Fortifying Fertility: A Rancher's Guide to Pre-Breeding Mineral Strategies
Cadra Krueger shares practical tips about beef cattle mineral programs
Open cows are arguably one of the biggest expenses cattle producers incur in a year which makes it even more important to control the controllables and do your part to set your cows and heifers up for a successful breeding season. Dr. Cadra Krueger – Alltech Sales Representative – shares why nutrition and mineral programs impact conception rates and actions producers can take to set themselves up for success along with other tips during Season 7, Episode 21 of the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast.
To fully understand the importance of a solid mineral and nutrition program, you must look at the bigger picture of the supply chain and animal performance. “It’s really become pretty obvious to me that the cow-calf producers really hold all the cards in this industry. They are the determining factor if calves are hitting the feedlot, being retained, or sold to others as replacements” said Krueger. On top of this, cattle producers control how these cows and calves are developed. Cadra said, “Macro-minerals and trace minerals are both really important to the cow. They determine how her body functions and impact conception rate and fetal development. So, we really need to set the cow up for success by supplying proper minerals all year long but especially before breeding season.” Ultimately, your nutrition program impacts economically relevant traits such as the birth weight, weaning weight, health, and fertility of calves that are still en utero.
It’s easy to get hung up on the details of a mineral program, but remember it’s important for the whole diet to be balanced too. “I don’t like talking about just mineral for conception. Even with the best mineral program, if you don’t have adequate protein and energy for that cow she isn’t going to breed up. I think of nutrition as a cascade of nutrients. You need to meet the higher demand nutrients first and then go down the line” said Krueger. Depending on your region, forage quality, and weather this might mean bringing in some extra supplements to meet the needs of your cows.
One of the first steps in deciding which mineral program is right for your cows is to outline your needs. Krueger encourages cattlemen and women to take water, feed and, forage samples to assess which deficiencies might be present. Additionally, talk to local extension specialists, neighbors, and other knowledgeable individuals in your area to learn more about any challenges other ranchers are experiencing. After that, you can get more specific. “The biggest thing when looking at a mineral program is to know that your trace minerals will stay the same throughout the year. The need for Phosphorus and Magnesium is going to change seasonally as grass quality changes. You also want to make sure your Calcium to Phosphorus ratio is 2.5:1” said Krueger. Remember that heifers are trying to finish growing and conceive, so they have a few different requirements. Cadra said, “Heifers are going to have a higher requirement for Calcium and Phosphorus. So those might be minerals that you want to keep a closer eye on. Keep in mind how the heifers were developed and how balanced their diet is.” No two operations are identical, so allow yourself to really look at what your cattle have and need.
When visiting with representatives from different companies, stay curious. “Don’t be afraid to ask feed reps for research and have them walk you through it. Or what makes the mineral different or better”, said Krueger. There is no such thing as a dumb question, especially about a decision as important as this.
Remember your role as a cow-calf producer. You have the opportunity to set calves up to be premium beef and high-end replacement females just by making sure your mineral and nutrition program are in line. Krueger reminds us, “Look at the big picture for your operation and the beef industry. Cattle numbers are low which means we really need to be doing our best to raise cattle that can move onto the next stage and perform.” Put some extra time into your mineral program this year to optimize the health and performance of your cattle, increase your profitability and, provide value to the next segment of the beef supply chain.
