BULLETIN 384-A JULY 1944

Livestock Feeds
and Feeding

SuDlDler is the period of low--c_ost Dlaintenance if pastures and ranges

are t•roperly ntillzed.

EXTENSION SERVICE
COLORADO STATE COLLEGE
FORT COLLINS
 Foreword
There is no business in which experience counts for more
than it does in livestock feeding. Books, bulletins and feeding
experiments are of value to the man who has had actual ex-
perience to tie them to. He must be able to decide how well what
he reads fits his conditions. Methods and rations successfully
used in one part of the country might not be economical for him
to use in his particular section. Even a practice which was
good on the next ranch might not be best for him because his
conditions might be different and a different treatment required.
It is up to each breeder and feeder to select the ration or prac-
tice which seems best adapted to his particular ranch, keeping
economy and suitableness of the ration for a particular class of
livestock uppermost in his mind.
The correct rationing of feeds to livestock on a farm or
ranch can save many dollars during the year in the production
of livestock products. Colorado has a wide variety of farm-
grown feeds which can be used to produce as cheap and efficient
rations as are available in any other section of the country.
"The most efficient livestock production is secured by feed-
ing an adequate ration from the time of the animal's birth. The
younger an animal is the more efficiently it uses its feed for
growth or finish. Young animals should never be stunted.
Neither should they be kept in too high condition, especially
through the winter maintenance period when feed costs are rel-
atively high. Mature animals should be maintained in thrifty,
vigorous condition."*
It is the purpose of the following material to point out cer-
tain facts which might be of interest to the feeder of livestock.
*Feed for Profit, Utah Extension Circular 2, New Series, No. 81.

Published and distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8

and June 30, 1914, by the Colorado State College Extension Service. F. A.
Anderson, Director, and U. S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.

FORT COLLINS, COLO. JULY 1944

 Livestock Feeds and Feeding
HARRY H. SMITH, Extension Animal Husbandman

FEEDS
All feeds may be divided into two classes-roughages and
concentrates. Roughages are feeds which are high in fiber
and low in total digestible nutrients and include such common
feeds as alfalfa, grass hay, corn fodder, sorghun1 fodder, silage,
straw, etc.
Concentrates are feeds which are high in total digestible nu-
trients, and low in fiber. They include such feeds as barley and
the other grains, cottonseed meal, soybean meal, wheat bran,
etc.
Roughages are further divided into carbohydrate roughages
and protein roughages. Carbohydrate roughages include wild
hay, timothy hay, corn fodder, silage, sorghum fodder, etc. Pro-
tein roughages include alfalfa hay, clover hay, soybean hay, etc.
The concentrates are divided in the same way. Protein con-
centrates include soybeans, soybean meal, cottonseed meal, wheat
bran, flax seed, linseed meal, shorts, middlings, tankage, meat
m·eal, fish meal and dry beans. Carbohydrates include corn,
wheat, oats, barley, dried beet pulp.
(Protein roughages
Roughages (
(Carbohydrate roughages
(Protein concentrates
Concentrates (
(Carbohydrate concentrates
Carbohydrates-Fats and Proteins.-We usually think of
fats, carbohydrates and proteins as being the essential nutrients
in a ration. This is only partly true since minerals, vitamins,
water and air are just as essential. Fats and carbohydrates are
the energy foods and in the process of digestion are broken down
into simple forms which can be utilized by the animal's body in
producing milk, work, fat, etc. The carbohydrates include the
sugars, starches and similar materials in the plant. The fat is
the natural fat in the plants and is utilized the same as the car-
bohydrates.
4 COLORADO STATE COLLEGE Ext. 384-A

Protein can also be used as a source of energy but primarily

it is used for growth and repair of the body. Because it is neces-
sary for growth, young animals require more protein in compari-
son to their body weight than older animals do. Proteins from dif-
ferent sources vary greatly in value to the animal. Proteins are
composed of amino acids. There are 22 of these acids, but a
particular protein may not contain all of them. The numbers
which are present in a protein and the proportion in which they
are present gives the protein its individuality.
Because proteins differ in the number and proportion of
amino acids, they are not all of the same quality or value to
the animal. In many of the proteins the amino acids are not in
the proportion in which they are needed by the animal body. For
this reason, better results may be obtained when an animal re-
ceives its proteins from two or more sources. This happens any
time an animal receives more than one feed. An animal being
fattened on corn, barley, dried beet pulp and alfalfa hay would
be receiving its protein from four sources. These proteins all
dovetail together and give better results than if they came from
only one source. This is especially true if the protein source is
from the grains and dried beet pulp since these proteins are of
very poor quality.
The carbohydrates can be stored in the body in the form of
fat for future use. This is not true of the proteins. There is no
storage of protein in the body. This makes it necessary to pro-
vide the animals with the amount of protein needed each day.
If more is given than is needed, waste results.
Minerals.-Farm animals are more likely to suffer from a
lack of phosphorus or calci urn than from any of the other min-
erals except common salt. Pregnant animals, in certain sections,
may also suffer from a lack of iodine. Money spent for minerals
other than these is generally wasted.
Common salt which is sodium chloride should be kept before
all animals at all times. Salt must be in a form that it can be
utilized by them. Much of the rock salt which is on the market
is so hard that it is difficult for animals to get a sufficient
amount of it. Loose salt is likely the best form in which to
feed it.
A lack of phosphorus is shown by the tendency of animals
to chew bones, sticks or by the licking of dirt. The animal seems
to have a depraved appetite and will try to chew most anything.
This craving can be satisfied by supplying some feed high in
July 1944 LIVESTOCK FEEDS AND FEEDING 5

phosphorus. Bonemeal with 30 percent salt is a good source of

phosphorus. Also, rock phosphate which has been deflorinated
is satisfactory. Both of these products are cheap.
Calcium will be lacking where the roughage is largely of a
carbohydrate nature such as wild hay, sorghum or corn fodder
or stover. This can be most easily supplied by ground lime-
stone. Unslacked lime and water-slacked lime should not be
used because of their caustic nature.
Iodine may be necessary for pregnant animals in certain
sections where the soil is deficient in this mineral. Iodine de-
ficiency is evidenced by pigs being born hairless or by calves be-
ing born with an enlarged thyroid gland or goiter. A sow needs
about 2 grains of potassium iodine per week, a cow about 5
grains, a ewe .35 grain, and a mare 15 grains per week. Iodine
needs to be fed only during the latter half of the pregnancy pe-
riod and only on farms where evidence of an iodine deficiency
has oc·curred. There is no object in giving iodine to any but
pregnant animals.
The stockm·an should view with suspicion those brands of
mineral mixtures for which extravagant claims are made.
Vitamins.-Vitamin A-Vitamins are absolutely necessary
for all animal life. No doubt farm animals suffer more from a
lack of vitamin A than they do from a lack of any of the other
vitamins. Many hogs suffer from a lack of vitamin D when
they are confined in dark quarters and do not have access to
sunshine.
All of the grains, except yellow corn, are a very poor source
of vitamin A. Yellow corn is a fair-to-good source of vitamin A.
Seven pounds of yellow corn per day will furnish sufficient vita-
min A for a 1,000-pound animal, according to A. G. Hogan of
the University of Missouri. The same author also shows that
it would take 290 pounds of oats, 170 pounds of wheat or 60
pounds of barley per day to furnish sufficient vitamin A to a
1,000-pound steer. These are minimum requirements; probably
about five times as much would be required for lactating animals
or for animals during gestation.*
Roughages, if they are of good quality, are very much bet-
ter sources of vitamin A than the grains are. Hogan shows that
only 1.1 pounds of good quality alfalfa hay, 2.6 pounds of clover
and 5.6 pounds of timothy per day will furnish enough vitamin A
*A. G. Hogan, Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, Bul. 453, p. 7.
6 COLORADO STATE COLLEGE Ext. 384-A

for a 1,000-pound animal. Good quality roughage must be

stressed because hay which is poor quality, due to leaching or
loss of leaves, is worthless as a source of vitamin A.
Due to the fact that hogs are often fed almost entirely on
concentrates, they often suffer from a lack of vitamin A. When
hogs are fed in drylot, their ration should include all of the good
quality, fine-stemmed, leafy, good colored alfalfa hay they will
eat. In the summer, hogs should be on pasture. They then will
obtain all the vitamin A they need.
Vitamin D-A lack of vitamin D produces bones which are
soft, legs which are bent and crooked, and retarded growth.
Vitamin D is stored in the liver. It is possible to accumulate a
reserve that will fulfill all requirements for several weeks or
months, even if all sources of vitamin D are cut off.
Vitamin D is calied the sunshine vitamin since animals ex-
posed to sunshine usually need no further source of the vitamin.
Sun-cured roughages are a good source of this vitamin.
There are a number of other important vitamins, but they
are probably of little practical importance to the average live-
stock raiser or feeder. Experience shows that good feeding
practices furnish adequate amounts of all the recognized vita-
mins that are required by the larger animals. For various rea-
sons, however, there are times when the feed supply is limited
and it is difficult to follow approved practices. The vitamin most
likely to be deficient in the feed, under those circumstances, is
vitamin A and is the only one likely to be deficient in the rations
of cattle, hogs, sheep, and horses. A liberal supply of fresh for-
age is the most practical method of preventing this type of de-
ficiency.

The Balanced Ration

A balanced ration is a ration which furnishes to the ani-
mal the several nutrients-protein, carbohydrates and fats-in
such proportion as will properly nourish the animal for 24 hours.
A balanced ration does not mean anything unless the character-
istics and composition of the feeds to be used and the require-
ments of the animals to be fed are understood by the feeder.
Theoretically, a balanced ration can be made of feathers and saw-
dust, but both substances are entirely indigestible to animals. A
table showing the nutrient requirements of different classes of
animals, and balanced rations, is given on page 16. A table
showing the composition of various feeds is given on page 18.
July 1944 LIVESTOCK FEEDS AND FEEDING 7

Suppose a fattening ration for a 700-pound steer is want-

ed. First, see what nutrients a 700-pound steer requires daily.
Referring to the Appendix, table A, it is noted that a 700-pound
steer requires 15.2 to 18.3 pounds of dry matter, 1.41 to 1.60
pounds of protein, and 12.0 to 14.4 pounds of total digestible nu-
trients per day.
For fattening yearling cattle-700-pounds weight-the re-
quirements and nutritive ratio are:
Dry matter (lb.) 15.2 to 18.3; Digestible protein (lb.) 1.41
to 1.60; Total digestible nutrients (lb.) 12.0 to 14.4; Nutritive
ratio 7 to 8.
Assume that the feeder has alfalfa, silage and barley. Look
at the table of digestible nutrients on pages 18 and 19 and find
how much of the various nutrients each of these feeds contains.
Table B gives the amount of nutrients in 1 pound of the various
feeds as follows:
'I'ABLE 1

Total
Digestible digestible Nutritive
Feeds Dry matter protein nutrients ratio

1 lb. alfalfa .906 .110 .501

1 lb. silage .283 .013 .187
1 lb. barley .904 .093 .787

Make up a ration of 3 pounds of alfalfa, 20 pounds of silage,

and 10 pounds of barley and see how that fits the particular re-
quirements for fattening a 700-pound steer. Multiply the nu-
trients in 1 pound of alfalfa by 3, the nutrients in 1 pound of
silage by 20, and the nutrients in 1 pound of barley by 10, as
shown in table 2.

TABLE 2

Total
Digestible digestible Nutritive
Ration Dry matter protein nutrients ratio

(lb.) (lb.) (lb.)

3 alfalfa 2.718 .330 1.503
20 silage 5.760 .266 3.740
10 barley 9.040 .930 7.870

17.518 1.526 13.113 7.6

Thus, there are 17.518 pounds of dry matter in the ration,

which is within the limits of 15.2 to 18.3; the 1.526 pounds pro-
8 COLORADO STATE COLLEGE Ext. 384-A

tein which is in the limit of 1.41 to 1.60, and 13.113 pounds of

total digestible nutrients, which is within the limits of 12.0 to
14.4. By subtracting the protein from the total digestible nu-
trients and diyiding the remainder by 1.526, the nutritive ratio
is 7.59, which is also within the limit of 7 to 8.
(13.113- 1.526 = 11.587-+- 1.526 = 7.59 nutritive ratio)
Suppose there had been only 1 pound of protein instead of
1.526. The ration would have been about .4 of a pound too low
in protein. The amount of protein can be increased by taking
out some of the silage and increasing the amount of alfalfa hay,
since 100 pounds of alfalfa hay contain 11 pounds of digestible
protein. Or, 10 pounds of the silage can be taken out and replaced
with 4 pounds of alfalfa hay, which contain .44 pound of protein,
to bring the ration within the required limit of protein. But sup-
pose this feeder was long on silage and short on alfalfa hay. What
else can he do? He can add some high-protein feed like cotton-
seed cake or soybean meal. Either of these feeds contains about
.37 pound of digestible protein per pound so 11,4 pounds of either
cottonseed cake or soybean meal will add .46 pound of protein.
If adding 114 pounds of either cottonseed cake or soybean meal
raised the total digestible nutrients too much, 1 pound of barley
can be omitted.
Remember, a balanced ration does not necessarily mean that,
as in the above ration, 3 pounds of alfalfa, 20 pounds of silage
and 10 pounds of barley, is all that that particular animal will
eat in 24 hours, but that as long as the feeds are kept in that pro-
portion, they make a balanced ration for an animal of that kind.
Neither does it mean that this proportion of feeds makes a bal-
anced ration for some other animal. This is not a balanced ra-
tion for a 400-pound calf, for the younger animal needs a
smaller amount of carbohydrates. Neither is it a balanced ra-
tion for a range cow which is being wintered. She needs a
nutritive ratio of about 1.10 to 1.15 or less protein in proportion
to the carbohydrates fed. To give her the same proportion of
protein as a 700-pound fattening steer, would be a waste of
protein.

Feeding Value of Various Concentrates

Corn.-For fattening animals of all kinds, corn stands at
the head of the list. It is the feed supreme and is the standard
by which all other feeds are compared. Corn is high in total di-
gestible nutrients, containing 3.9 percent fat, 7.4 percent digesti-
July 1944 LIVESTOCK FEEDS AND FEEDING 9

ble protein, and 83.7 percent total digestible nutrients. Corn is

probably the most palatable of all the grains.
Wheat.-Wheat has about as much total digestible nutrients
as corn, is higher in protein, lower in fat, and is not as palatable.
It is not a safe feed for most animals when fed alone, except hogs.
For fattening hogs, it gives slightly better results than corn and
when fed as a part of the concentrate mixture, it has given as
good results as corn in fattening cattle. For fattening lambs,
wheat has been a little less satisfactory than corn.
Barley.-Barley stands next to corn in popularity as a feed
grain and is generally considered to have about 90 percent of the
feeding value of corn.
Oats.-Oats is an excellent feed for growing or breeding
animals but is of considerably lower value for fattening-not
over 85 percent the value of corn.
Rye.-Considered from the standpoint of its chemical analy-
sis, rye should be as good a feed as wheat, but it is much less
palatable and this accounts for the small gains when rye has
been fed to animals being fattened. To be satisfactory, it should
be mixed with some better-liked feed such as corn or wheat.
When rye makes up not more than one-half of the concentrate
part of the ration, it will be equal to wheat in feeding value.
Dried molasses beet pulp, when mixed in equal parts or
less with small grains or when fed mixed with corn silage, has
practically the same value as grain.
Beet Molasses.-When fed in small amounts, not to exceed
3 pounds for cattle and 1/a to 1;2 pound for lambs, beet molasses
is equal to grain in feeding value. In larger amounts, beet mo-
lasses showed a lower feeding value.
Proso or hog millet is a satisfactory feed for livestock. For
fattening cattle and lambs it has been worth 75 to 90 percent as
much as corn. In Colorado experiments, it has been nearly as
valuable as corn for fattening pigs.
Grain Sorghums.-In composition the grain sorghums resem-
ble corn in composition and in feeding value. All of the varieties,
even those which are yellow in color, are apparently low in vita-
min A.
Feeding Value of Various Roughages
Alfalfa Hay.-As corn stands at the top of the list of grain,
so stands alfalfa at the top of the list of roughages. It excels
10 COLORADO STATE COLLEGE Ext. 384-A

any other plant in the production of digestible nutrients per acre,

except the corn plant. It produces 2.7 times as much protein and,
protein of a much better quality, than corn. It produces twice
as much protein as clover and 5 times as much as timothy. Al-
falfa should be cut at least by the one-tenth-bloom stage and put
into the stack as soon as it is dry enough not to burn in the stack.
Some have tried to put alfalfa hay in the stack when it contained
enough moisture to turn brown. While such hay is very palata-
ble to animals, its feeding value is reduced in the proportion that
burning takes place. The greener the color, the more leaves
and the finer the stems the better the quality and the higher
the total digestible nutrients will be.
Silage is a succulent feed and comes nearer duplicating the
natural feed grass than any other stored feed. Corn stored in
the form of silage produces more total digestible nutrients per
acre than any other crop. An acre of corn put in the silo is
worth a third more than when it is used in any other form. For
fattening cattle or Iambs it is worth 50 percent as much as alfal-
fa hay. Silage made from sorghum is equal to corn silage in
feeding value.
Sorghum fodder is a satisfactory roughage for sheep. cattle
and horses, and gives best results when fed with some legume
hay or other protein supplement. If no legume hay is fed,
ground limestone or other calcium supplement, should be added.
Sorghum stover (sorghum fodder with the heads removed) is
similar to corn stover in composition and feeding value.
Beet Tops.-Fresh beet tops at topping time have a very
high feeding value. On the average a 16-ton yield of beets per acre
will produce 11 to 13 tons of fresh tops and these tops contain
about the same amount of total digestible nutrients as 1.2 tons
of barley. Beet tops lose much of their feeding value when left
lying too long in the field. They should be harvested and stored
in order to conserve as much of their feeding value as possible.
They should be either gathered into small piles or ensiled.

Preparation of Feeds
At one time elaborate preparation of feeds was very popu-
lar, but experience has shown that much of the elaborate prep-
aration which was once made was both uneconomical and use-
less. Since preparation is costly, it is economical to know just
how much is advisable. The farmer wants to know whether it
pays to grind, crush, cut, cook or ferment a grain or a roughage.
It is assumed that much labor is saved the animal if the feed
July 1944 LIVESTOCK FEEDS AND FEEDING 11
is so prepared that he can swallow it without chewing. Experi-
ments at many stations show that making a feed so fine and
soft that it can be swallowed without chewing not only does not
pay the cost of preparation but actually lowers the feeding
value. On the other hand, some preparation of certain feeds is
justified. Unpalatable feeds may be readily eaten if ground
and mixed with more palatable feeds.
Grinding Small Grains.-All of the small grains-wheat,
oats, barley or the sorghum grains-should be ground or rolled
for all animals except sheep. Rolling is preferable to grinding
since less trouble from bloat will result.
None of the grains should be ground fine. Fine grinding
makes the grain less palatable and less digestible. Also, it costs
more to grind fine. Fine grinding is desirable only when using
screenings. They should be ground fine enough to break all
weed seeds.
Cutting or Grinding Hay.-The cutting or grinding of hay
is a practice which, during recent years, has become rather com-
mon. Extravagant claims have been made for the practice,
many of which have little or nothing to back them up. The
saving of hay is one claim often given in favor of this practice.
It is doubtful if more than 10 percent of the hay is refused by
fattening animals if it is of reasonably good quality; even if hay
is $20 per ton this would only be $2 worth of hay. Since it costs
$3.50 to $4 per ton to grind hay, it is difficult to see how spend-
ing $3.50 to $4 to save $2 can be economical. Also, in grinding,
there is a loss of 3 to 5 percent by weight and this loss may be
considerably higher-sometimes, under certain conditions, twice
this much. Another t hing which should be remembered but is
1

often forgotten, is the fact that the hay refused by the animals
is composed of the stems and coarse material which is not worth
$20 per ton or whatever the original cost of the hay may be.
These refused stems need not be lost if there is other livestock
being wintered, such as stock cattle or idle horses.
"It was found at the Wisconsin Experiment Station that it
did not pay to chop a fair grade of hay for dairy cows nor the
same kind of hay for beef cows with suckling calves. Most ex-
periments with chopping good quality hay for horses and cows
have shown this practice to be uneconomical."* If hay is
chopped, coarse chopping is better than fine grinding. It costs
less and gives better results. Experiments at the Pennsylvania
Station showed that where hay was ground fine, it was less di-
*G. Bostedt, Wisconsin Extension F!ervice, Circular No. 286, p, 16.
12 COLORADO STATE COLLEGE Ext. 384-A

gestible than when coarsely chopped. Certainly, if grinding hay

can be justified it will have to be justified on some other basis
than on saving hay or improving the digestibility.
Grinding hay may be justified if it is to be transported long
distances or if it is to be mixed with roughage and concentrates.
It is justified also, to save labor and storage space, since cut
hay requires only :Y3 or 1f2 as much space as long hay.

'Vinter Feeding of Range Cattle

Whether the beef herd is roughed through the winter on
the range or not, it should be kept in a vigorous growing or
breeding condition by feeding an adequate ration. Proper sup-
plements should be added to balance the low-grade roughage.
In Colorado, range cattle are generally wintered in one of
two ways-depending on the part of the State they are win-
tered. In the mountains, the general practice is to run the
cattle on meadows and feed wild hay, usually supplemented with
some protein concentrates. Cottonseed cake was popular when
it could be obtained.
The wild hay is low in protein if there is no clover in it.
Fortunately, most of the wild hay from these mountain meadows
contains considerable clover which of course helps materially in
raising the protein content. Where the wild hay contains no
clover some protein feed should be fed. The pregnant beef cow
needs .6 to .7 pound of protein per day. So if the hay contains
no clover it is necessary to add 3;4 of a pound of cottonseed cake
per day; but if the hay contains enough clover that the cow fed
20 pounds of hay per day gets 4 to 5 pounds of clover, then it
likely would not pay to add any additional protein. The time at
which hay is cut will determine very largely the amount of pro-
tein which it contains. Grass hay cut early and put up in good
condition may contain as much as 3 to 4 percent of protein, while
if the hay is cut when fairly well matured or is weathered, it
will contain not more than 1 percent of protein.
Hay is not the only feed produced in the mountains on
which cattle may be wintered. In some sections a considerable
amount of grain is produced. Cattle may be satisfactorily win-
tered on straw if it is supplemented with some good protein con-
centrate. Oat straw has the highest feeding value, followed by
barley and wheat. On account of the beards the barley straw
may give some trouble. Oat straw contains about 2 percent of
protein while barley and wheat straw have only 1f2 as much or
1 percent. When oat straw is fed, about 3;4 of a pound of cotton-
July 1944 LIVESTOCK FEEDS AND FEEDING 13

seed cake or soybean oil meal will be needed per day. But if
wheat or barley straw is used, 1~ pounds of cottonseed cake or
soybean meal will be necessary. Also, it must be remembered
that straw from grain which has been combined is much less
valuable than that from grain which was cut at the right time
with a binder.
In the eastern part of the State, many of the range cattle
are on the range all winter and obtain most of their feed from
grass which was left over from the summer and has cured dur-
ing the fall. Such feed is very low in protein, containing less
than 1 percent. It gives satisfactory results only when it is
properly supplemented with some protein supplement. One and
one-half pounds of cottonseed cake per day, or any other feed
furnishing an equal amount of protein, will bring cows through
the winter in satisfactory shape.
Many cattle are also fed on sorghum or corn stover during
the winter, but both of these feeds are low in protein and the
cattle should be fed in addition about a pound of cottonseed cake
per day.
Alfalfa hay is a good protein feed which is sometimes over-
looked. Three and one-half to four pounds of good alfalfa con-
tain as much protein as 1 pound of cottonseed cake or soybean
meal. It also contains twice as much total digestible nutrients.
Any time that 1 ton of alfalfa hay can be bought for 14 as much
as cottonseed cake costs, it is a better buy.

Wintering Calves and Yearlings

Young stock should not be fed with old c·attle, because,
when protein supplement is fed, they do not get their share and
they are the ones which need it the most. They should be fed
separately and with the choicest feed, hay, fodder, etc., available.
Calves should receive about .65 pound of protein per day and
yearlings .75 of a pound. Calves should be fed so that they
gain .75 to 1 pound per day through the winter-feeding period.
In making this gain they may actually lose some fat; that
amount of gain is just about normal growth.
Calves and yearlings should also receive about 10 and 14
pounds of dry matter and 5.5 and 7.5 pounds of total digestible
nutrients per day, respectively. This means that if they are
fed wild hay, the calves should get about 10 pounds of hay plus
114 pounds of cottonseed cake or 4 to 5 pounds of alfalfa hay.
The yearlings should get 15 pounds of hay plus 114 pounds of
14 COLORADO STATE COLLEGE Ext. 384-A

cottoncake or 4 pounds of alfalfa hay. If calves are not to be

stunted and are to enjoy normal growth, they should gain about
.75 to 1 pound per day. If they gain much more than this
amount, they will be putting on fat and will not be economically
wintered. Neither, will they make the best use of grass during
the coming summer.
Any ration in which a carbohydrate roughage, corn fodder
or stover, sorghum, wild hay or straw makes up the major part
of the ration, will be lacking in calcium. This can best be sup-
plied by providing a mixture of ground limestone 70 percent and
salt 30 percent. If it is noticed that cattle are chewing bones,
sticks, etc., a lack of phosphorus should be suspected. This may
be supplied by providing bonemeal 70 percent and salt 30 per-
cent. Deflorinated rock phosphate may be used in place of the
bonemeal if bonemeal is not available.
Wintering rations which should produce 34 to 1 pound per
day gain on weaner calves are:
1. ·wild hay 10 pounds Cottonseed cake 174 pounds
2. Straw 10 pounds Cottonseed cake 2 pounds
3. Straw 6-8 pounds Alfalfa hay 4 to 5 pounds Barley 1 pound
4. Wild hay 6-8 pounds Alfalfa 4 to 5 pounds

The calves should be allowed all the wild hay or straw they
will eat.

Fattening Cattle
1. Feed the kind and type of cattle which will be in de-
mand on the market.
2. Finish cattle according to the market demand.
3. Cattle like variety. A good variety of feeds generally
improve a ration.
4. Beet molasses in limited amounts (1 to 3 pounds) is
fully equal to grain and may improve the palatability of the
ration.
5. Beet-by-product rations generally are deficient in phos-
phorus and require a phosphorus supplement for most efficient
rations. Use 1j10 of a pound of steamed bonemeal, 2 to 3 pounds
of wheat bran or 1 to 11;2 pounds of cottonseed cake daily.
6. A heavy ration of wheat or barley may cause indigestion
and bloat unless mixed with some bulky feed. If possible, pour
these grains over silage or make the ration so it contains one-fifth
of its weight in wheat bran, dried beet pulp or rolled or ground
oats.
July 1944 LIVESTOCK FEEDS AND FEEDING 15

7. Bring the cattle to a full feed of grain slowly. Take 25

to 30 days to get the animals on full feed.
8. If it is ever necessary to make a change in the ration,
take 8 or 10 days so that the change will be gradual. Never make
a sudden change in the ration when animals are on a heavy feed.
9. Keep salt before them all the time.
10. Have only animals of the same size together in feedlots.
Feeding Sheep on the Range
Range sheep are run on the range during the winter, usually
on range designated as desert in the western part of the State.
Such range contains some grass but much of the feed is browse
plants of one kind or another. In the plains area, there is more
grass and less of the browse plants. In fact, the browse may be
entirely lacking.
In the desert area, many of the shrubs are rather high in
protein, thus the problem of feeding a supplement is different
for the man who is running his sheep on the plains, where most
of tihe feed the sheep obtain is grass which is very low in
protein.
The man on the desert says : "I have been feeding cotton-
seed cake to my sheep on the range during the winter. Now I
can't get the cottonseed cake. Can I successfully feed corn in
its place?" Whether he can or not depends on the forage plants
present. If there is a preponderance of such plants as fourwing
saltbush, winterfat or budsage, all of which are relatively high
in protein-carrying from 8 percent to 10 percent-he can.
When corn is used as a supplement on such a winter range, the
sheep would very likely get along all right. The protein would
be a little light but not enough to cause serious difficulty.
The problem of the man on the plains is entirely different.
In place of the sheep being able to pasture on plants containing
8 percent to 10 percent or more of protein, the grass would likely
contain less than 1 percent, but certainly not more. If good
results are to be secured, a protein supplement will be absolutely
necessary. Corn, or any other low protein feed could not take its
place.
Producing Protein on the Farm
The only protein feed extensively produced on the farms
of Colorado is alfalfa. The amount of protein contained in al-
falfa varies according to the quality of the hay and the time
16 COLORADO STATE COLLEGE Ext. 384-A

of cutting. Other factors may also enter in. Alfalfa cut before
bloom contains 19 percent or more protein; one-tenth to one-half
bloom, 14.9 percent; three-fourths to full bloom, 12.8 percent;
past full bloom, 12.8 percent. Alfalfa leafmeal may contain 22
percent; alfalfa stem, 7 percent; alfalfa straw, 8.5 percent. For
the farmer who wants to produce as much protein as possible
on his farm, it is necessary that he know when to cut and how
to handle alfalfa to achieve the desired result.

Other plants give promise of helping out the protein situa-

tion on the farm. Of these, flax, soybeans and field peas have
been most often mentioned. Soybeans contain 36.9 percent of
protein. This means that an acre of soybeans producing 30
bushels per acre would produce 295.2 pounds of protein, but if
that acre had been planted to alfalfa and it produced 3 tons of
good hay, it would have produced 894 pounds of protein. Flax
seed contains 23.5 percent of protein. If flax produced 20 bushels
per acre, 182 pounds of protein would be produced. Thus flax and
soybeans do not produce as much protein as alfalfa.

Field peas, in sections where they can be grown, make a

somewhat better showing-they contain 2'3.8 percent protein.
A yield of 30 bushels would produce 428 pounds of protein. This
is still far behind alfalfa; however, it does not mean that under
certain conditions one would not be justified in planting some of
these high-protein plants for feed.

APPENDIX*

Table A.-Table showing the nutrients required by different animals

for 24 hours.

Requirements per head daily

Animals Total
and weight Dry Digestible digestible Nutritive
matter protein nutrients ratio
1. Calves being
fattened for
baby beef
Weight 400 9.6 to 12.7 0.98 to 1.23 7.4 to 9.8 6.5 to 7.0
Weight 500 11.4 to 14.5 1.19 to 1.43 9.0 to 11.4 6.6 to 7.1
Weight 600 13.3 to 16.1 1.39 to 1.60 10.6 to 12.9 6.6 to 7.1
Weight 700 14.8 to 17.5 1.55 to 1.75 12.0 to 14.2 6.7 to 7.2
Weight 800 16.1 to 18.7 1.69 to 1.89 13.1 to 15.2 6.7 to 7.2
Weight 900 17.0 to 19.4 1.75 to 1.95 13.8 to 15.8 6.8 to 7.3
July 1944 LIVESTOCK FEEDS AND FEEDING 17

Total
Dry Digestible digestible Nutritive
matter protein nutrients ratio
2. Fattening yearling
cattle
Weight 600 13.2 to 16.3 1.20 to 1.41 10.3 to 12.7 7.0 to 8.0
Weight 700 15.2 to 18.3 1.41 to 1.60 12.0 to 14.4 7.0 to 8.0
Weight 800 17.0 to 20.3 1.59 to 1.79 13.5 to 16.1 7.0 to 8.0
Weight 900 18.5 to 21.8 1.74 to 1.94 14.8 to 17.4 7.0 to 8.0
Weight 1000 19.7 to 22.9 1.87 to 2.06 15.9 to 18.5 7.0 to 8.0

3. Wintering beef
calves to gain 0. 75
to 1.00 pound per
head daily
Weight 400 8.7 to 10.3 0.63 to 0.70 4.8 to 5.7 6.7 to 7.0
Weight 500 10.3 to 12.1 0.71 to 0.78 5.7 to 6.7 7.1 to 7.6
Weight 600 11.7 to 13.9 0.79 to 0.88 6.5 to 7.7 7.3 to 7.8

4. Wintering preg-
nant beef cows
Weight 900 13.1 to 18.4 0.56 to 0.65 6.9 to 9.7 10.0 to 15.0
Weight 1000 14.2 to 20.0 0.60 to 9.70 7.5 to 10.5 10.0 to 15.0
Weight 1100 15.2 to 21.5 0.64 to 0.75 8.0 to 11.3 10.0 to 15.0
Weight 1200 16.3 to 22.8 0.69 to 0.80 8.6 to 12.0 10.0 to 15.0

5. Pregnant ewes-
up to 4 to 6 weeks
before lambing
Weight 110 2.2 to 2.4 0.17 to 0.20 1.6 to 1.9 7.5 to 8.5
Weight 120 2.3 to 2.6 0.18 to 0.21 1.7 to 2.0 7.5 to 8.5
Weight 130 2.4 to 2.8 0.19 to 0.22 1.8 to 2.1 7.5 to 8.5

6. Pregnant ewes-
last 4 to 6 weeks
before lambing
Weight 110 2.7 to 2.9 0.22 to 0.25 2.0 to 2.3 7.2 to 8.2
Weight 120 2.8 to 3.1 0.23 to 0.26 2.1 to 2.4 7.2 to 8.2
Weight 130 2.9 to 3.3 0.24 to 0.27 2.2 to 2.5 7.2 to 8.2

7. Ewes nursing
lambs
Weight 110 3.1 to 3.3 0.28 to 0.31 2.4 to 2.7 6.7 to 7.7
Weight 120 3.2 to 3.5 0.29 to 0.32 2.5 to 2.8 6.7 to 7.7
Weight 130 3.3 to 3.7 0.30 to 0.33 2.6 to 2.9 6.7 to 7.7
8. Fattening lambs
Weight 60 2.0 to 3.5 0.20 to 0.23 1.5 to 1.8 6.7 to 7.2
Weight 70 2.2 to 2.7 0.21 to 0.24 1.7 to 2.0 6.9 to 7.4
Weight 80 2.3 to 2.8 0.22 to 0.25 1.8 to 2.1 7.1 to 7.6
Weight 90 2.4 to 2.9 0.23 to 0.26 1.9 to 2.2 7.3 to 7.8
18 COLORADO STATE COLLEGE Ext. 384-A

Total
Dry Digestible digestible Nutritive
matter protein nutrients ratio
9. Wintering
pregnant gilts
Weight 250 2.9 to 4.7 0.50 to 0.55 3.5 to 4.2 6.0 to 7.0
Weight 300 4.4 to 5.4 0.57 to 0.63 4.0 to 4.8 6.0 to 7.0
10. Wintering
pregnant sows
Weight 400 4.6 to 5.6 0.53 to 0.60 4.0 to 5.0 6.5 to 7.5
Weight 600 6.2 to 7.6 0.72 to 0.81 5.4 to 6.8 6.5 to 7.5
11. Brood sows
nursing litters
Weight 400 9.4 to 11.5 1.22 to 1.29 8.5 to 10.0 6.0 to 7.0
Weight 600 11.2 to 13.8 1.32 to 1.42 9.4 to 11.0 6.0 to 7.0
12. Growing and
fattening pigs
Weight 50 2.1 to 2.8 0.35 to 0.43 1.9 to 2.5 4.5 to 5.0
Weight 75 2.9 to 3.9 0.43 to 0.52 2.6 to 3.5 5.3 to 5.8
Weight 100 3.6 to 4.8 0.50 to 0.60 3.2 to 4.3 5.8 to 6.2
Weight 150 4.8 to 6.2 0.65 to 0.75 4.3 to 5.6 6.2 to 6.5
Weight 200 5.8 to 7.1 0.73 to 0.83 5.2 to 6.4 6.4 to 6.7

Table B.-Digestible nutrient table for Colorado feeds.

Nutrients in 1 pound
Total
Colorado feeds Dry Digestible digestible Nutritive
I matter protein nutrients ratio
Roughages
Alfalfa hay-all analysis.................... .904 .106 .503 3.7
Alfalfa hay-1/10 to lh full bloom .906 .110 .501 3.6
Alfalfa hay-% to full bloom............ .904 .099 .497 4.0
Alfalfa hay before bloom .....................904 .142 .532 2.7
Barley straw............................................ .900 .090 .445 48.4
Bluestem hay ........................................... 866 .025 .482 18.3
Clover hay-red...................................... .882 .070 .519 6.4
Corn fodder-medium in water ............•825 .035 .546 14.6
Corn stover-medium in water ............. 810 .021 .462 21.0
Marsh or swamp hay ...........................902 .029 .406 13.0
Oat straw.................................................896 .009 .441 48.0
Prairie hay-western good quality.... .904 .026 .492 17.9
Prairie hay-western mature............ .904 .006 .471 77.5
Red-Top hay-all analysis ................... 910 .045 .536 10.9
Rye straw.................................................929 .007 .412 57.9
Timothy hay-all analysis ................... 887 .029 .469 15.2
Timothy hay-full bloom.................... .887 .032 .480 14.0
Wheat straw...........................................901 .008 .357 43.6
July 1944 LIVESTOCK FEEDS AND FEEDING 19

Dry Diges- Total

Colorado feeds matter tible digestible Nutritive
I protein nutrients ratio

Green Roughages, Roots, etc.

Beets, sugar ____________________________________________ .164 .001 .138 10.5
Beet tops, sugar ______________________________________ .114 .002 .074 2.9
Carrots ---------------------------------------------------- .119 .008 .096 11.0
Mangles -------------------------------------------------- .094 .010 .073 6.3
Potatoes -------------------------------------------------- .212 .011 .173 14.7

Silage
Corn dent, well matured ______________________ .283 .013 .187 13.4
Corn dent, immature ____________________________ .204 .010 .133 12.3
Alfalfa, wilted before being ensiled .540 .051 .290 4.7
Alfalfa-high in water ________________________ .230 .019 .127 5.7
Concentrates
Barley ---------------------------------------------------- .904 .093 .787 7.5
Beans, field ______________________________________________ .882 .199 .756 2.8
Beans, pinto ____________________________________________ .909 .134 .648 3.8
Beet pulp dried-molasses __________________ .918 .061 .743 11.2
Beet pulp dried ______________________________________ .920 .048 .718 14.0
Beet pulp wet ________________________________________ .116 .008 .089 10.1
Beet pulp wet pressed __________________________ .142 .007 .110 14.7
Corn dent No. 2------------------------------------ .852 .071 .806 10.3
Cottonseed meal 45 percent and over .930 .378 .809 1.1
Cottonseed meal 43 percent protein ..... 930 .350 .758 1.2
Cottonseed meal 40 percent protein ..... 928 .359 .736 1.2
Flax seed .... -------------------------------------------- .936 .214 1.087 4.1
Linseed meal 33 to 37 percent protein .913 .307 .784 1.6
Molasses beet __________________________________________ .806 .025 .588 22.5
Molasses beet-Steffen's process ....... 802 .048 .599 11.5
Oats -------------------------------------------------------- .911 .075 .755 9.1
Peanut oilmeal-43 to 45 percent
protein -------------------------------------------- .935 .386 .809 1.1
Skimmilk-centrifugal ------------------------ .096 .035 .086 1.5
Sorghum grain -------------------------------------- .888 .056 .743 12.3
Soybean oilmeal-48 percent protein
or over ______________________________________________ .93 .424 .838 1.0
Soybean oilmeal-43 to 48 percent
protein -------------------------------------------- .919 .376 .828 1.2
Tankage-60 percent ____________________________ .922 .564 .780 0.4
Tankage-55 percent____________________________ .927 .515 .742 0.4
Wheat bran-all analysis ____________________ .906 .131 .702 4.4
Wheat (Rocky Mountain State) ________ .915 .114 .857 6.5
Wheat middlings ____________________________________ .896 .150 .795 4.3
Wheat shorts __________________________________________ .901 .150 .789 4.3
I
*Morrison's Feeds & Feeding, 20th Edition, Ithaca, New York.