Energy and protein contents of common feeds for cattle
(Note: The metabolisable energy of some grains are less for cattle than for sheep unless they are rolled or milled) (Source: Drought Feeding and Management of Cattle Table 5.2 page 32)
| IMPORTANT – Note the difference in approximate dry matter (DM) % (ME) Metabolisable energy (MJ/kg DM) | Approximate dry matter (DM) % | Energy MJ ME/kg DM | Crude protein % dry matter | |||
| When fed whole to cattle | When fed rolled or coarsely milled to cattle | |||||
| Average | Average | Range | Average | Range | ||
| Wheat | 90 | 9 | 13 | 12-15 | 12 | 8-23 |
| Barley | 90 | 8.4 | 13 | 11-13 | 11 | 6-17 |
| Triticale | 90 | 10.4 | 13 | 12-15 | 12 | 9-15 |
| Oats | 90 | 10 | 11 | 9-13 | 9 | 6-12 |
| Lupins | 90 | 11 | 13 | 12-1 | 30 | 26-40 |
| Peas | 90 | 11 | 13 | 10-13 | 23 | 18-29 |
| Maize | 90 | 13 | 13.5 | 12-14 | 9 | 8-13 |
| Safflower seeds | 90 | 13 | 7-12 | 25 | 20-37 | |
| Rice (dehulled) | 90 | 12 | 11-14 | 7 | 7-9 | |
| Rye | 90 | 14 | 11 | |||
| Sorghum | 90 | 10 | 13 | 11 | ||
| Pellets | 90 | N/A | 12 | 10-14 | 12 | 11-16 |
WARNING: As can be seen from the table, foods vary considerably in nutritional value depending on growing conditions, stage of harvesting and storage conditions. The only way to be sure of the nutritional value of a particular batch of food is to have it tested for energy, protein, fibre and dry matter
Energy and protein requirements of pregnant and dry cows
(Source: Drought Feeding and Management of Beef Cattle Table 6.2 page 38)
Table 6.2: Cows dry. pregnant mature.*
| Liveweight (kg) | Growth rate (kg/day) | Maximum daily dry matter (DM) intake | Metabolisable energy (ME) requirement (MJ ME/day) | Minimum ME concentration of diet (MJ ME/kgDM) | Crude protein % of dietary dry matter | |
| % of liveweight | (kg) | |||||
| 350 | 0 | 2.4 | 8.5 | 49-85 | 5.7-10 | 6 |
| 400 | 0 | 2.3 | 9.4 | 54-90 | 5.7-9.6 | 6 |
| 450 | 0 | 2.2 | 10.1 | 59-95 | 5.8-9.4 | 6 |
| 500 | 0 | 2.1 | 10.7 | 64-100 | 5.9-93 | 6 |
| 550 | 0 | 2.0 | 112 | 69-105 | 6.2-9.4 | 6 |
*Range of values for cows that are 6 months pregnant to point of calving, assuming a 40 kg calf birthweight When determining the energy requirement for your cows, if the cows are 6 months pregnant use the lower figure in the column for MJ ME/kgDM
If cows are at the point of calving, use the upper range for energy requirements
Energy and protein requirements of cows with calves
(Source: Drought Feeding and Management of Beef Cattle Table 6.3 page 38)
Table 6.3: Cows with suckling calves 1-4 months old, assuming eventual calf weaning weight of 250 kg.
| Liveweight (kg) | Growth rate (kg/day) | Maximum daily dry matter (DM) intake | Metabolisable energy (ME) requirement (MJ ME/day) | Minimum ME concentration of diet (MJ ME/kgDM) | Crude protein % of dietary dry matter | |
| % of liveweight | (kg) | |||||
| 350* | 0 | 2.4 | 8.5 | 90-117 | 10.6 | 10 |
| 0.5 | 114-141 | 13.4 | 11 | |||
| 400* | 0 | 2.3 | 9.4 | 95-122 | 10.1 | 10 |
| 0.5 | 122-149 | 12.9 | 11 | |||
| 450 | 0 | 2.2 | 10.1 | 100-127 | 9.9 | 10 |
| 500 | 0 | 2.1 | 10.7 | 105-132 | 9.8 | 10 |
| 550 | 0 | 2 | 11.2 | 110-137 | 9.8 | 10 |
*Young cows at these weights need to put on some weight after calving (for example O.5kg/day) because they have not yet reached their adult weight and therefore need better feed than older cows. Note: when determining the cow/calf unit energy requirements, use the lower figure in the energy column if the calf is 1 month old. Use the higher figure in the energy column if the calf is 4 months old.
Energy tables for beef cattle
Appendix II – Energy tables and calculations
Calculation for maintenance: Maintenance MJ ME (0.1 x liveweight) + 5
| Calculations for daily energy requirements of growing cattle: | ||
| <300 kg LW | 0.5 kg/day | MJ ME = 1.7 x maintenance |
| 1.0 kg/day | MJ ME 2.2 x maintenance | |
| 1.5 kg/day | MJ ME 2.7 x maintenance | |
| 300-500 kg LW | 0.5 kg/day | MJ ME = 1.6 x maintenance |
| 1.0 kg/day | MJ ME = 2.1 x maintenance | |
| 1.5 kg/day | MJ ME = 2.6 x maintenance | |
| 500+ kg LW | 0.5 kg/day | MJ ME = 1.5 x maintenance |
| 1.0 kg/day | MJ ME = 2.0 x maintenance | |
| 1.5 kg/day | MJ ME = 2.5 x maintenance | |
| Lookup tables for daily energy requirements of pregnant and lactating cattle: | ||||
| Requirements for pregnancy – add to maintenance of cow | ||||
| Expected calf birth weight (kg) | Weeks before calving | |||
| -12 | -8 | -4 | 0 | |
| MJ ME/cow/day | ||||
| 30 | 6 | 11 | 20 | 34 |
| 40 | 9 | 15 | 26 | 45 |
| 50 | 11 | 18 | 32 | 55 |
| Requirements for lactation – add to maintenance of cow | ||||
| Normal calf weaning weight (kg) | Months after calving | |||
| +1 | +3 | +5 | +7 | |
| MJ ME/cow/day | ||||
| 150 | 35 | 45 | 55 | 55 |
| 200 | 40 | 55 | 65 | 75 |
| 250 | 50 | 70 | 85 | 95 |
| 300 | 60 | 80 | 100 | 115 |
Weight of hay and silage bales
(wet weights/as fed weights)
Source: http://dairypastureconsumptioncalculator.com.au/help/typical-bale-weight
Hay
| Bale Shape | Bale size | Weight (as fed, t) | Dry Matter (%) | Dry weight (t DM) |
| Round | 4×4 | 0.25 | 85 | 0.21 |
| Round | 5×4 | 0.55 | 85 | 0.30 |
| Round | 5×6 | 0.50 | 85 | 0.43 |
| Square | 8x3x3 | 0.30 | 85 | 0.26 |
| Square | 8x4x5 | 0.60 | 85 | 0.51 |
| Square | 8x4x4 | 0.75 | 85 | 0.64 |
| Small Squares | 0.025 | 85 | 0.02 |
Silage
| Bale shape | Bale size | Weight (as fed, t) | Dry Matter (%) | Dry weight (t DM) |
| Round | 4×4 | 0.60 | 40 | 0.24 |
| Round | 5×4 | 0.75 | 40 | 0.30 |
| 1 cubic metre (wilted) | 0.58 | 30 | 0.17 | |
| 1 cubic metre (direct cut) | 0.83 | 18 | 0.15 | |
| 1 cubic metre maize silage | 0.5 | 35 | 0.18 | |
Source: Pasture consumption calculator (V1)
Table showing approximate kilograms of Dry Matter intake
A useful table for estimating how much stock can eat (intake) based on the fibre content of the diet. Fibre is measured as Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) as a percentage.
