Cattle Producer's Library
Cow-Calf Section CL1120
Drought conditions greatly reduce the available forage
for wintering cattle. During drought periods, both
the quality and quantity of hay and winter range forage
are often limited.
As a means of stretching limited hay and forage supplies,
1 pound of grain or other concentrate may be substituted
for about 2 pounds of hay. Six pounds of grain
is the practical limit for replacing hay in the daily ration
for wintering a 1,100-pound cow. Feeding 6 pounds
of grain will save 12 pounds of hay per head per day.
This is a substantial saving over a full feed of hay at
prevailing prices.
Corn silage may replace part or all of the hay in the
ration at the rate of 3 pounds of silage to 1 pound of
hay.
Tables 1 and 2 list examples of possible rations substituting
grain for part of the forage and using more
straw in the ration. Lesser amounts of grain can be used
if hay is more plentiful or relative prices change.
If cows are thin at calving time, conception rates will
be reduced 60 to 90 days later at breeding time. After
calving, cows' daily nutrient requirements increase 30
to 50 percent because of the lactation requirement.
A high-phosphorus mineral mixture and salt should
be available to cows at all times.
Emergency Rations
for Wintering Beef Cows
Roger Brownson, Beef Cattle Specialist
Montana State University
Proposed rations are based on making maximum use
of grain in meeting the minimum standards for wintering
beef cows. A deficiency in Vitamin A in some rations
may be met by feeding 1 pound of a commercial
protein supplement fortified with at least 10,000 I.U.
of Vitamin A or 1 pound of dehydrated alfalfa pellets.
Rations are based on cattle being allowed access to range
forage or confined to a drylot. The ration assumes that
cattle on poor range will have a daily intake of 10 pounds
of forage and cattle on very poor range a daily intake of
about 5 pounds.
These proposed rations are general in nature, and adjustments
may be needed to meet an individual rancher's
needs. In drought conditions, all cows should receive
20,000 to 30,000 I.U. of Vitamin A during the last 90
days of pregnancy to ensure against Vitamin A deficiencies
and subsequent losses. Feed manufacturers can
provide the needed level of Vitamin A in a variety of
protein supplements or in a custom pellet. Green color
in feed is an indication of carotene or Vitamin A.
Cattle can store Vitamin A in their liver and fat for
4 to 6 months. Cattle on dry pasture during the major
part of the summer and on cured hay and straw during
the winter can become deficient by spring. That, coupled
with the cow's greater need in late pregnancy and lactation,
could cause serious problems if the need is not met

Rations for 1,000-pound pregnant cow.
Feed Daily feed Protein Energy Ca P Vitamin A
(lb) (lb) (ME Mcal) (g) (g) (1,000s I.U.)
Dairy requirement 19.6 1.6 17.3 23 18 25
#1Barley, oats, or wheat straw 11.0 0.3 7.4 7 3 0
Alfalfa hay 11.0 1.6 10.4 60 10 280
TOTAL 22.0 1.9 17.8 67 13 280
#2Barley, oats, or wheat straw 12.0 0.4 8.0 8 4 0
Corn 5.0 0.4 7.5 1 5 1.8
Protein supplement
(P 20%, Ca 1%, Ph 1%) 2.0 0.4 2.8 9 9 ?
TOTAL 19.0 1.21 18.3 18 18 1.82
#3Barley, oats, or wheat straw 12.0 0.4 7.4 7 3 0
Corn silage 30.0 0.7 11.4 12 9 25
Protein supplement
(P 20%, Ph 1%) 1.0 0.2 1.4 0 4 ?
TOTAL 43.0 1.3 20.2 19 16 25
#4Barley, oats, or wheat straw 12.0 0.4 7.4 7 3 0
Barley 6.0 0.7 8.1 2 11 0
Protein supplement
(P 20%, Ph 1%) 1.0 0.2 1.4 9 4 ?
TOTAL 19.0 1.31 16.91 18 18 01
1Marginal unless additional consumption occurs.
2Add mineral supplement and/or Vitamin A as needed.
Table 2. Rations for 1,100-pound cows nursing calves (average milking ability).
Feed Daily feed Protein Energy Ca P Vitamin A
(lb) (lb) (ME Mcal) (g) (g) (1,000s I.U.)
Dairy requirement 21.6 2.0 19.9 27 22 38
#1Barley, oats, or wheat straw 10.0 0.3 6.7 6 3 0
Alfalfa hay 14.0 2.1 13.3 76 12 357
TOTAL 24.0 2.4 20.0 82 151 357
#2Barley, oats, or wheat straw 12.0 0.4 7.4 7 3 0
Barley 7.0 0.8 16.3 2 13 0
Protein supplement
(P 20%, Ca 1%, Ph 1%) 2.0 0.8 2.8 9 9 ?
TOTAL 21.0 2.0 26.5 182 25 02
#3Barley, oats, or wheat straw 12.0 0.4 7.4 7 3 0
Corn silage 40.0 0.9 15.6 16 12 33
Protein supplement
(P 20%, Ph 1%) 2.0 0.8 2.8 9 9 ?
TOTAL 54.0 2.1 25.8 32 24 33
1Add a phosphorus supplement or phosphorus in the salt.
2Add a mineral supplement and/or Vitamin A as needed.
Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, by the Cooperative
Extension Systems at the University of Arizona, University of California, Colorado State University, University of Hawaii, University of Idaho, Montana
State University, University of Nevada/Reno, New Mexico State University, Oregon State University, Utah State University, Washington State
University and University of Wyoming, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. The Cooperative Extension System provides equal
opportunity in education and employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam-era
veteran, as required by state and federal laws. Second edition; January 2000 Reprint