Suckler cows

Rations for Suckler Cows where fodder is scarce

The following are guidelines where there is a shortage of fodder and further information can be obtained from your local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) Development Adviser:

Pregnancy diagnose cows and sell those not in-calf. Savings on the cost of feeding one suckler cow not in-calf will pay for the pregnancy diagnosis of over 30 cows.
Look at the herd critically and cull those cows with a defect. Ensure retention periods for subsidy are satisfied before disposal. To ensure progeny from cows qualify for the Certified Herd Export Scheme cows must survive for at least six months before slaughter.
Allocate most roughage to the cows. Feed young stock restricted roughage and higher levels of concentrates to compensate. Young stock are more efficient converters of concentrate than older animals, helping to reduce costs.
In summer and autumn calving herds consider weaning earlier than usual. Cows can then be fed restricted levels of silage (depending on quality) leading to a saving in the amount required to overwinter them.
If stock must be sold, sell forward weanlings/stores rather than productive cows. If there is insufficient quota for the number of cows, consider selling cows.
If sufficient grass is available consider extending the grazing season by rationing the grass through the use of a block/paddock grazing system. Introducing creep meal to calves prior to weaning will extend grass supplies and prepare the calf for weaning.

Feeding options

Table 9: Feed requirement for a 550 KG March/April calving suckler cow condition score 3 at housing using average quality silage (KG/cow/day)

	Silage restricted by 20 percent	Hay restricted by 20 percent	Barley straw – ad lib	Barley straw restricted by 20 percent
Silage	25	0	0	0
Hay	0	7	0	0
Concentrate	1 (1)	1 (1)	3 (2)	3.5 (2)
Straw	0	0	5.5	4.5
Minerals (g/cow/day)	30	30	60	60

Source: SAC feed programme)

Note:
(1) A 14 perent crude protein concentrate should be fed with silage and hay diets.
(2) A 16 percent crude protein concentrate with adequate sulphur should be fed along with straw based diets.

Additional comments

Cows with a body condition score below 3 at housing will require higher concentrate levels than shown in Table 9. Aim to feed cows to achieve a body condition score of 2 at turnout.
In diets for sucklers where straw costs £65/tonne (£1/small bale) then silage is worth £25/tonne (£12.50/big bale).
The daily cost of feeding a suckler cow on a restricted hay based diet (Table 9) costing £100/tonne (£2/small bale) would break even with a restricted straw based diet where straw costs £75/tonne (£1.13/small bale).
In most cases feeding restricted amounts of home made silage at £11/tonne supplemented with an appropriate amount of maize gluten will be the cheapest option.

Table 10: Feed requirement for a 550 KG autumn calving suckler cow condition score 3 at housing - average quality silage restricted by 20 percent (KG/cow/day)

Month	Silage	Concentrate	Calf Creep (2)
November	40	3	1
December	40	3	1
January	40	1.25	1
February (1)	26	1	2
March	26	1	2
April	26	1	2

(Source: SAC feed programme)

Note:
(1) Calves weaned late January/early February
(2) When cows are fed restricted roughage diets ensure calves have access to clean bedding straw at all times. Alternatively provide calves roughage ad lib in a feeder in the creep area.

Additional comments

It is important to monitor cow body condition score throughout the winter. Cows with a body condition score below 3 at housing will require higher concentrate levels than shown in Table 10. Aim to feed cows to achieve a body condition score of 2 at turnout.