Purina Mills has designed a line of hand-fed range products to address the differences in desired nutrient value and producer preferences. These balanced protein and energy supplements enhance forage digestion, allowing your cattle to get more of their nutritional needs from your homegrown forage. When fed at recommended levels, 4-Square Brand Breeder Chow products will provide the nutrients needed to maintain cattle in proper condition..
The following chart lists our line of range cubes and their nutritional specifications.
Breeder Chow Products
for Hand Feeding Cows
|
|
4-Square Brand
Breeder Chow Products
|
Protein
|
NPN
|
Fat
|
Fiber
|
P
|
Vit A
|
|
Breeder Supreme 20N
|
20.0
|
0.0
|
2.5
|
9.0
|
1.0
|
20,000
|
|
Breeder Supreme 20
|
20.0
|
6.0
|
2.5
|
9.0
|
1.0
|
20,000
|
|
Breeder Performance+ 20N
|
20.0
|
0.0
|
2.5
|
9.0
|
0.8
|
20,000
|
|
Breeder Performance+ 20
|
20.0
|
6.0
|
2.5
|
9.0
|
0.8
|
20,000
|
|
Breeder Performance 20N
|
20.0
|
0.0
|
2.0
|
10.0
|
0.6
|
20,000
|
|
Breeder Performance 20
|
20.0
|
6.0
|
2.0
|
10.0
|
0.6
|
20,000
|
|
Breeder Supreme 32N
|
32.0
|
0.0
|
2.5
|
12.0
|
1.0
|
20,000
|
|
Breeder Performance 32N
|
32.0
|
0.0
|
2.0
|
15.0
|
0.9
|
20,000
|
|
Breeder Supreme 38N
|
38.0
|
0.0
|
2.5
|
12.0
|
1.0
|
20,000
|
|
Breeder Performance 38N
|
38.0
|
0.0
|
2.0
|
15.0
|
0.9
|
20,000
|
The following charts from Purina Mills Research indicate improved utilization of forage after supplementing the cow diet with a balanced nutritional supplement.
|
Forage Intake Enhanced with Proper Supplementation - Trial #1
|
|
Item
|
Forage Only
No Supplement
|
Forage & Purina Mills
20% Supplement
|
Net Improvement
|
|
Forage Intake/Hd/Day
|
21.3
|
25.3
|
+4.0 lbs.
|
|
Pounds of Supplement
|
0.0
|
4.0
|
|
|
Total Intake/Day
(Forage & Supplement)
|
21.3
|
29.3
|
+8.0 lbs.
|
|
Initial Cow Wt.
|
1,193
|
1,197
|
|
|
Final Cow Wt.
|
1,049
|
1,159
|
|
|
Weight Change
|
-143
|
-38
|
105 lbs. less loss
|
|
Average Daily Gain/Loss
|
-1.34
|
-0.36
|
|
|
Calf Gain 1st 60 days
|
102
|
111
|
+9 lbs. heavier calf
|
|
Forage Intake Enhanced with Proper Supplementation - Trial #2
|
|
Item
|
Forage Only
No Supplement
|
Forage & Purina Mills
20% Supplement
|
Net Improvement
|
|
Forage Intake/Hd/Day
|
22.5
|
24.6
|
+2.1 lbs.
|
|
Pounds of Supplement
|
0.0
|
3.3
|
|
|
Total Intake/Day
(Forage & Supplement)
|
22.5
|
27.9
|
+5.4 lbs.
|
|
Weight Change
|
-129.3
|
-31.9
|
97.4 lbs. less weight loss
|
|
Fat Change (cm)
|
-0.49
|
-0.18
|
|
|
Calf Gain 1st 60 days
|
91.5
|
104.1
|
+12.6 lbs. heavier calf
|
As you can see from these two experiments, by giving cows a balanced protein, energy, mineral and vitamin supplement, forage intake increased from 2 to 4 lbs./head/day and total feed intake increased 5 to 8 lbs./head/day, providing the cow more nutrition from your greatest resource—your forage. This resulted in decreased cow weight loss after calving, a better body condition at breeding, a calf 9 to 12 lbs. heavier in the first 60 days of life, and overall improved performance in the cow herd.
