What is the Difference on feeding beef and dairy cattle?

Answer 1

Beef cattle normally need just roughage to subsist. Beef cows do considerably well on just grass and hay, though some producers like to give them a taste of grain or silage or alfalfa cubes if the hay quality is poorer than necessary. Finishing beefers are typically fed a grain-based diet, though the natural-way of finishing beefers involve mostly grass and legumes. Grass-finishing is a niche market comparted to grain-finishing. Beef cattle have less nutritive requirements than dairy cows.

Dairy cattle need a feed that is high in energy, protein and calcium to be able to produce good milk. Since dairy cows are quite thin, they need this feed for both bodily maintenance and lactation, as thin cows need a higher quality feed to meet maintenance needs. Grain and silage (grass, cereal grain and/or alfalfa) is the primary diet that dairy cows are fed.

Answer 2

Beef cows are commonly fed a lower quality diet than dairy cows, simply because beef cows don't have as high a bodily demands for producing milk as dairy cows do. Hay and grass suits a beef cow just fine, whereas a dairy cow needs grain supplement if the grass quality is too low when she's lactating.

Commonly when beefers are finished on a feedlot they are fed a high energy ration of grain (high in protein and carbohydrates) to gain muscle and fat (more fat than muscle usually) quickly before slaughter. Dairy cows, on the other hand, in a similar confined environment, need a high energy ration as well, but not just ANY high energy ration: they need one that contains high levels of calcium and phosphorus to compensate for bodily losses of calcium in the production of milk; protein and carbohydrates must also be a part of their diet to remain healthy. So along with grain, dairy cows are also fed alfalfa, timothy and orchard grass mix commonly served as a fermented feed (as silage).

Answer 3

Dairy cattle are higher maintenance than beef cattle are, so it's important to provide them with the best quality feed possible for optimum milk production. Lactating dairy cows need feeds that are at least 12% protein and 65% TDN or more, plus sufficient calcium and phosphorus for milk production. Silages like corn are very common, plus haylage and/or hay made of high-nutrient forages including ryegrass, alfalfa, and orchard grass is important for the high protein and energy. Fine, stemmy hays like timothy are needed to encourage rumination, which influences milk production. Grains are added to the mix for extra energy and protein, plus various byproducts and other loose minerals to make up a Total Mixed Ration (TMR).

Beef cattle are a lot more flexible with different types of feed. Dry cows can live off of lower quality feeds like a barley or oats greenfeed and straw with some grain no problem. Growing cattle and lactating cows need better quality feeds and/or added grain to meet their protein and energy requirements. Lactating cows need 11% protein, thus straw to a lactating cow is a big no-no because it's so low in nutrition. Silage certainly can be fed to cows and calves, plus haylage, but since they are potentially more than what some groups need, it needs to be mixed off with a lower-quality forage like grass hay or some straw. Corn silage is also fed to beef cattle, and is more commonly fed to finisher cattle in the feedlot. Where corn silage cannot be grown, barley or oat silage is grown as a feed for finishers. Grain plus (or minus) some byproduct is also supplemented, but only when necessary.

Dairy and beef cattle are certainly grazed on pasture. However, as mentioned dairy cattle are more high-maintenance than beef cattle and thus, depending on the location, may need supplementation along with the pasture they are on. Beef cattle only need supplementation if the quality is poor or the manager needs them to grow more than they can on straight pasture.

Basically, though, feeds for either beef or dairy cattle are one and the same. It's just the quality and nutritional value of these feeds that are important for both. While beef cattle are more flexible based on reproductive status and age, dairy cattle are not and need to be more carefully managed with regards to feed.