Beef Cow Management & Fertility

Question 1

what are the differences in beef cow vs dairy cow diseases

Answer 1

Disease in general, not as common in suckler cows

Less pressure for milk and less intensive husbandry

Beef cows rarely get:

• LDA/RDA (never)
• Mastitis (not as common, clinical summer mastitis, E. coli)
• Ketosis and other negative energy balance problems
• Milk fever (maybe if dairy cross)
• Digital dermatitis/ulcer (no slurry, concrete or walking ++)
• Cystic ovarian disease

Note if replacements come from dairy cross beef then some ‘dairy’ disease may occur

Question 2

what are the features that make a good beef cow

Answer 2

Gets pregnant first time

Calves herself

Maternal instinct

Rears a calf every year

Good food conversion efficiency

Produces a calf with good carcase conformation and DLWG

Good milk production (dairy x beef idea)

Not too wild!

Question 3

what are the differences in beef vs dairy cow nutrition

Answer 3

Beef cows are simpler as they are under less nutritional pressure and less can go wrong

Diets normally based on silage/hay/haylage plus maybe some concentrates and/or soya

Less common for farmers to take nutritional advice

Less emphasis on making good quality silage

Question 4

what should nutrition pre-calving be

Answer 4

Energy & protein:

• Requirements ramp up in last 6 weeks

Minerals:

• Need specific pre-calving minerals
• Ca (keep it low pre-calving), Mg and P to prevent slow calving
• Iodine to prevent goitre and poor tolerance to cold
• Selenium to prevent WMD

Question 5

what should nutrition at calving be

Answer 5

Energy & protein:

• Huge increase needed for colostrum and milk production

Minerals:

• Ca, Mg increased demand due to milk production

Question 6

what should nutrition at rearing calf and breeding be

Answer 6

Energy & protein:

• Continue to meet requirements for milk and to ensure return to cyclicality
• Can be hard to control if at grass
• ££ if housed

Minerals:

• Magnesium to prevent staggers
• Copper for fertility and calf growth
• Selenium for calf growth and immunity

Question 7

what should nutrition at rearing calf and pregnancy be

Answer 7

Energy & protein:

• Continue to meet requirements

Minerals:

• Nothing too specific but iodine and selenium

Question 8

what should nutrition be at weaning calf and dry off

Answer 8

Energy and protein:

• Now is the time to manipulate BCS
• Cows in late pregnancy can be underfed
• Cows in late pregnancy can be overfed

Minerals:

• Iodine to prevent goitre and poor tolerance to cold
• Selenium to prevent WMD
• Mineral involvement in chondrodystrophy

Question 9

what should the nutrition for the heifers be

Answer 9

Before breeding: not big enough to mate in first place (target 65% of adult live-weight)

During 1st pregnancy: dystocia

• Also continue to to grow during pregnancy

At/after 1st calving:

• Slow calving
• Poor fertility post partum and don’t get back in calf
• Could be bullied by older cows