Winter fescue pasture Stockpiled tall fescue pasture, along with big hay bales, is frequently used to winter calves and light-weight yearling cattle. The nutrient quality of the stockpiled fescue declines after the first of January because nutrients leach from the plant cells. Wheat pasture Wheat pasture has 20 to 30 percent crude protein on a dry matter basis. In winter, it may drop to 20 percent, but it will be around 30 percent when it is growing rapidly in fall or spring. These levels of protein are more than is needed by calves, so protein supplements are not necessary.
Energy is more likely to be limiting for calves on wheat pasture.
Thus, calcium and magnesium levels should be emphasized in mineral supplements for calves on wheat pasture. Free-choice mineral supplements should have 6 to 8 percent magnesium. You may need to mix 10 to 25 percent dried molasses in these high magnesium supplements to get around 2 ounces a day intake. This can be doubled to 1.5 to 2.5 head per acre in the spring if the wheat is grazed out. The wheat must be stocked heavy enough in the spring to keep up with forage growth and prevent jointing if it is to be grazed out.