Nutritional requirements
What northern cattle need, and where the wet and the dry leave gaps.
Northern country swings between two extremes. The wet brings protein and growth but often not enough phosphorus. The dry brings protein shortages and weight loss. Knowing which gap you’re in decides what your cattle need.
What cattle need, by class
Approximate daily energy needs for Bos indicus cross cattle walking about 7 km a day, from FutureBeef tables.[1]
| Class | Energy (MJ ME/day) |
|---|---|
| Cow, 400 to 450 kg, last third of pregnancy, holding weight | 50 to 55 |
| Same cow, gaining 0.4 kg/day | 64 to 70 |
| Cow, 400 to 450 kg, lactating (calf 4 months old) | 99 to 105 |
| First-lactation cow, 400 to 450 kg | 103 to 108 |
| Steer, 300 kg, growing 0.5 kg/day | about 57 |
Protein: cattle need about 7% crude protein to maintain. Weaner rations need 18 to 24% depending on weight. Phosphorus: breeders on deficient country need around 7 to 8 g a day in the wet and 5 to 6 g in the dry. Water: around 45 litres a day on average, and almost double in a 10°C rise in temperature.[2,3,4,5]
Where the northern gaps usually are
| Season | Usually plenty of | Usually short of |
|---|---|---|
| The wet | Protein, energy, water in the feed | Phosphorus on deficient country |
| The dry | Bulk dry feed | Protein (down to 1 to 3% by the end of the dry), phosphorus for breeders, energy |
| All year | — | Phosphorus on deficient country, and trace elements that depend on the soil |
Why year-round matters
The season swings, but cattle need amino acids and trace elements every day. A year-round program evens out those gaps instead of chasing them: nine three-day trough applications a year, with no extra mustering. If year-round isn’t possible, cover these windows first:
| Window | Product | When to start |
|---|---|---|
| Before mating | MEGANEX | 12 weeks before bulls go in |
| Late pregnancy and lactation | MEGANEX | 12 weeks before calving |
| Weaning | StressGuard | As weaners enter the yards |
| Trucking or feedlot entry | StressGuard | 3 to 7 days before, or on entry |
Urea feeds the microbes. We feed the animal. Dry season licks feed rumen microbes. LivestockIQ supplies the preformed amino acids and chelated trace elements the animal itself uses.
Where LivestockIQ fits
| Your situation | Product | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Northern breeders, growers and dry cattle | MEGANEX | Every 6 weeks |
| Weaning, trucking or feedlot entry | StressGuard | At weaning, 3 to 7 days before trucking, or on entry |
| Certified organic operations | OrganicMax* and OrganicGuard* | As for MEGANEX and StressGuard |
* This product is allowable for use on farms (or in facilities) certified to the Australian Certified Organic Standard
MEGANEX can be used on its own early in the dry or through a short dry, and alongside your phosphorus and dry season supplements late in the dry or in an extended dry. LivestockIQ doesn’t replace energy or bulk feed.
Ready to set up your herd's program?
Not sure which product suits your herd? Call the team on (08) 8725 4668 or ask your local stockist.
Questions? Call (08) 8725 4668 or email [email protected]
Running cattle in the south instead? See Southern systems