October webinar focuses on feeding the cowherd

Drought continues to grip the High Plains region, and prices for forage and grain have risen sharply compared with a year ago. Supplies are limited, which challenges producers to consider feed options. This webinar will explore various feed options producers could consider in light of current hay and commodity prices.

Karla Wilke, Nebraska Extension cow-calf systems specialist, will show several examples of feeding options that could meet a cow’s nutrient needs with the feed resources that are available. The logistics and infrastructure needed to utilize these feeds will be discussed as well.

"What may make sense for one producer won’t work for someone else. Each producer needs to consider their own situation, what they have available, and what they are able to do," said Wilke.

Feeding concentrates such as corn, soy hulls or distillers grains with limited roughage could be an economical option given current hay prices. "We can use low-quality forages or residues in diets, but we will have to also add a source of energy and protein to meet the needs of the cow or cow-calf pair appropriately," she said.

The webinar will provide practical information, and Wilke will highlight lessons learned from university research and from producers who have utilized various feed resources in the past when forage was in short supply.

Webinar topics

• Ration examples and feed cost estimates based on current commodity prices
• Limit feeding versus full feeding
• Use of crop residues and other roughages besides traditional hay sources
• Vitamin and mineral considerations for pregnant cows and calves that will be born
• Understanding different protein sources and how they can be cost effectively utilized
• How an ionophore can be used to increase efficiency with limited feed

The webinar is free, but registration is required. To register, contact Aaron Berger at aberger2@unl.edu or click on side link.