During the winter months when fresh forage on pastures is unavailable to most cow-calf producers, they typically turn to feeding one low-quality forage with a protein supplement. In Nebraska and other states where corn is a commonly grown commodity crop, many producers use grazing cornstalks as their low-quality forage source. Those producers frequently ask me about using dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) or alfalfa as their protein source. Often, use is based on availability, location and each producer’s specific situation.
Recently, I spoke to one of my forage-testing customers Tim Troxel. He had experience raising calves but is now solely producing hay to sell to other livestock producers. Troxel shared a few insights with me from his current customer base as well as his experience as a cattleman.
First, I have always promoted hay analysis and a forage report as a savvy marketing tool for hay producers. However, Troxel says most of his customers don’t care to see a forage report. “Most of them just feed so much hay and so much supplement plus a mineral because that’s how they’ve always done it,” he says. Troxel also states that while he was in the cow business, he could not afford to not know the protein content in his forages. To be profitable, he needed to ensure protein was balanced in the diet to meet requirements, but he would not be overpaying for supplementation. So, as a hay producer, he still has his hay tested for his customers.
The second observation Troxel shared was from his time feeding cows. He always used alfalfa as a protein supplement. When storms or other circumstances caused him to deviate from his regular supplementation plan, he would have to feed a different mix of hay for a few days. During those times, mineral consumption went way up! Lower-quality hay typically has less minerals, and the protein level of the hay is correlated with mineral content.
I’d be willing to bet that mineral consumption would spike with interruptions in supplementation regardless of the protein supplement being fed. However, Troxel’s observation does serve as a good reminder that we should consider the supplement as a whole. While we say protein supplement, we also should think about the micronutrients a feed source is providing.
This got me thinking about the nutritional value of DDGS compared to alfalfa. Table 1 shows DDGS average values from Ward Laboratories data over seven years and alfalfa at different protein levels over eight years. These are average values, but DDGS are variable across locations and batches. Alfalfa is a forage with leaves and stems and all different types of management practices, so it is even more variable. So for both DDGS and alfalfa hay, consider that these nutrients occur over a range. There's no surprise or groundbreaking information here; the protein is higher in the DDGS than the alfalfa hay. Calcium was really the only mineral with higher values in the alfalfa than the DDGS. Of course, we always need to be aware of the potential for high phosphorus and sulfur when feeding DDGS.
So how does this look in a diet? Table 2 shows two examples: diets grazing cornstalks while supplementing with 1) DDGS and 2) good alfalfa. Keep in mind, these are just examples. Cattle producers will need to make a comparison with their own feedstuffs to determine the best supplementation strategies for their unique situation.
First, we see that cornstalks need protein and mineral supplementation (duh). Then, we see that a diet balanced for protein can be achieved using either supplement. Again, this is no surprise or groundbreaking information. We can see that calcium is the only real difference between feeding DDGS and alfalfa. Finally, in this example, it was more cost-effective to supplement with DDGS, but this may not always be the case.
Here are a few key messages we can take away from Troxel about DDGS and alfalfa as protein supplements:
1. Promote the value of hay analysis
We still have work to do as an industry to get livestock producers to see the value of hay analysis. Troxel’s experience with producers being dismissive of a forage report shows that although there are lots of educational resources, producers still may feel unsure of information presented on forage reports and need assistance in understanding and using them to improve their nutrition programs.
2. It's important to track mineral consumption
A key tool producers can use that is free and can tell us a lot about nutritional status is to track mineral supplement consumption. When high-quality forages and supplemental feeds are available, less mineral supplement is consumed. When those feeds are removed for any reason, mineral supplement consumption will spike. Tracking mineral consumption can be an early indicator that a nutritional change needs to be made. If a mineral supplement is continuously overconsumed, that may be a sign of a nutritional deficiency before symptoms set in or alert to a subclinical issue.
3. Evaluate diet to identify nutrient gaps
When a mineral supplement is overconsumed on a consistent basis, producers should use forage reports and feed tags to evaluate the diet and identify which nutrients are potentially lacking.
4. Mineral supplementation in winter is essential
Whether supplementing DDGS or alfalfa, a good mineral supplement should be provided to ensure cattle receive all the micronutrients required to perform and maintain a good bodyweight throughout the winter months.
In conclusion, while we often think of winter protein supplementation, we should also consider winter mineral nutrition. Using feed tags and forage analysis can help producers make the best possible decision for their operation for winter supplementation. And, we have not even started to consider energy or feeding to combat the weather!
