Protein Supplement May Improve Gains of Nursing Calves¹

Bill Kunkle, Pat Hogue, Ed Jennings, and Sid Sumner²

Summary

Seven trials evaluating the effects of a cottonseed-salt supplement on the performance of nursing calves were conducted on cooperating ranches in Florida. Supplement consumption averaged .64 lb/day, calf gains were increased .27 lb/day, and 2.9 lbs of protein supplement were required for each pound of additional gain. Limit feeding a high protein supplement to calves was profitable in five of the seven trials. Based on these studies, current costs of protein supplements and the value of the calf at weaning, the high protein creep feed is projected to increase net returns $4./head.

Introduction

Most of the nutritional requirements of the calf are provided by the cow's milk during the first 60 days after calving. The cow's milk production peaks two to three months after calving and declines until weaning. However, as the calf grows, the cow's milk provides a declining proportion of the nutrient needs, and forage consumed by the calf provides an increasing proportion of the protein, energy, and other nutrients.

The quality of new forage growth in the spring is usually good. However, as the forage becomes more mature and grows during the hot, humid weather, the protein, energy, and other nutrients in the forage decline. The calf is depending on the forage for a larger proportion of the nutrient intake during July, August, and September. The crude protein concentration of the forage is often below 10% in bahiagrass, hemarthria, pangola grass and native grasses. Lower levels of nitrogen fertilizer application will also reduce crude protein levels. The protein requirement of a 300 lb calf gaining 1.75 lb/day is over 14% and the declining contribution of milk to the nutrition of the calf could result in a protein deficiency.

A summary of four trials in Oklahoma showed that nursing calves consuming .72 lb/day of cottonseed meal gained .27 lb/day more than unsupplemented calves. The cottonseed meal was fed in creep feeders, and salt was used to limit intake when consumption exceeded 1 lb/day.

Florida Trials

A high protein supplement was fed to nursing calves in seven trials on cooperating ranches in Florida during 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1995. The calves were offered 100% cottonseed meal until they started eating the supplement (usually two to four weeks), then were switched to a mixture containing 92% cottonseed meal and 8% salt. The salt was used to limit consumption to 1 lb/day or less. The protein supplement was fed in creep feeders that prevented cows from consuming the supplement. On each ranch, two comparable groups of cows and calves were identified, and calves were individually weighed at the beginning and end of each trial. One group was provided the creep fed protein supplement, and the other group was provided similar pasture but no supplement. The trials were initiated from June 19 to July 17 and ranged from 46 to 62 days in length.

The consumption of cottonseed meal-salt supplement averaged .64 lb/day with a range from .40 to .95 lb/day in the seven trials (Table 1). Calves supplemented with a cottonseed meal supplement gained .07 to .45 lb/day more than calves not supplemented. Gains were improved .27 lb/day when averaged over seven trials. In five trials, it required two pounds or less of protein supplement per pound of added gain, but five to six pounds of supplement were required per pound added gain in the other two trials. In one trial with poor conversion of supplement to gain, the calves were younger and their dams appeared to be producing more milk than the average Florida cow. The factors could be expected to reduce the need for supplemental protein.

Other benefits of protein supplementation noted in the studies included calves with slicker hair coats and better eye appeal. The supplemented calves were heavier but not fleshier, which should result in a similar market price. In one trial there were fewer of the light, "poor doing" calves. Another likely benefit is less weaning stress and sickness. Calves receiving a protein supplement are accustomed to eating dry feeds and "know how to eat." This is expected to reduce the time to get the cattle eating after weaning. It should reduce sickness and improve performance.

An economic analysis of these seven trials showed that in five of the seven trials, it was profitable to supplement nursing calves with a high protein supplement. Based on the results of these seven trials and a 90-day supplementation period, it was projected that a limit-fed high protein supplement for nursing calves would result in $4.59 added net return for each calf sold at weaning.

Suggestions

Starting the calves on the high protein supplement was slow in some situations. Creep feeders need to be located in areas where cows and calves spend time for best results. It is desirable to feed a very palatable feed during the first two weeks to help calves learn what is in the feeding area.

The following is a list of conditions where a high protein supplement would be expected to give a good response.

A forage low in protein. Forage protein is affected by species, season and fertilization.
Calves consuming more forage and less milk, such as older calves or calves with poor milking dams.
Calves with genetic potential for high gains.

Tables

Table 1.

Summary of Trials Supplementing Protein to Nursing Calves.^a

		Daily Gain
Forage	Supplement Consumed	Control	Protein	Increase	Feed/Gain
	lb/day	lb	lb	lb
Bahia-native^b	.40	1.95	2.14	.19	2.0
Bahiagrass^c	.84	1.60	1.74	.14	6.0
Bahiagrass^d	.95	1.20	1.65	.45	2.1
Pangola-clover^e	.75	1.59	1.95	.36	2.1
Bahiagrass^f	.49	1.36	1.77	.41	1.2
Bahiagrass^g	.44	1.44	1.68	.24	1.8
Bahiagrass^h	.59	1.93	2.00	.07	4.9
Average (7 trials)	.64	1.58	1.85	.27	2.9
^aCottonseed meal (100%) fed until calves eating supplement, then a mix of 92% cottonseed meal and 8% salt fed to limit intake. ^bDeseret Ranch, 1986. ^cNutt Ranch, Pasco County, 1987. ^dWillow Ranch, Polk County, 1988. ^eYucatan Ranch, Highlands County, 1988. ^fYucatan Ranch, Highlands County, 1990. ^gYucatan Ranch, Highlands County, 1992. ^hDeseret Ranch, 1995.

Table 2.

Returns:
Pounds added at weaning weight
(.27 lb/day x 90 days)	24 lb
Value of added weight
($.90/lb x 24 lb)	$21.60

Costs:
Protein Supplement
(58 lb x $.22/lb)	$12.60
Labor ($/calf)	$1.50
Equipment ($/calf)	$2.75

Total Cost	$17.01

Net Returns
($21.60 - $17.01)	$4.59/calf

Footnotes

This document is SS-ANS-11, one of a series of the Animal Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date July 1997. Revised September 2007. Reviewed September 2012. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

Bill Kunkle, professor and Extension beef specialist, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; Pat Hogue, Extension agent, Okeechobee County, Okeechobee, FL; Ed Jennings, multi-county Extension livestock agent, Pasco, Sumter, Hernando and Citrus Counties, FL; and Sid Sumner, retired Extension agent, Polk County, Bartow, FL; Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.

Protein Supplement May Improve Gains of Nursing Calves1