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Group Cattle By Age For Feeding

published: November 25th 2009
by: Glenn Selk
source: Oklahoma State University Extension

Grouping cattle by age is a relatively easy way to improve the efficiency of cattle feeding programs throughout the winter.

“Every herd is a bit unique, of course, so producers are going to have to take an inventory and decide how to best divide up the animals,” said Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension livestock specialist.

Selk believes data from North Dakota State University’s Dickinson Research Center provides suggestions of groups of cows that could be fed together.

“Center staff looked at the average percentage of cows in their herd by age group over the previous 20-year period,” he said. “The data pointed out that 17 percent of the herd over the years was in the first-calf heifer category. They also noted that 11 percent of the herd was 10 years of age or older, while 15 percent of the cows were second-calf 3-year-olds.”

Armed with this knowledge, Selk recommends that cowherds be grouped as follows:

One group is made up of 2-year-old first-calf heifers. These animals have higher nutrient needs than other cows that have already reached their mature size, plus the heifers are too small to compete with larger, older cow.

A second group is made up of cows age 10 years or older and the second-calf heifers, animals of a suitable maturity that have higher nutrient needs. In addition, the group should include any middle-aged cows that were thin and needed extra supplement.

A third group is made up of the remaining cows in the herd. This group was mature in size and in adequate body condition to enter the winter feeding program with at least a body condition score of five.

“If only two groups are possible, putting the first two groups together would be a logical combination,” Selk said. “The key focus is that the feeding program be adequate to have animals in each group be a body condition score of five or six when they calve in the spring.”