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Feeding Winter Wheat to Cows and Calves
Taken from "Ask John A Nutrition
Question", Beef Questions and Answers Newsletter,
January 2005. Dr. John Paterson, MSU Extension Beef/Cattle
Specialist
| "Pound
for pound, wheat is generally worth 103 to 108 percent
of the value of corn in beef cattle rations." |
I have been asked several questions about feeding wheat
this winter to calves and cows. The following recommendations
come from the beef nutritionists at Kansas State University.
What is the value of wheat in beef cattle rations?
Wheat is an excellent feed grain when priced competitively
with corn and milo. Typically, Kansas red wheats are
3 to 4 percentage units higher in protein and similar
in energy to corn. In addition, mill run wheat is usually
drier and cleaner than other feed grains. Wheat is particularly
useful in growing rations because of its higher protein
content. Pound for pound, wheat is generally worth 103
to 108 percent of the value of corn in beef cattle rations.
Blending wheat with other grains in growing and finishing
diets also has shown excellent benefits.
How much wheat can be fed in the ration?
Because wheat is very rapidly digested and tends to
produce excessive fines when dry processed, it is usually
blended with other feedstuffs to prevent the possibility
of digestive upsets. Conservatively, beef cow supplements
and creep feeds can contain 30 to 50 percent wheat.
In growing programs, wheat can be the sole source of
grain in silage-based diets, and it can constitute up
to 50 percent of the grain in dry, hay-based rations.
In finishing rations, dry rolled wheat can account for
50 to 60 percent of the grain fed.
How should wheat be processed?
Wheat must be processed to improve digestibility by
cattle. Steam rolling (not flaking) wheat to a 36 to
39 lb/bushel density is optimal for feedlots. The resulting
product is thick and durable and has a crimped appearance.
In addition to minimizing ration fines, K-State research
shows that steam rolling reduces the rate of wheat starch
digestion in the rumen compared to dry rolling. This
results in higher intakes, more rapid and efficient
gains, and less likelihood of digestive upsets. For
farmer feeders without steam rolling capabilities, coarse
dry rolling or grinding of wheat results in a very acceptable
product.
When rolling or grinding, process as coarsely as possible.
Moisture tempering of the dry grain prior to rolling,
or adding water or molasses on the feed truck or mixer
wagon, particularly when dry roughages are used, may
help bind fines to roughage particles and aid in ration
conditioning. Whatever processing method is used, the
goal is to maximize particle size and minimize fines.
Beef:
Questions & Answers is a joint project between
MSU Extension and the Montana Beef Council. This column
informs producers about current consumer education,
promotion and research projects funded through the
$1 per head checkoff. For more information, contact
the Montana Beef Council at (406) 442-5111 or at beefcncl@mt.net
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