Optimising winter feed strategies for next season's calf crop

The goal of winter nutrition for bulls and cows should be to prepare breeding animals for the upcoming breeding season. This is the critical time when the foundation is laid for optimal reproduction and production – factors that will ultimately determine the success of the next calving season.

- Andries Gouws

Natural grazing loses much of its nutritional value during winter. Where animals run on crop residues, available forage becomes increasingly scarce. Without complementary feed, animals lose body condition, which can potentially cost producers up to half of the calf crop expected in the next season.

According to Johan Mouton, manager of research and product development at Molatek, heavy frost will coincide with a sharp decline in the nutritional value of grasses. "Just like humans, plants need nutrients to survive," he explains. "From February onwards, grass plants begin storing some of their nutrients in their root systems in preparation for winter survival after the leaves have withered due to frost."

Grass plants transfer easily digestible nutrients to their root systems to support survival and regrowth in the following season. The leaves are mostly fibrous. As the stored root nutrients are inaccessible to grazing animals, they must be given complementary feed.

Nutritional requirements

Livestock feed primarily consists of two essential components: protein and energy. Protein is essential for muscle development and maintenance of the animal's organs, with fish meal being a typical protein source. Energy, on the other hand, helps animals gain weight in preparation for slaughter; maize is widely recognised as an excellent energy source.

While grass does contain enough energy to sustain the animals, it doesn’t offer enough protein. Fortunately, a range of commercially available energy licks can help balance animals' nutritional requirements.

In South Africa, the most common breeding season runs from early December to the end of February. However, depending on climate and rainfall patterns, producers in some regions may shift the season forward or backward by a month.