Year-Round Cow

Forage the Foundation of Operation's Fetal Programming Focus

Kelly Smith believes fetal programming through good nutrition for dams yields better steers and heifers. (DTN/Progressive Farmer photo by Becky Mills)

Kelly Smith's cow herd has always had his complete attention when dams are in their last trimester of pregnancy. Now, he's focused on every stage, making sure dam and calf are always getting everything they need.

This focus is really a process called fetal programming. The Franklin, Ky., cattleman explained that nutrition throughout a cow or heifer's pregnancy impacts her calf's organ and muscle development after birth, as well as gain, carcass characteristics and reproduction. Shortchange the dam and the calf will struggle from the start.

Here's why. During the very early part of pregnancy, the placenta and the knoblike structures that attach the placenta to the uterine wall are formed. That's how nutrients move from dam to fetus, helping the calf develop. If that calf is a bull, its testicle development begins as early as 40 days; if it's a female, ovarian development begins between day 50 and 60. So, the beginnings of an outstanding bull or a productive cow start within the first two months of life.

Fetal programming isn't just important for breeding animals; it impacts feeder steers and heifers, as well. Between months 2 and 8, a calf's muscle fibers are formed. In the final weeks of gestation, adipose tissue (marbling) is deposited. Muscle and intramuscular fat determine yield and quality grades.

GRASS-BASED PROGRAMMING

Smith and his family do most of their fetal programming using forage. They feed Kentucky 31 fescue, orchardgrass and clover. They boost productivity of both the herd and pastures by purchasing hay that they unroll and feed in pastures. This adds up to about 600 rolls a year, averaging 11% protein. What isn't eaten stays on the ground to help build soil, fertilizer, seed and mulch.

In addition to the hay, Smith spreads manure from his herd across pastures using a chain harrow and rotary harrow. This is done in the spring and is strictly the manure the cows drop while grazing. He doesn't buy any commercial fertilizer.

Stocking rates run about one cow/calf pair to 3 acres. Smith includes his corn land in the ratio since he grazes cattle on cornstalks. However, that doesn't count the pastures used to develop his replacement heifers. Between the spring- and fall-calving herds, he held back about 80 head this year.

YEAR-ROUND SUPLLEMENT

To help ensure his cattle get what they need during all stages of production, Smith adds Purina Sup-R-Lix 2HL, a 32% liquid-protein supplement, to their diet year-round. The intake varies with forage quality, Smith said.

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"They don't consume it during good grass times, but they will eat up to 1.5 to 2 pounds per head per day if they are grazing dry, overmature forages," he added.

Along with the supplement, emphasis is put on the herd's mineral program. Smith starts with a Purina All Seasons 4 mineral with a high level of magnesium, copper and zinc, which he feeds free-choice. During fly season, he uses the mineral with fly control in it.

"We feed the high-mag product year-round because we have higher potassium soils in places, and potassium can tie up magnesium," he explained.

In the fall of 2012, he added Redmond Mineral Salt and Redmond Conditioner, which contains clay. He estimated his mineral program costs around $30 a cow per year.

Smith said the clay binds toxins. He added he has seen a "tremendous amount of value in these products. There are very few things I see in the cattle business that make a visible difference, but I have seen a visible difference with these products."

Smith credited the salt/conditioner with the increased body condition he's seen in his cows. In addition, he said it has helped them better tolerate the effects of fescue toxicity, especially in late summer, which has meant less overall sickness in the calf crop.

"In 2011 and 2012, we treated 100 cases of pinkeye and 30 to 40 calves for scours and pneumonia. We were losing some calves," Smith recalled. "This year, we have not lost a calf due to scours or pneumonia, and we treated two calves for scours and 10 for pinkeye."

Smith's program works for him. Normally, only a handful of the 200 spring-calving cows and the 80 to 90 fall calvers come up open. His herd is all-natural service. Weaning weights typically run around 550 pounds for 5- to 7-month-old steers.

The calves' sound start in life follows them to the feedlot. In 2013, Smith chose not to retain ownership on his cattle. But between 2005 and then, he and his family tracked development and grades closely. The stats were more than respectable. In the last truckload he has the closeouts on, 72 out of 78 steers graded USDA Choice or higher.

"The grid premiums were $43.64 per head," he reported. The average daily gain was 3.28 pounds. Total vet and processing fees were $12 a head.

SIMPLER APPROACHES PAY

Supplement programs don't have to be as detailed as Smith's to make a big difference in the herd. University of Nebraska animal scientist Rick Funston said in his study, a group of cows grazed either dormant Sandhills range or corn-crop residue. He gave half the cows a 30% crude protein distillers grains-based supplement. To save labor, he only fed the supplement three times a week but gave them the equivalent of 1 pound per head per day.

"Calf weaning weights were greater for heifers from the supplemented dams, 511 pounds compared to 492 pounds. They had a decreased age at puberty, 352 days compared to 365 days, as well as a trend toward higher pregnancy rates, 90% rather than 83%," Funston reports.

In a similar study, cows were supplemented three times a week with the equivalent of 1 pound per day of a 28% crude protein cube while they grazed either dormant Sandhills range or corn residue during the last third of gestation. The control group didn't get any supplement. Steers from the supplemented cows had a higher average daily gain, 3.75 pounds compared to 3.66 pounds; better hot carcass weight, 822 pounds compared to 805 pounds; and improved marbling scores of 492 compared to 445. More of the steers from the supplemented cows also graded USDA Choice or higher, 85% compared to 71%.

While it is still up for debate, it's thought possible that fetal programming can carry over to a calf's immune system. Oklahoma veterinarian Bob Smith, who owns his own stocker operation and also works for a number of other stocker operations and feedlots, said he sees hints of what he thinks is the effect of fetal programming, particularly in areas hit by long-term drought.

"There are health problems which may be related to long-term deficiencies in protein and energy. These may be related to development of the immune system," he said.

Low ponds might also be partly to blame, he added. Lack of rainfall to replenish water levels leads to higher concentrations of salt and other minerals, which can upset the balance of minerals in a cow's system.

"The calves coming from these areas are much thinner, and we see higher morbidity and mortality," he reported. "We also see less response to treatments for respiratory diseases."

He added, however, the outcomes are quite varied, making it difficult to say what is, or is not, for certain caused by fetal programming.

For his part, Kelly Smith is convinced that fetal programming, especially when it concerns the immune response, is a valuable part of the big picture. And he is determined to continue to provide his cows and their unborn calves all they need to be healthy and productive.

(VM/CZ)

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