Agricultural News
Using "Oklahoma Gold" or "Oklahoma Super Gold" for Replacement Heifers
Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:43:53 CDT
Fall-born replacement heifers have been (or soon will be) weaned and will be at a very critical growing period. Writing in the latest Cow/Calf Newsletter, Oklahoma State University Extension Animal Scientist Emeritus Glenn Selk says
it is imperative that they reach the target weight of 60 to 65% of their mature weight by the start of the breeding season.
Warm season pastures such as native grass or Bermuda grass will be declining in forage quality in the hot dry days of August and September. Also these warm season grasses will be reaching plant maturity which accelerates the decline in protein content.
Cow calf producers with fall-born replacement heifers should plan now to provide adequate protein supplement to aid the young heifers in their ability to digest the late summer, mature grasses. Therefore, the young heifers must receive supplemental protein to continue to grow at the necessary pace of 1.3 to 1.5 pounds per head per day going into their first breeding season.
An economical solution would be to give these heifers 1.5 to 2 pounds of the protein supplement called Oklahoma Gold. This is an OSU-developed protein supplement scheme that consists of a high protein (38% - 45%) pellet that contains the label-recommended dosage of one of the ionophores. Ionophores are feed additives (monensin or lasalocid) that improve feed utilization, inhibit coccidiosis, and enhance the onset of puberty in growing heifers.
Research from Texas A&M in the 1970's (Moseley, et al.) indicated that heifers receiving an ionophore reached puberty about 2 weeks earlier than counterparts that did not receive an ionophore. Therefore inclusion of the ionophore in the growing program should cause a few more heifers to be cycling early in the breeding season.
Very lightweight or very young, weaned heifers that need an added boost while still on late summer pasture may benefit more from the Oklahoma Super Gold supplementation program. "Super Gold" consists of feeding 3 pounds per head per day of a 25% crude protein pellet. Once again, an ionophore is included at the proper dosage and will be beneficial to these young growing heifers.
You can read more about the Oklahoma Gold program by clicking here. Read more about Super Gold by clicking here.
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