Managing Nutrition for Cows after Turn Out
Spring 2026 has brought its challenges for early grass growth.听A听wet winter followed by听a cold, wet spring听compared听to last听year has slowed early grass growth听in many regions in the country.听This has meant a late spring flush for many听extending winter听requirements when forage supplies were already restricted following a dry spring and summer in听2025听.听For suckler cows turned out to grass it is听important to ensure there is enough grass cover to meet cows鈥� nutritional requirements and remember that availability and quality of spring grazing is a key听determining听factor for spring suckler herd performance.听听
The post calving nutritional requirements of a suckler cow increase听significantly听as she approaches peak lactation听which on average will occur between听6.5-10听weeks post calving.听Peak lactation听also coincides closely with听another key production stage,听bulling.听听
For cows in peak lactation energy is prioritised first to producing milk to nurse her young then to听maintain听body condition and fertility. This means if nutritional supply is insufficient, condition and听subsequently听fertility are first to suffer. For mature听cows听this nutrition demand will include maintenance plus lactation which for a beef cow milk yield can range between 6-10l/day at peak depending on breed and quality of diet offered. First calved heifers are trying to meet the requirements for maintenance, lactation plus still growing themselves putting even more pressure of sufficient nutrition for ovulation.听听
Nutrition during the period before breeding is important. Animals should be on a rising plane of nutrition with sufficient availability of both energy and protein before service to maximise conception rates. For sucklers this will be between 120-140MJ/day depending on body weight, breed and parity which equates to around 60kg 鈥� 70kg of fresh grass a day or a minimum sward height of around 6cm in a set stocked system. The diet also must be a minimum of 12% protein on a dry matter basis. If grass supply is limited due to poor growth or nutrient availability or is unable to keep up with grazing demands supplementary feeding and or other options should be considered such as:听
- Adapting grazing management: such as rotational or strip grazing to better utilise grass and allow for rest periods in order to build up dry matter availability.听听
- Supplementary feeding:听such as听additional听forage听(good quality听silage)听or concentrate in the form of a suckler roll or听home mix cereals, typical feed听rate for sucklers will be between 1-3kg/head depending on听quality and quantity of grazing available.听听
- Creep feed calves听to reduce grazing听and lactation pressure on cows.听听
- Review groupings听of cattle听鈥� prioritise best quality grazing for those most at risk such as first time calvers, lean cows, twins and aged cows that will most at risk of condition loss in lactation.听Consider feeding concentrates to these groups with the听late cold spring we are having听as听they will need听additional听energy.听
- It is also essential听to ensure that听the听cow鈥檚听mineral and听trace element听status is听optimal听鈥� a low availability of grass may limit magnesium,听increasing risk of staggers,听and听limit trace elements such as selenium,听cobalt听and copper essential听for normal fertility.听
Quality and quantity of听grass听available in spring听is the key to success, however if you are concerned that grass growth and听nutrient听availability is not enough then听discuss听options听with your nutritionist.听听听
Lorna Shaw,听Ruminant听听Nutritionist,听Lorna.Shaw@sac.co.uk
Posted by SAC Consulting on 17/04/2026
