SUPPLEMENTING WITH PROTEIN “UNLOCKS” THE NUTRIENTS FOUND IN MATURE PASTURES
WHY IS PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTATION SO IMPORTANT?
Grass pastures are an excellent source of nutrients for grazing cattle. The problem is that as warm season grasses mature, the protein in the grass declines to a level below the cattle’s protein requirement. Mature, low protein grass is digested slowly which reduces overall forage intake and limits performance. The more mature the grass, the more severe the reduction in intake and the lower the performance. Supplementing a source of natural protein to cattle on grass provides the crude protein and amino acids needed by the fiber digesting bacteria in the rumen. The result is increased forage utilization and increased forage intake, which makes more of the energy in the grass available for maintenance and growth. Research has shown that supplementing beef cows with protein resulted in improved body condition scores, improved reproductive performance and heavier weaning weights. Research at Kansas State University and Oklahoma State University has shown that stocker cattle supplemented with protein while grazing summer pastures can gain as much as 0.45 to 0.70 pounds more per day compared to unsupplemented cattle.
A PRACTICAL & ECONOMICAL METHOD FOR SUPPLEMENTING PROTEIN
Feeding high protein range cubes is an easy and cost-effective way to provide supplemental protein to both cows and stocker cattle grazing late summer, fall or winter pastures. A practical and economical way to provide supplemental protein to stocker cattle is through the use of our 25% RANGE CAKE. This 25% all-natural protein supplement is a blend of plant proteins and highly digestible fiber sources which make it compatible with high forage diets. The recommended feeding rate is 2.5 pounds/head/day, or 5.0 pounds/head every other day. Adding an ionophore like Bovatec® or Rumensin® will further enhance stocker cattle performance. Oklahoma State University researchers determined that this level of protein and this feeding rate provides the optimum amount of supplemental protein needed by growing cattle while increasing forage intake and utilization. This feeding rate also makes purchasing in trailer load quantities not only more feasible, but also more cost effective for you the producer.