This document discusses basic beef cattle nutrition. It covers the definition of nutrition and nutrients, including water, protein, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, vitamins, and fiber. It describes the functions of each nutrient and gives examples of feed sources. The document also discusses factors that affect nutrient requirements, classifications of feeds, and feeding recommendations for different stages of a cattle's life like calves, heifers, dry cows, and cows close to calving.

1. BASIC BEEF CATTLE NUTRITION
Margie Lumanggaya-Bibat, MSA

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7. Why cows chewing their cud?
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13. Cattle Eating Habit
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14. What is Nutrition?
• Nutrition is the science of dealing with the utilization of
food by the body processes which transforms food into
body tissues and energy.
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15. Utilization
Nutrients are utilized by the animals for:
Maintenance
Growth
Production
Reproduction
Health control
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16. Importance
• To obtain and utilize surplus or unusable feed stuffs
• And convert them to desirable products such as meat,
milk, eggs, fiber and work.
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17. What is Nutrient?
• A single class of food or group of like foods that aids in
the support of life and makes it possible for animals to
grow or provide energy for physiological processes.
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18. Digestible Nutrient
• The portion of the nutrient which may be broken down
(digested) and absorbed and used by the body.
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19. Feed Composition
• Feedstuff
composition, such as
water, carbohydrate,
protein, and fat,
helps determine how
cattle perform.
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Fig. 1 feed components

20. What nutrients does a cow needs?
•Water
•Protein
•Carbohydrates
•Lipids/Fats
•Minerals
•Vitamins
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ENERGY
(calories)

21. Factors affecting nutrients requirements
 Age
 Size
 Breed (Brahman influence, maternal)
 Stage of production (growing, gestating, lactating)
 Level of Production (milk, growth rate)
 Environment
 Thermal stress (insulation)
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22. Nutrients and Their functions
 Water
 the most important nutrient needed for all
animals.
 makes up more than one-half of most
animals’ bodies.
 It forms the basis of fluids in the body and is
essential for processes such as digestion,
blood circulation, and waste elimination.
 helps dissolve nutrients and also regulates
body temperature through perspiration and
evaporation.
 can be obtained from feed sources such as
forage.
 Beef cattle: 7-12 gallons per head
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Water requirements for CATTLE
 as weight increase, the amount of water needed also increases.
 Following are some thumb rules on water intake that may be
helpful.
 Daily water intake may vary from 3 to 30 gallons per day
depending on age, body size (weight), stage of production,
and the environment (mainly air temperature).
 As a rule of thumb, consumption will range from 1 gallon per
100 pounds of body weight during cold weather to nearly 2
gallons per 100 pounds of body during the hottest weather.
 Lactating cows require nearly twice as much water compared
to dry cows.
 Clean fresh water free of manure, dirt, and other debris is
important.

24. Nutrients and Their functions
 Carbohydrates
 are nutrients that provide the main source of
energy for activities the body performs.
 provides energy for growth, maintenance,
and reproduction.
 Help produce body heat for warmth.
 Come from plants and include sugars,
starches, and cellulose.
 main sources of carbohydrates in feed are
grains such as corn, oats, wheat, barley, rye,
and grain sorghum. Forages and hay are
also sources of carbohydrates.
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25. Nutrients and Their functions
 Protein
 is made up of amino acids that are necessary for healthy animals.
• Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and are used for the
formation of tissues and muscle production.
 is needed for healthy growth, reproduction, and maintenance.
 can be obtained from both plant and animal sources.
 often the most expensive ingredient in feed.
• Crude protein refers to the total amount of protein in a feed while
digestible protein is the protein that can be digested and used by an
animal.
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26.  Plant proteins are more common in livestock feeds and include
soybean, cottonseed, linseed, peanut, and sunflower seed
meals.
 can be obtained from legume hays such as alfalfa or clover.
• Legumes are plants that produce or fix their own nitrogen.
 Sources of animal protein include tankage, fish meal, meat
scraps, and milk products.
 Animals need different amounts of protein, depending the on
needs. For example, young, growing animals need more protein
than older animals.
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Sources of Protein

27.  Lipids/Fats
fats are needed in small amounts they are a necessary part of
the diet.
provide energy and store excess energy.
help produce body heat and carry fat-soluble vitamins in the
body.
• Many sources of proteins are also sources of fats.
Fats are found in both plants and animals.
• Plant fats include oils that are within seeds, which are the
main source of fats in agricultural feeds.
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Nutrients and Their functions

28.  Lipids/Fats
fats are needed in small amounts they are a necessary part of
the diet.
provide energy and store excess energy.
help produce body heat and carry fat-soluble vitamins in the
body.
• Many sources of proteins are also sources of fats.
Fats are found in both plants and animals.
• Plant fats include oils that are within seeds, which are the
main source of fats in agricultural feeds.
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Nutrients and Their functions

29. • Minerals
 Primarily found in bones and teeth
 Important in blood for the carrying of oxygen
 Regulates heartbeat with potassium, sodium and calcium
 macrominerals
 microminerals
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Nutrients and Their functions

30.  Macrominerals
• are needed in larger amounts by the body
• calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chlorine, magnesium, and
potassium.
• They are required at comparatively high levels described as
per cent of diet or grams per day.
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Nutrients and Their functions

31.  Microminerals
 They are required only in very small amounts.
 Some minerals fed in excess amounts may cause a
deficiency in others
 Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Cobalt, Iodine,
Molybdenum, Selenium, Fluorine
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Nutrients and Their functions

32. • Vitamins
 Are only needed in small amounts
 Are essential for life and health
 Provide a defense against disease, promote
growth and reproduction
 Contribute to the general health of the animal
 Vit. A, B, C, D, K, E etc
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Nutrients and Their functions

33. Feed Resources
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FEED RESOURCES
Crop
Residues
Feed
Additives
Grazing
Areas
Fodders
By-
Products
Grains/Oil
seeds

34. Feed Classifications
1. Roughages
2. Concentrates
3. Supplements
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35. Common feeds for Ruminants
Forages
 is the natural cheapest
feeds for ruminants and
includes
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36. By-products roughages
• Most of these are highly
fibrous (rice straw, corn
tops, cane tops), low in
CP and TDN and have
poor digestion.
• Other source of
roughages includes
Alfalfa, Clover, Soybean,
Oat hay, Corn Silage
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Rice tops
Cane tops
Corn tops

37. Concentrate
• Unlike in developed countries,
little amount of grain is fed
ruminants locally. Copra meal,
rice bran, wheat pollard are
commonly used by-product
concentrates, contain from 20%
as in case of molasses to 21%
in copra meal.
• Other source of concentrates
includes Corn, Cottonseed,
Barley, Oats, Sorghum
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Copra meal
Wheat pollard
Rice bran

38. Use of Urea in Ruminant ration
• Urea has long used as partial protein
source ruminants in other countries.
• The following guidelines are
recommended for safe use of urea.
a. 1% of the ration (DM basis)
b. 2.3% of the concentrate mixture,
(air-dry basis) or
c. 25.30% of the total dietary protein
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39. Feeding Management
 An Art that need to know;
• Requirements of the animal according to milk yield &
lactation stages
• Nutrient composition of available feeds and
• How to combine different feeds to match the animal
requirements
 Should be
• Balanced approach
• Cost effective
• Sustainable
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40. Improvement in Utilization of Feed Resources
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41. Feeding Beef Cattle at different life stages
(Start from Pregnancy to End of Lactation Period)
• Calf Nutrition
Calves are born as
monogastric animals (simple
stomach)
So offer feed that must be
easy to digest (high quality
digestable proteins, energy,
vitamins and minerals)
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42. Calf Nutrition
• Energy is important first two
weeks because can not digest
starch, sugar or unsaturated fats.
• Colostrum feed at first feeding to
get higher amounts of protein,
minerals, immunoglobulins, and
antibodies. Lines to walls of
digestive tract to protect against
diseases.
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43. • Grains (Dry Matter)
stimulate production of
VFAs in rumen
• (acetic, propionic, butyric)
• Digestive system develops
from 2 weeks until 4-6
months and calf evolves
into ruminant
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Calf Nutrition

44. Heifer Nutrition
• Nutrition is important at this time
because reproduction depends on
sound, healthy animals.
• If underfed, diseased or have
parasites then puberty is delayed.
Low energy will lead to ovarian
inactivity. Low protein will cause
irregular or silent heats.
• 30-40% of adult weight at breeding
age (13-15 months)
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45. • Pasture is a good choice of forage
(high energy and less expensive)
• 3 lbs concentrate/ day
• 12% crude protein, 15% crude fiber
and .41% Calcium at 6 months,
.29% Calcium at 12 months
• Final 3 months of pregnancy heifer
will need extra nutrients for
developing calf
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Heifer Nutrition

46. Dry Cow Nutrition
• Low energy diet (less expensive)
• Pasture often used
• Important for successful lactation to follow
• Restore body energy and nutrient reserves
• Want to maintain 3+ to 4- body condition score
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47. Feeding in Pregnancy (Last 2 months)
For;
 Rapid growing foetus
 Develop body reserves for use in subsequent lactation
How;
 Give rest if in milk (forced drying)
 Feed concentrate 2 kg/day + good quality fodder, restrict
straw
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48. Close-up cows
• Move cows and heifers to
close-up pen at 2 weeks
before calving
• High dry matter intake to gain
nutrients for cow and calf to
reduce metabolic problems
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49. • Start grain feeding
• Increase CP to 15%
• Limit added fat 100 gm/d
• Low energy with adequate levels of minerals vitamins and
protein and watch forage levels (<50% DM)
• Decrease metabolic problems and maintain condition while not
lactating
• Decrease Calcium to begin to use stored Ca to prepare for
lactation changes
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Close-up cows

50. Early lactation (First 60 days)
• Most critical period
• Period of peak milk yield
• Higher the peak yield more will be the milk yield
throughout lactation until drying off.
• Good quality forage
• Maintain healthy level of fiber
• Avoid high starch level
• Undegradeable protein & digestible fiber
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51. Lactating Cows
• Highest energy diet (most
expensive)
• Supports not only growth,
reproduction and maintenance
but also production
• Free feed at all times to
increase and support
production
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52. Consequences of Feed Restriction in early
lactation as a traditional practice
• Low peak milk production & total lactation yield
• Drastic body weight losses in high potential cows
leading to;
• Metabolic diseases ( milk fever, acetonaemia, red water
disease etc)
• Delayed estrus resumption
• Long dry period
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53. Suggestions
• Select & mix different ingredients on basis of nutritional
profile for making concentrate mixture (change from
cakes to meals, e.g. SBM)
• Always add minerals especially take care of Calcium &
Phosphorus ratio in the rations
• Plan your feeding program to raise the peak milk yield
• Never restrict feed & water soon after parturition
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54. Suggestions
• Avoid large fluctuation in green fodder supply through
hay and silage making
• Make best use of local feed resources with relevant
supplementation & conservation
• Improve feeding value of straw through urea treatment
for fodder scarcity period
• Use feed additives to boost milk production.
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55. REFERENCE:
• Pressery, January 7, 2019, Why should I buy “grass-fed beef”?, Retrieved from
https://www.pressery.com/blog/2019/1/4/why-should-i-buy-grass-fed-beef.
• Courtney Horvath, Oct. 22, 2018, Ruminant Digestive System, Retrieved
fromhttps://prezi.com/p/wdycmkcnsbtp/ruminant-digestive-system/
• De Laval Milk production, March 18, 2007, Cow comfort: 11) Drinking, Retrieved from
http://www.milkproduction.com/Library/Scientific-articles/Housing/Cow-comfort-11/
• Dr. Rick Rasby, July 19, 2016, How much water do cows drink per day?, Retrieved from
https://beef.unl.edu/amountwatercowsdrink#:~:text=As%20a%20rule%20of%20thumb,water%20compared%20to%20dr
y%20cows.
• Hobby Farm, All Hay Is Not Equal: Choose Your Livestock’s Carefully, Retrieved from https://www.hobbyfarms.com/all-
hay-is-not-equal-choose-your-livestocks-carefully/
• Dreamstime, 2020, Corn Tops Tasles, Retrieved from https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-corn-tops-tasles-stalks-
blowing-breeze-image97924036
• Dairy Knowledge Portal, Sugarcane tops, Retrieved from https://www.dairyknowledge.in/article/sugarcane-tops
• Mawahab, 2018, Effect of Roughage Feed on Cattle Body Weight Gain, Retrieved from
https://steemit.com/steemstem/@mawahab/effect-of-roughage-feed-on-cattle-body-weight-gain
• Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute,
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.afbini.gov.uk%2Fnews%2Fconcentrate-feeding-dry-
period-has-no-effect-performance-and-health-next-
lactation&psig=AOvVaw1DfOJ_POn8hwv5yy4lJUOk&ust=1599392237230000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0Qjh
xqFwoTCOCPpMf20esCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
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56. REFERENCE:
• Roxanne Dickerson, Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle - MP 391 Overview, Retrieved from
https://slideplayer.com/slide/8361258/
• Dr.Ashraf Sahibzada, Apr 1, 2010, Using urea in straw part-2 Dr.Ashraf Sahibzada, Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Z8C8AUQJ8
• Polifar Group Limited, 2013, Cattle Use Urea 46% Feed Additives, Retrieved from
https://polifarfeedadditive.en.made-in-china.com/product/zjvmuJNwSXWO/China-Cattle-Use-Urea-46-Feed-
Additives.html
• West Grains Trading, 2013, Wheat Pollard, Retrieved from http://westgrains.ph/product/wheat-pollard/
• Alibaba.com, 2012, Grade 1 Rice Bran for sale , Retrieved from https://www.alibaba.com/product-
detail/Grade-1-Rice-Bran-for-sale_50047503282.html
• Jos Livestock PTY ltd., http://www.josephlivestocksptyltd.com/product/philippines-copra-filipino-copra-
manufacturers-made-in-philippines/
• Alamy, 26 July 2016, Close View Of Growing Up Young Stalk's Tops Of Corn Maize Plant On The Agricultural
Field In Spring Summer - Image ID: GYFKTG, Retrieved from https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-close-view-
of-growing-up-young-stalks-tops-of-corn-maize-plant-on-120202784.html
• https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Faces.nmsu.edu%2Fpubs%2F_circulars%2FCR571%2
F&psig=AOvVaw10dZbkwuqgytnBdizcdpS-
&ust=1599392614657000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAMQjB1qFwoTCIDs8JP40esCFQAAAAAdAAAAAB
AD
• Marcy Ward, Beef Cattle Supplement Delivery Systems, Retrieved from
https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR571/
• Road to discovery, August 8, 2012, Turning into a Cow?, Retrieved from
https://kushsrivastava.com/2012/08/08/turning-into-a-cow/
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57. Thank You
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