Raising cattle is complicated, but with careful planning, it can be highly profitable. One way to optimize earnings is to feed your livestock quality food. To do this, you’ll need to learn how to balance the use of animal feed and pasture. Here’s a guide to get you started.

What Animal Feed Should Cattle Eat?

Cattle feeding plans vary according to the age and type of animal. For instance, calves only consume protein- and fat-rich milk from their mothers. When their stomachs have fully developed, they start foraging and feed on plants.

Like other livestock, beef cattle require nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and protein, which they can get from animal feed. The feed has an impact on meat quality and market value, as more marbling, or the flecks of fat in the meat, yields a higher price per pound. Protein and minerals, including calcium, phosphorous, and potassium, come from grown grass, grains, hay, and legumes. Fodder ensures proper nutritional balance.

How Can You Create Good Pasture for Grazing?

Cattle get most essential nutrients, including vitamins E and K, from grazing, and a healthy pasture produces quality beef. Grass is also an excellent source of protein and roughage, which is essential for digestion. Here are a few tips to ensure your pasture delivers plenty of vitamins and minerals:

• Test the Soil: Soil analysis lets you identify the nutrients present in the ground, which are determined by planted grass, grains, and crops. This allows you to make informed decisions on which fertilizers to use for the best nutrition.    

• Eliminate Weeds: It’s only a matter of time before weeds overrun the pasture and kill the planted grass by leeching off its water supply. Some weeds are poisonous, so inspect the pasture regularly and eradicate them promptly.

• Let It Rest: Pastures need to rest, too. Limiting grazing allows grass to regain its lost nutrients and return to a healthy condition. Rest at least one field in the spring when cattle graze.

• Remove Manure: Refrain from leaving manure on the ground for too long. When waste decomposes, it can burn the grass with its gaseous byproducts. It may also affect the nutritional balance of the land.

For high-quality cattle feed, turn to Farmers Cooperative. Based out of Live Oak, FL, they’ve provided top-notch agricultural products to farmers across Suwannee and Madison counties since 1946. They are North Florida’s most reliable farming supplier, and carry fertilizers, gardening tools, and bulk feed. Call (386) 362-1459 to ask about their stock, or view a full list of products online.