Supplements Boost Cow Performance

Whether you have a couple of cows or several hundred, supplements are a wise investment.

Your cows can't tell you the forage you're feeding them lacks feed value, but the staff of experts at Southern States can help with expert advice backed by years of experience.

Nutrition could be a major issue this winter, warns John Bargeloh, manager for ruminant nutrition at Southern States. Bargeloh is one of a complete staff of livestock experts available to help advise customers with livestock management problems.

He explains that because of extended rainy weather last summer, a lot of grass became overly mature before it was harvested. "When grass gets too mature, protein drops quite drastically," he says. "Also, fiber content increases and forage digestibility is reduced."

If your cows don't have adequate nutrition, you'll find out sooner or later-often at rebreeding time, Bargeloh says. They either won't breed back or they'll take longer to rebreed.

Consequently, you should be prepared to supplement your cows this winter so that they have adequate energy and protein to rebreed at the same time they are nursing calves.

Southern States offers a wide array of supplement products in liquid, dry and block forms to meet the specific needs of individual producers.

To ensure proper body condition, feed a supplement that fills in the gaps, advises Chet Fields, a nutritionist with U.S. Sugar in Clewiston, Fla., a manufacturer of the co-op's liquid supplements.

"Our supplements are molasses-based, a byproduct of the sugarcane industry," Fields reports. "They are high in protein and retain the energy ingredients that are commonly removed in products derived from ethanol or distilling processes."

Research shows that the sugars from molasses increase forage intake and improve digestibility. "Our supplements meet all recommendednutrient requirements," Fields notes.

Liquid supplements commonly are fed in self-feeders or lick wheels. Blocks offer another convenient way to provide supplementation. Dry supplements have to be hand-fed. Otherwise, intake limiters such as salt are necessary to keep animals from consuming too much.

Southern States offers liquid feed manufactured by U.S. Sugar or Mol-Mix. The specific manufacturer and product available varies by region, however both liquid feeds are manufactured similarly to meet the co-op's specifications.

Bargeloh says you can have your forages analyzed. Simply contact your local Southern States store; they will put you in contact with a Southern States feed sales representative. They have computers and software to formulate recommendations of the right supplement to choose.