Most Common Forages Fed to Cattle
Cattle are ruminant animals, meaning they have a four-compartment stomach that allows them to digest fibrous feeds that monogastric animals cannot. The cow’s rumen contains microbes that ferment and break down roughage into nutrients that cattle can absorb.
Forages like hay, silage, and pasture grasses are the foundation of a cow’s diet, providing the fiber needed for proper rumen function. While grains can supplement forage-based diets, cattle should consume a minimum of 75% forage or high-fiber feeds daily.
When selecting forages for cattle, producers must consider nutritional quality, digestibility, voluntary intake, and cost-effectiveness. The top forage choices include:
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Alfalfa Hay
Alfalfa, also called lucerne, is high-quality legume hay fed to dairy cows, beef cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. With a relative feed value (RFV) of 120 to 140, alfalfa hay contains more protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals than grasshays.
The protein content ranges from 14% to 22%, supplying amino acids for growth and milk production. Alfalfa’s deep taproot system draws up more minerals from the soil, providing abundant calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
The high feed value and palatability of alfalfa stimulate intake in cattle. However, the high protein content can cause health issues like bloat when overfed. Alfalfa is best utilized by blending it with grass hay or silage.
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Grass Hay
Grass hay includes hays made from timothy, brome, orchardgrass, bermudagrass, and other pasture grasses. Grass hay generally has a lower feed value than legume hay, with RFV from 90 to 110.
The protein level ranges from 7% to 15%, depending on the species, stage of maturity at harvest, and fertilization.
Compared to alfalfa, grass hay is lower in calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. However, the fiber content is high, maintaining proper rumen function. Common grass hay varieties fed to cattle include:
- Timothy – Highly palatable with good nutritional quality when cut early. Best suited for horses and dairy cows.
- Orchardgrass – High yields and ideal for growing cattle. Withstands close grazing.
- Bermudagrass – High yields in hot climates. Good source of nutrition for beef cattle.
- Brome – Cold tolerant and drought resistant. Good protein levels when harvested early.
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Corn Silage
Corn silage is made by chopping whole corn plants and storing the material in silos or bags, where it undergoes fermentation. The resulting feed is succulent, palatable, and high in energy. Corn silage contains 7-10% protein and 50-60% TDN.
The energy boost from corn silage promotes weight gain in feedlot cattle. The silage adds dietary roughage, and the grain provides starch for rumen microbes.
However, feeding too much corn silage can depress fiber digestion and cause acidosis. Corn silage is best when blended with legume hay or low-quality forages.
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Small Grain Silage
Cereal crops like barley, wheat, oats, and triticale can be harvested and ensiled at the dough stage to produce small grain silage. If harvested too early, protein will be low. If harvested too late, the seed heads are lost during harvest. Proper timing is key.
Small grain silage has a protein content of 7-13% and TDN ranging from 55% to 65%. The grains provide readily fermentable carbohydrates. Small grain silage often replaces a portion of corn silage in cattle rations to reduce feed costs.
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Haylage
Haylage is made by baling forage crops like alfalfa and grass at higher moisture levels of 40-60%. The bales are immediately wrapped in plastic, creating anaerobic conditions for fermentation.
Compared to hay, haylage is higher in nutrients because less is lost through leaf shatter and respiration during curing. The protein, energy, and minerals in haylage can equal or exceed the levels in the original crop.
Haylage offers cattle a palatable, high-quality forage similar to silage but with more convenience in harvesting and storage. The main downside is the higher cost of the wrapping materials.
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Straw
After combining cereal grains, the plant residue that gets left behind is the straw. Wheat, oats, barley, and rice straw are common. Straw is composed mainly of stems and leaves and is high in fiber but low in protein and digestible energy.
Beef cattle can utilize straw as a roughage source if supplemented with higher-quality feeds. Ammoniation or enzyme treatment improves the nutritional value of straw. Cattle will eat more treated straw compared to regular straw.
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Crop Residues
After corn or sorghum is harvested for grain, considerable plant material remains in the field. The leaves, husks, cobs, and stalks, known as crop residues or stover, can be baled to feed cattle. Gravity wagons or chopper-balers are used to pick up the residue.
The feeding value of crop residues is generally low, with CP less than 7% and TDN around 50%. Crop residues are best utilized by mature beef cows with lower nutritional needs. Supplementation is required to balance rations.
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Pasture and Grazing
Well-managed pastures provide an excellent source of nutrition for cattle during the growing season. Rotational grazing allows pastures to regrow between grazing events, maintaining forage quality and productivity.
Mixed grass-legume pastures offer a balanced diet. Grasses like ryegrass, timothy, and fescue supply energy, while legumes like clover and alfalfa provide protein and minerals. High-quality pasture leads to excellent cattle performance at the lowest cost.
Choosing the Right Forage
When selecting forages for a cattle operation, producers should match the forage quality and characteristics to the nutritional needs of their herd. Several factors must be considered when deciding which forages to feed:
Nutrient Content
The crude protein, energy density, mineral levels, and vitamin content of a given forage determine how well it will meet the nutritional requirements of specific classes of cattle. High-producing dairy cows need higher-quality forage than dry beef cows.
Growing steers need more protein and minerals than mature animals. Testing each forage batch provides the nutrient composition.
Digestibility
The extent to which cattle can digest and absorb nutrients from a forage depends on factors like fiber content, leafiness, maturity stage, and processing method.
Forages with higher digestibility coefficients and total digestible nutrient values provide more usable energy and protein. Immature, leafy, and properly ensiled forages have higher digestibility.
Voluntary Intake
Cattle consume more forages that they find palatable and appetizing. Higher intake translates to higher nutrient consumption.
Palatability factors include leafiness, texture, succulence, plant sugars, and various compounds affecting taste. Intake potential should match the desired level of performance.
Cost Factors
The most nutritious or palatable forage may not always be the most economical option. Factors like yield per acre, fertilizer requirements, harvesting costs, storage losses, and supplementary feed needs affect the true cost of a forage.
Producers must balance cost against the performance output expected from the herd.
Availability
Local climate, geography, and agronomic conditions dictate forage species that can be grown in a particular area. Transport costs also determine which feeds are most economical to utilize. Matching forage systems to regional crop production is key for an economical program.
Complementary Forages
Blending two or more forages can balance nutrients, improve palatability, and minimize issues like bloat or low fiber intake. Producers often feed both legumes and grass hays or mix silages to optimize rumen health and cattle performance.
Conclusion
The ideal forage program for cattle involves offering two or more complementary forage types to meet the herd’s nutritional requirements at the lowest cost. Alfalfa and corn silage are high-quality options for growing cattle and lactating cows.
Grass hay and small grain silage provide energy and roughage for maintenance and moderate production levels. Lower-quality forages like straw and crop residues can be utilized by dry beef cows when supplemented properly.
Rotational grazing on high-quality, mixed-species pastures allows cattle to harvest forage in its freshest state for optimal nutrition and performance. Learn more about cattle nutrition tips and guides here.