8.5 Lesson 4 Ask a Farmer: Diet

Summary

This transcript discusses the specialized care and diet needs of Belgian Blue cattle. The speaker highlights the importance of selenium supplementation in areas where it's deficient, particularly for heavily muscled cattle. It also touches on the differences in diets across regions, including how cattle raised in Canada initially refused corn, as they were accustomed to barley. The conversation extends to the diversity of feed and supplements used in different regions, noting how high-quality hay in one area impacts cattle health differently than in others.

Takeaways

• 😀 Selenium deficiency is common in some regions, and Belgian Blue calves are given a selenium shot at birth to address this issue.
• 😀 In areas with higher selenium levels, this supplementation is not needed for the calves.
• 😀 Belgian Blue cattle imported from Canada were initially unfamiliar with corn and preferred barley, highlighting regional feeding differences.
• 😀 After being introduced to barley, the imported cattle adapted and began eating corn over time.
• 😀 The speaker attended a conference in Canada where they learned about European feeding practices, particularly the use of beet pulp.
• 😀 Cattle diets vary by region, and the availability of different feed resources like corn, barley, and beet pulp influences what animals eat.
• 😀 The quality of hay in the speaker's region is much better than in the southern regions, which influences the supplementation practices for southern cattle.
• 😀 Cattle from the speaker's region do not require as much supplementation as those in the south due to the better quality hay available locally.
• 😀 Hay quality is a key factor in determining the nutritional needs of cattle, as lower-quality hay requires additional supplements.
• 😀 The Belgian Blue breed’s diet should align with the local agricultural resources, meaning different regions will have different feeding practices for their cattle.

Q & A

What special diet is required for Belgian Blue cattle in this specific region?

In this region, Belgian Blue cattle are given a shot of selenium as soon as they are born, because the area is low in selenium. This is not necessary in regions with higher selenium levels.

Why is selenium supplementation important for Belgian Blue cattle in this area?

Selenium is important because the area has low levels of it, which seems to affect the health of the heavily muscled Belgian Blues. The shot ensures they receive enough of this essential nutrient.

What feeding issue was encountered with the cattle from Canada?

The cattle from Canada initially refused to eat ground corn, as they were accustomed to barley in their native diet. After some time, they adapted to the corn, but their initial reluctance was a challenge.

What adjustment was made to the diet of Canadian cattle to help them adapt?

The next time cattle were bought from Canada, barley was sent along with them to help them adjust to the feed they were familiar with before gradually introducing corn.

What is the typical diet for cattle in Canada compared to the local area?

In Canada, the cattle typically eat barley, which differs from the local area where ground corn (corn roads) is commonly used as feed.

What did the speaker learn at the conference in Canada about regional cattle feeding?

At the conference, the speaker learned that cattle in Europe are often fed beet pulp, which is a regional feeding practice, highlighting the importance of using locally available feed.

How does the quality of hay affect the diet of cattle in different regions?

The speaker notes that the quality of hay in their region is much better than that in the southern regions, which requires more supplementation for cattle from those areas.

What challenge was faced when selling bulls to the southern regions?

When selling bulls to the southern regions, the cattle struggled because their local hay quality was not as good, requiring additional supplements to meet their nutritional needs.

Is the Belgian Blue cattle diet consistent across all regions?

No, the diet of Belgian Blue cattle varies based on regional availability of feed, such as barley in Canada and beet pulp in Europe, and the local hay quality plays a crucial role in their nutrition.

What factors influence the diet of cattle in different regions?

The region’s available resources, like barley, corn, beet pulp, and the quality of hay, heavily influence the diet of cattle. Local nutritional needs and environmental factors determine what is fed to the cattle.