Creep Feeding: From The Cow’s Perspective
When we think of creep feeding, we normally focus on the benefits from the calf’s perspective. There is no doubt that creep feeding benefits the calf and positively influences their saleable weight, but it also greatly benefits the cow. Supplementing the growing calf’s energy requirements with creep feed naturally helps to wean the calf off of the cow. Not only does that ease the stress of weaning, but it also helps keep the cow in better body condition and improves her reproductive success.
Reproduction is the most important factor affecting profitability on a cow-calf operation. It is 5 times more important than growth rate and 10 times more important than carcass quality when it comes to profit. Cow body condition has the greatest impact on reproduction efficiency, and it can also impact calf immunity, calf health and even calf growth rate. Ideally, a cow should maintain a 365 day calving interval, which means she has 80-85 days to cycle and rebreed after calving. Every missed cycle can result in as much as 42lbs of calf weaning weight lost, plus it drags out the calving season and makes for a less uniform calf crop (Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC)).
Thinner cows also produce less colostrum, and that colostrum contains lower levels of immunoglobulins (BCRC). The results from a large field study (600 calves) in Saskatchewan showed calf immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels up to 19% higher in calves born from cows with a body condition score (BCS) of 3 or greater. This same research demonstrated that the odds of calf treatment and calf death increased with IgG levels in the blood were below 24g/L (BCRC).
The bottom line is that cows in optimal BCS (2.5-3 on a 5 point scale) are more profitable.
So what can we do to help maintain or to get cows into the desired body condition?
Well, feeding calves creep feed can help lower their nutritional demands from the cows’ milk, and leave more pasture for the cows to graze. It is estimated that for every pound of creep feed consumed by the calf, there is a savings of ½ - 1 pound of forage, which can be made available to the cow (Saskatchewan Agriculture Centre). The feed requirements of the cows will be reduced as the calves being to wean, which will help the cows to maintain or regain their body condition on less feed. Cows entering the winter season in ideal body condition are much cheaper than cows that need to gain weight while late in gestation. If your cows’ BCS are lower than you would like (below 2.5), adjustments to the feeding program should be made no later than 60 days before calving. The earlier you make changes, the more likely you will be to succeed in having a large, uniform, valuable calf crop. As gestation progresses through the colder months of winter, adding condition becomes increasingly difficult and expensive, especially with heifers because they are still growing. Cows in late gestation or lactation will have 20-45% higher energy and 40-80% higher protein requirements than cows in midgestation (BCRC). For cows fed to gain ½ a BCS over the winter, feed costs will be 20-30% higher, so it is best to increase condition prior to winter. Having less fat cover, thin cows need more energy to keep warm. An additional 1200 lbs of hay is needed to feed a cow with a BCS 2 compared to a cow with a BCS 3 through the winter (BCRC).
A young calf is at its peak time for feed efficiency, meaning that each pound of feed consumed is quickly converted to a pound of gain. It is much cheaper to supplement that highly efficient calf, than it is to have to supplement a cow in poor body condition come fall or winter.
Quality creep feeds are high in fibre and well-fortified with vitamins and minerals. They are designed to be fed free choice with a 1% of body weight targeted intake. This helps to prevent calves from getting over conditioned from creep feed. Creep feed also provides an excellent means of getting coccidiosis protection into the calves, as it can include deccox, rumensin or bovatech.