How much supplement does a cow need?

Answer 1

Depends on what kind of supplementation you are giving your "cow." Plus, is this even a cow we are talking about here? Are you referring to this "cow" as an actual mature female that has had at least 2 calves, or are you referring to a young steer or heifer, a bred heifer, a first-calf heifer, a bull, a young bull, calves, etc.? But anyway, supplementation can mean anything from grain to the feed (feed sac of pre-mix grain and mineral, alfalfa pellets/cubes, range cubes, etc.) bought at a feedstore to mineral. Mineral should be given ad libitum (free choice), but grain should only be given no more than 10 to 20 lbs a day, depending on whether you're feeding the bovine for slaughter or just to keep his/her nutrition levels up. Some folks don't give any supplementation, especially if the mineral and feed is enough to keep the animals happy; other times only a few pounds a day (or a few pounds twice a day) is good enough for them.

When feeding animals that are being used for breeding purposes like heifers and young bulls, it's important to not overdo it. Give them plenty of hay if there's no grass to gain on, and only enough feed that will keep their weight and condition at a good score, but not so much that they're going to gain on it. This goes for young cows and cows that are at a good body condition already. Bulls, after they've been off the breeding herd, do need the extra supplementation.

It's different if you're feeding a "cow" for slaughter. At the last few weeks before sending it in to slaughter, you may choose to up the grain-intake to around 10 to 20 lbs per day. But introduce it SLOWLY (i.e., increase a couple pounds a day) to avoid bloat or acidosis, and make sure your feeding it when it's not hungry AND when it has access to hay as well.