Dry Feeding
Under dry conditions cattle are faced not only with a poorer quality diet, but also a diet they cannot consume at high levels.
As a consequence, production levels decrease.
The best response to situations where cattle are grazing a pasture with a bulk of poor quality feed, or when grazing crop stubble, is obtained by feeding supplements containing a rumen degradable protein source, such as urea.
More information on Pasture Quality
As temperatures increase during the spring, pasture growth increases, bringing about high volumes of good quality pastures. During the summer, soil moisture generally becomes limiting and the pasture reaches maturity.
Pastures remain in this state with little growth until the season breaks in late summer / early autumn. Pasture growth then increases until the cooler winter temperatures reduce growth rates and the cycle begins again (Figure 1).
The pattern of pasture growth not only determines the amount of pasture available, but also the quality of the pasture.
Once pastures begin to mature, pasture quality deteriorates.
Protein levels begin to fall and fibre levels increase. Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) and Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) are two chemical measurements of fibre. ADF measures the “woodiness” of the plant and is inversely related to digestibility. NDF is related to intake. As shown in figure 2, ADF and NDF levels rise with increasing pasture maturity.
Therefore under dry conditions cattle are faced not only with a poorer quality diet, but also a diet they cannot consume at high levels. As a consequence, production levels decrease.
The best response to situations where cattle are grazing a pasture with a bulk of poor quality feed, or when grazing crop stubble, is obtained by feeding supplements containing a rumen degradable protein source, such as urea.
As a consequence, production levels decrease.
The best response to situations where cattle are grazing a pasture with a bulk of poor quality feed, or when grazing crop stubble, is obtained by feeding supplements containing a rumen degradable protein source, such as urea.
More information on Pasture Quality
Products for Dry Feeding | ||||
 |  |  |  |  |
| Rumevite EC Dry Feed Block | Details | |||
| Rumevite Maxi-Graze 30 Block | Details | Details | | |
| Rumevite Utilise 10.5 Salt Block | Details | Details | ||
| Rumevite 30% Urea + P Block | Details | Details | | |
| Rumevite Pro Phos Lick | Details | Details | Details | |
| Rumevite Molasses Fortifying Concentrate +/- Rumensin | Details | Details | Details | |
| Rumevite Ezy Feed 30 Pellet | Details | Details | Details | |
| Rumevite Sheep & Cattle | Details | Details | Details | |
| Rumevite Maxi-Breed Block | Details | Details | Details | |
| Rumevite Beef Weaner Pellet | Details | Details | ||
| | | | | |
Pasture Growth (Quality)
Although the bulk of rainfall falls in the winter months, pasture growth is limited by low temperatures.As temperatures increase during the spring, pasture growth increases, bringing about high volumes of good quality pastures. During the summer, soil moisture generally becomes limiting and the pasture reaches maturity.
Pastures remain in this state with little growth until the season breaks in late summer / early autumn. Pasture growth then increases until the cooler winter temperatures reduce growth rates and the cycle begins again (Figure 1).
The pattern of pasture growth not only determines the amount of pasture available, but also the quality of the pasture.
Once pastures begin to mature, pasture quality deteriorates.
Protein levels begin to fall and fibre levels increase. Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) and Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) are two chemical measurements of fibre. ADF measures the “woodiness” of the plant and is inversely related to digestibility. NDF is related to intake. As shown in figure 2, ADF and NDF levels rise with increasing pasture maturity.
Therefore under dry conditions cattle are faced not only with a poorer quality diet, but also a diet they cannot consume at high levels. As a consequence, production levels decrease.
The best response to situations where cattle are grazing a pasture with a bulk of poor quality feed, or when grazing crop stubble, is obtained by feeding supplements containing a rumen degradable protein source, such as urea.
This is the principle behind dry feeding.
Last updated: 2008-01-15