Ideally, all cows in a management group will consume the same amount of supplement. However, some cows are more aggressive than others and are able to eat more than their share of supplemental feed. This variation in supplement intake can influence cow performance. Research conducted in Montana revealed that when cows from 3 to 9 years of age were grazed and supplemented together with a target supplement intake of 2 pounds cake per head daily, age influenced intake. More specifically, 51 and 38 percent of the 3- and 4-year-olds, respectively, ate less than 1.5 pounds of supplement; while 65 and 47 percent of the 8- and 9-year-olds, respectively, ate more than 2.5 pounds. The older cows ate more than the target amount of supplement at the expense of the younger females. There are good reasons for managing young females with older cows; however, by doing so, the amount of supplement the young cows actually consume may be less than desired. If your 2- and 3-year-olds are showing up in the open (non-pregnant) pen more than you would like, consider managing these females separately to better ensure they are supplied with the supplemental nutrients they need. This approach may not be practical on all operations, but for those where it is, it may be a cost-effective option to improve reproductive performance in young females.

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