Lactation Rations for Beef Cows

Milk yields of beef cows depend upon age and breed of the cow, genetic potential to produce milk, nutritional status, stage of lactation and the capacity of a calf to consume milk (which is influenced by breed, size, age and sex of calf). The following tables show the requirements and suggested rations for Simmental, Charolais and Hereford cows in the first, third and fifth month of lactation.

Breed and Simmental (1600 lbs, peak milk yield = 27 lbs/day
Month of Lactation
1 3 5
Hay 35 32 33
Barley 7 10 5
Requirements
lbs DM 36 36 33
% TDN 64 65 63
% CP 12 12 11
IU Vitamin A/day 82,000 82,000 76,000
Hay contains 14% protein and 60% TDN (100%)
 
Breed and Charolais (1600 lbs. peak milk yield = 20 lbs/day)
Month of Lactation
1 3 5
Hay 35 37 37
Barley 3 1 -
Requirements
lbs DM 33 33 32
% TDN 62 60 59
% CP 10 10 9
IU Vitamin A/day 64,000 64,000 61,000
Hay contains 14% protein and 60% TDN (100% DM)
 
 
Breed and Hereford (1300 lbs, peak milk yield = 15 lbs/day)
Month of Lactation
1 3 5
Hay 32 32 31
Requirements
lbs DM 28 28 27
% TDN 60 59 54
% CP 10 10 9
IU Vitamin A/day 64,000 64,000 61,000
Hay contains 14% protein and 60% TDN (100% DM) 
 
Nutrition Update
Volume 9 No.4, February 1999