14
Beef Breeder MANUAL
in coninement for the entire quarantine period, this ive- day induction procedure should still be implemented as
this period also allows time to monitor the health of the cattle closely prior to being released to pasture. This can
be facilitated by constructing a suitable size temporary pen using conventional fencing materials or electric
fencing.
An adequate supply of hay should be available to allow continued adlibitum feeding for the irst two weeks in
the paddock also.
1.2.7. Winter Feeding
If the cattle arrive in the period leading into winter, a grain introduction program can commence during
the quarantine period, and may commence on day four of the induction feeding period. This provides
the additional energy required to cope with the cold weather conditions experienced during winter, and
allows continued growth of heifers.
An initial allocation of 0.5kg of a cereal grain such as barley or wheat can be introduced on day four, and this
may be raised in 0.5kg steps every 3 to 5 days thereafter until the desired grain supplement level is reached. This
will typically be between 3kg and 4kg depending on the weight of the heifers and the targeted weight gain for
the group.
Introducing cattle to cereal grains in a gradual, stepped procedure allows the microrganisms in their rumen to
adapt to the increasing quantity of readily fermentable carbohydrates in the cereal grain, and avoid the
occurrence of acidosis, or grain poisoning Refer Section 4.5.6. This condition results from the absorption
of excess lactic acid produced by fermentation of grain in the gut, and cattle are most at risk when grain is irst
introduced into their diet.
A basal winter diet for heifers that has worked successfully for Australian heifers during winter in countries with
cold winter climates is based on providing 2.5 to 3.5 of bodyweight, on a dry matter basis, and providing
yearling heifers with approximately 90 MJ 21.5 MCal of metabolisable energy ME per day, and pregnant heifers
with approximately 100 MJ to 110 MJ 23.9 MCal to 26.3 MCal per day depending on body weight. In addition to
the prepared ration, good quality hay should be provided in hay feeding racks at all times.
Prior to December, up to 3kg of barley per head will provide suicient energy in the ration for cattle to
continue to grow and cope with the energy demands of early winter. In December these quantities will need to
be increased to 3.5kg, and will be suicient to manage daytime winter temperatures down to -20
o
C. With attention paid to seven-day weather forecasts
during the coldest winter months, the grain component of the diet can be increased safely in 0.5kg increments
prior to the onset of the colder weather to compensate for the increased energy demand. This will allow for
an increase in grain consumption of up to 1.5kg, and is suicient to accommodate a 15 degree drop in midday
temperature to -35
o
C. Further increases in energy consumption may be required in extreme weather
events, and may be managed by further increasing the grain ration by 0.5 kg for every additional -5
o
C midday air temperature.
Figure 1.4. Radio Frequency Identiication RFID ear tag - all cattle will have an RFID ear tag on arrival. Source: Leader
Products.
1 Megajoule MJ is equivalent to 239 Calories Cal, or 0.239 Megacalories MCal
15
Cold Winter Climates
1.2.8. Monitoring In Quarantine
