Vitamins, Minerals and Protein and Fly Control in Cattle Nutrition

Summary

Mike and Erin share their journey of transitioning from corporate life to managing a family ranch in Wyoming. They now raise their own meat, grow their own vegetables, and care for livestock with a focus on proper nutrition and care. The video explores the daily responsibilities of tending to bottle calves, managing fly control, and providing essential vitamins and minerals to their herd. Mike discusses the learning curve of ranch life, the challenges of cattle care, and the importance of nutrition, offering a behind-the-scenes look at life on a working ranch.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mike and Erin transitioned from corporate jobs to running a family ranch, embracing the learning curve and hectic lifestyle.
• 😀 Cows' daily needs include food, water, and sometimes, additional vitamins and minerals that the ranch manager must ensure they're getting.
• 😀 Bottle calves are the ranch's 'delinquents,' requiring special care and attention after being separated from their mothers.
• 😀 Calves are weaned at four months old and fed a special diet that includes food pellets enriched with necessary vitamins and minerals.
• 😀 Fly control is a major concern on the ranch, with various methods, such as fly spray and fly bags, used to reduce fly infestations.
• 😀 Trace minerals like cobalt, copper, and selenium are crucial for cows' health, and supplemental feeding is necessary in areas with mineral-deficient soil.
• 😀 The ranch uses lick barrels (250-pound protein tubs) to supplement cows' nutrition and encourage them to move to areas that need fertilization.
• 😀 Cows often act like they are hard to please, and ensuring they are fed correctly requires constant attention and careful planning.
• 😀 Moving cows across pastures using supplemental feeding helps with pasture management and provides natural fertilization.
• 😀 Fly tags are used on calves to protect them from flies, and cow fly bags offer another method of fly control through insecticide powder.
• 😀 Cattle nutrition has become a major focus for Mike, who now understands the complexities of ensuring cows get the right protein and minerals for optimal health.

Q & A

What are the basic daily needs of cows on the ranch?

The basic daily needs of cows on the ranch include food and water. However, the ranch owner, Mike, ensures that cows also get additional care, such as nutritional supplements and fly control, to address their needs beyond the basics.

Why is Mike responsible for bottle calves, and how are they different from other calves?

Mike is responsible for bottle calves because they were taken from their mothers for various reasons. These calves are considered 'delinquents' of the ranch, as they often need extra care due to their mothers' inability to properly care for them, especially if they are twins.

What is the purpose of the range and grow pellets given to the bottle calves?

The range and grow pellets provide the bottle calves with essential vitamins and minerals they may not be getting from their mothers' milk. These pellets are designed to help the calves grow and develop by supplementing their diet.

How does the fly control system work on the ranch?

Fly control on the ranch is handled through various methods, including spraying calves with fly control, using fly tags during branding, and setting up fly bags filled with insecticide powder. The cows can rub against the bags to coat themselves and reduce the number of flies.

What are the trace minerals that cows need, and why are they important?

Cows require seven trace minerals: cobalt, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, selenium, and zinc. These minerals are essential for the cows' health, supporting various bodily functions. In certain areas, like the Great Plains, these minerals may be deficient in the soil, so supplements are necessary.

What is the function of the lick barrels and trace mineral blocks?

Lick barrels and trace mineral blocks are used to supplement the cows' diets with protein, vitamins, and minerals that are lacking in the grass they graze. These supplements help ensure cows receive the necessary nutrients for proper health and growth.

Why does Mike sometimes move the cows to a different pasture, and how does he use supplements in this process?

Mike moves the cows to different pastures to help with the management of grazing and to fertilize areas that need it. He uses supplements like lick barrels as 'treats' to encourage cows to move to specific areas, where they can help fertilize the pasture through their grazing and manure.

What role does Mike play in the cows' nutritional care compared to what he knew before?

Initially, Mike had little knowledge about cattle nutrition, simply assuming cows needed only grass. Now, after learning more, he actively ensures that cows receive a balanced diet, including vitamins, minerals, and protein supplements, to support their health and productivity.

How does the ranch's fly control system impact both the calves and adult cows?

The fly control system protects both calves and adult cows from biting flies. Calves receive fly tags, and adult cows benefit from the fly control system set up through the fly bags and the rub-off effect from the tagged calves.

What challenges does Mike face in managing the cows' nutrition and health?

Mike faces challenges like ensuring the cows get enough protein and trace minerals from their forage, as the grass can sometimes be low in these nutrients. He also deals with the management of fly populations, especially in years with increased moisture, which leads to more flies.