Description
Feed intake is a major driver of both cow performance and cow-calf enterprise profitability. Feed and forage costs typically account for 40 to 50% of annual production expenses, representing the largest variable cost in a cow-calf operation. Consequently, accurate estimates of forage intake are essential for determining cow costs, calculating nutrient requirements, developing supplementation programs, and establishing appropriate stocking rates. The fact sheet describes different methods available to estimate forage intake in beef cows and shows the relative differences among each of the systems in terms of estimated daily consumption or differences in stocking rates calculated using each of the equations.
