their true value will not be received. One way to offset that is to offer your animals some decent hay to slow down the rate of passage through the digestive tract, allowing

the animal’s system to take in more of the valuable nutrients contained in the grass that they are eating. The animals won’t eat much hay, but each mouthful they eat will pay dividends and cut down on the wasted nutrients passing through the digestive tract.

As I mentioned in an earlier article, 65 percent of our nation’s calves are born in the spring. It is an even higher percentage when sheep and goats are considered. At any rate, most of the productive females in our ruminant herds and flocks have given birth and are lactating. This will have a huge impact on their nutrient requirements. Thankfully, the nutrient levels in the grass this time of year are about as good as they ever will be and should cover most of those needs. Extremely high-producing individuals may need some supplemental protein or energy as the grass matures; but in most cases, they can eat enough high-quality grass to produce milk and hopefully regain any weight that was lost during the winter.

Generally, the season for grass tetany is in our rearview mirrors and fading, so high mag minerals won’t be as important as they were a few weeks ago. However, as most cow herds that spring calve will soon be looking at breeding season, it is the wrong time to skimp on mineral supplementation. Changing from a high mag mineral to one that is more highly fortified with minerals and vitamins, especially the fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin E, is extremely important. It will help you maintain a high percentage of calf crop and add dollars to your bottom line. Making sure that your breeding herd has a good vitamin and mineral program is essential in the weeks leading up to your breeding season are as important, if not more important, than any other time of year.

Internal parasites are also a factor, especially as we have warm wet days. This time of year is highly favorable to stomach worms which can be costly for all ruminants but especially sheep and goats. Stomach worms are foreign invaders in our animal’s system and as such, they will bring about an immune response. While research has shown that each species (and even each breed within a species) will react differently to parasite infestations, the common ground is that they all will react with an immune system response. While those responses are highly varied, we should keep in mind that an immune response requires protein, energy, vitamins and minerals. Making sure that our animals are absorbing adequate nutrients will also help them fight off a parasite load through an enhanced immune response. In some cases an additional source of protein and energy may be lifesaving, especially in the small ruminant herd and flock.

Hopefully, April will bring great weather and abundant forages. Warm sunshine coupled with good rainfall will bring spring flowers and lots of grass for your livestock. They will need plenty of nutrients as the majority move toward peak lactation and the cow herd gets ready to get rebred. It is not the time to skimp on vitamins and minerals as they are critical all year, but especially as breeding season approaches. Also keep in mind that the addition of a roll or two of hay to the pastures with the young tender grasses will help your livestock get a great deal more from the grasses they are eating.

You need to consider that this early growth [of grass] is really high in moisture and low in fiber. While these plants are usually very nutritious, until they mature, the amount of water they contain, coupled with the lack of fiber allows them to pass through the animal so quickly that their true value will not be received.