Selecting the right protein supplement for your beef cattle is a critical step in optimizing your nutrition programs and your operation's profitability.
Once you've determined your herd’s protein needs, the next step is choosing the right product. With a variety of options available, weighing factors like protein content, cost and feeding method are all important to consider.
Self-Fed Supplements: Convenience and Labor Savings
Self-fed products offer significant advantages in terms of convenience and reduced labor, making them attractive for many operations. However, this convenience often comes with a higher per-unit cost. Consumption control in these products is achieved through various mechanisms, from palatability modifiers to physical hardness.
Pressed Blocks
This category includes traditional 50-pound blocks and some plastic tubs. Consumption is controlled by the product's density (hardness). A harder block will lead to slower, more controlled intake. However, this method can sometimes result in variable consumption among animals. For this reason, pressed blocks may work best when limit-fed, acting more like a semi-hand-fed product where you regulate the amount available.
Chemically Hardened Blocks or Tubs
These are molasses-based supplements that harden within hours of being placed in a container due to magnesium, calcium and salt levels. The hardness of the block, combined with its salt and mineral content regulates consumption. This method offers consistent intake and is less susceptible to environmental factors that can affect the hardness of pressed blocks.
Low-Moisture Tubs
Manufactured by "cooking" the supplement mix and pouring it into containers to harden, the exposed surface softens gradually with cattle saliva and atmospheric moisture. This allows for good consumption control when the recommended number of tubs is available.
Salt-Limited Meals
These are loose meal mixes, often containing high-protein ingredients like soybean meal, canola meal, or corn distillers grain. Consumption is controlled by high salt levels (typically 20% to 30%). Cattle will naturally reduce consumption once their sodium needs are met. These must be fed in tubs or troughs and consistent water availability is essential.
Hand-Fed Supplements: Cost-Effective, More Labor Intensive
Hand-fed products can be more economical but demand more regular trips to the pasture for distribution. Despite the added labor, this option may be the right choice for operations where labor is less of a constraint or where precise intake control is paramount.
Cubes or Pellets
Feeding large diameter pellets directly on the ground is a common method to provide both protein and additional energy to cattle. While this method requires bulk storage and delivery equipment, cubes can be very cost-effective for larger operations long-term. Cubes are typically fed daily or every other day, offering considerable flexibility in feeding location as they can be dispersed across various grazing areas.
Alfalfa Hay
Feeding a few pounds of average quality alfalfa hay can be an economical way to supplement protein, particularly when feeding low-quality grass hay in the same area. The palatability and nutrient density of alfalfa make it an attractive supplement. However, supplementing alfalfa when cattle are grazing low-quality late-season or stockpiled winter forage can be counterproductive. Cattle might prioritize waiting for the alfalfa rather than actively foraging on the other available feed sources.
Commodity Protein Meals
While economical, this is a less common method due to the need for bulk storage and specialized feeding infrastructure such as troughs or bunks to prevent spoilage and ensure equitable distribution. For operations with the necessary equipment, however, commodity meals offer a very cost-effective protein source.
How Much Protein Do Your Cows Need?
The best way to know if your cattle need a protein supplement is by annalizing your feed for available forage protein. As a a general rule, any forage that is below 14% protein will require supplementation.
Once you know that your cattle require supplementation, determine the amount of supplemental protein needed using the following calculation:
- Forage Protein Intake (lbs) = Forage Protein Percent X Cattle Forage Intake (lbs) (Body Weight X 0.02) – Use the calculator below to determine the forage protein intake.
- Supplemental Protein Needed (lbs) = Cattle Protein Requirement (lbs) – Forage Protein Intake (lbs) – Use the calculator below to determine the supplemental protein needed.
If the result of the "Supplemental protein needed" calculation is negative, no protein supplement may be necessary.
Once you have an estimate of the pounds of supplemental protein needed per cow per day, you can translate that into the amount of a specific cattle protein supplement product to feed. Protein supplements for cattle generally range from 20% to 36% crude protein content.
For example, if you need to supplement 0.30 lbs of protein per head, and you are using a 20% protein supplement, you would need to feed 1.50 lbs of that product per head. Higher protein products typically have a higher cost per pound but may be more economical overall as protein needs are met with a lower feeding rate.
Cost of Cattle Protein
When choosing a cattle protein supplement option, you will want to know the daily cost to feed. Knowing your target consumption rate ensures your cattle are adequately supplemented at the lowest possible cost.
Supplement Cost Per Head Daily = Target feeding rate to supply desired amount of protein X Product Cost Per Pound – Use the calculator below to determine the cost per cow per day.
For example: 1.25 lbs X $0.40 per pound = $0.50 per cow per day.
Knowing your herd's protein needs allows you to compare different supplement products and their associated costs effectively. A higher protein product will generally have a higher cost per pound, but may cost less to feed in total, as protein needs are met at a lower feeding rate.
Making the Right Choice
The best protein supplement decision will be unique to each ranch and feeding situation. While cost is a major factor, time savings and convenience often play a primary role. Regardless of the product chosen, regularly tracking consumption levels and costs is vital for effective management and to ensure you're getting the most out of your investment.
It's important to remember that a higher protein product might have a higher per-pound cost but could ultimately be cheaper to feed in total due to lower feeding rates to meet cattle protein requirements.
Consumption Control and Tracking
When hand-feeding isn't feasible, controlling self-fed supplement consumption is crucial. Ideally, each animal would consume the target amount daily, though many variables affect individual and group consumption.
Methods for regulating consumption include the hardness or gradual softening of blocks, and the palatability or salt level of the supplement. These methods require monitoring and adjustments to ensure adequate consumption without over-consumption and excessive cost.
Tracking consumption rates is as simple as dividing the total supplement put out by the number of days it takes to be consumed, then by the number of animals with access.
Example: (1,000 lbs of supplement / 5 days = 200 lbs per day) / 100 head = 2.0 lbs per head daily.
Managing consumption, even with built-in control mechanisms, leads to more cost-effective results. Basic tips include providing one block per 20 to 30 animals to prevent dominant animals from monopolizing feeding locations, as too many animals per block is a common cause of low average consumption.
Cattle Nutrition Starts at IFA
Selecting the best protein supplement for your beef cattle is a strategic decision that balances nutritional needs with economic realities and operational efficiency. By carefully evaluating the various self-fed and hand-fed options, considering their unique feeding methods, consumption control mechanisms and the associated labor and financial implications, you can make an informed choice that supports herd health and enhances your bottom line.
Your local IFA Feed Sales expert can provide advice on beef cattle protein supplement options to help meet your herd's nutrition needs.
Information provided by Marty Short, IFA Commercial Feed Marketing and Business Development, and TBD (Jim, Dennis, Bryce, Other?). We want to cite all of our experts involved in providing info.