BULLS - particularly at current prices - represent a significant capital investment that need to guarantee an appropriate return.
Proper and adequate nutritional management is paramount to breeding season success and economic viability of every beef enterprise.
Feedstuff selection should be based upon the necessity of meeting the nutrient requirements of the growing bull, with emphasis on energy, protein and minerals.
For younger bulls energy is most likely to be the limiting factor. Feedstuffs that contain adequate energy concentrations to support the desired level of growth need to be used.
In most cases quality grazing pasture are adequate.
However, if dry paddock conditions exist than an energy-dense feedstuffs will be necessary. This may include some type of cereal grain or co-products such as sorghum, barley, corn, oats, corn hominy or dried distillers grains.
Fibre based energy supplying co-products are also acceptable feed choices and include soybean hulls and oaten hulls.
Protein feeds can consist of any of the oilseed meals or selected co-products, including soybean, cottonseed or dried distillers grains.
The utilisation of urea in formulated diets or pre-formulated protein supplements may be an economical source of nitrogen, if the diet contains adequate energy.
Similarly, the need for roughage in the diet may necessitate the use of medium to good quality forages to support the desired growth level.
The digestible protein in good quality forages can help offset the need for very high inclusion levels of protein concentrates.
The selection of any particular roughage option will depend upon the age, bodyweight, and growth requirements of the bull. Common roughage sources include barley and oaten hay.
Corn or sorghum silage is particularly useful during the development phase and can be useful during the transition phase.
Obviously, pasture is a primary choice for roughage. When pasture is utilised a number of issues need to be considered including having adequate availability, the intake and quality.
An often overlooked consideration is the difference in forage intake compared to cows. Bulls, in some cases can consume up to two times more than cows.
Additionally, developing or reconditioning of bulls need higher quality pasture.
Minerals are also very important. Chelated trace minerals should be used for bull development as they are more easily absorbed to supply cells with minerals needed for all metabolic processes including growth and reproduction.
The use of well-balanced mineral and vitamin supplement to meet the bull's requirements is the main management consideration. Zinc, selenium, and copper are the three key chelated minerals. Chelated zinc plays a key role in increasing fertility.
Selenium can also increase sperm viability, quality, and overall reproductive health.
The use of chelated minerals should be implemented 60 to 90 days before initiation of the breeding season. The advanced time-frame allows for the turnover of sperm that may have been affected by any transient mineral deficiencies.
The use of chelated mineral supplementation can be continued into the breeding season if the cow herd is also being supplemented with chelated mineral sources.
Alltech Lienert's Blueprint Lift is a loose lick that provides a full vitamin and mineral profile using the Bioplex range of chelated minerals.
The product is self limiting with daily intakes of 100 grams/head/day with a cost of 25c/head/day and can be fed three to four weeks from joining and continue throughout the joining period.
Macro minerals such as magnesium and calcium are also included for grass tetany and metabolic disorders associated with vegetative pasture growth.
- Toby Doak is a livestock nutrition advisor with Alltech Lienert Australia.
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