Weekly, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Nutrition Specialist Paul Beck offers his expertise on the beef cattle industry. This is part of the weekly series known as the “Cow Calf Corner,” published electronically by Dr. Derrell Peel, Mark Johnson, and Beck. Today, Beck discusses Supplementation Strategies for Stocker Calves Grazing Summer Pasture.
Late summer is a critical period for stocker operations grazing both native rangeland and introduced pastures. While native grasses and introduced Old World bluestem pastures provide adequate forage during the growing season, their nutrient content—especially protein and energy—becomes limiting during late summer or under drought conditions. Introduced forage species such as bermudagrass are highly productive and usually provide adequate protein, but digestibility—and therefore energy content—declines in late summer, limiting stocker gains.
Strategic supplementation can help maintain optimal growth rates and maximize returns, but the key to success is matching the supplement to the pasture.
Why Supplement?
Correct major nutrient deficiencies:
As forages mature, their digestibility and protein levels decline. Stocker calves, especially those with high growth potential, may not meet their nutrient requirements from forage alone. Supplementation provides additional energy and protein to help calves maintain target average daily gains, improve feed efficiency, and reach market goals on time.
Deliver feed additives and minerals:
Medicated feed additives and minerals can be provided with the supplement to ensure proper dosage. Medicated feed additives improve performance and the efficiency of supplementation, and are often highly economical when included with supplements. Minerals are vital to all bodily processes, and deficiencies can negatively affect growth and immune function.
Support livestock management:
Often overlooked economically, supplementation also provides management benefits. It allows for easier observation of cattle, improves disposition and handling of animals not accustomed to human interaction, and enhances grazing distribution when supplement is placed in underutilized areas.
Increase pasture carrying capacity:
Feeding higher supplementation rates can replace a portion of forage intake, effectively increasing pasture carrying capacity. This approach is useful for maintaining stocking rates during droughts or boosting them under normal conditions.
Looking Ahead
In upcoming newsletters, we will look at how supplementation rates affect stocker cattle gains and supplemental efficiency and discuss guidelines for choosing the right supplement program based on pasture conditions and production goals.
