Table: Crude Protein Requirements of Mature Beef Cows

Crude Protein Requirements of Mature Beef Cows

	Weight of Cow
	1,000 lb (454 kg)	1,200 lb (544 kg)	1,400 lb (635 kg)	1,600 lb (726 kg)	1,800 lb (816 kg)
Number of Months Since Calving	Estimated Average Crude Protein Requirement:^a Protein Consumed, in lb (kg) per cow per day
1	1.93 (0.88)	2.12 (0.96)	2.29 (1.04)	2.46 (1.12)	2.65 (1.20)
2	2.57 (1.17)	2.75 (1.25)	2.93 (1.33)	3.10 (1.41)	3.19 (1.45)
3	2.62 (1.19)	2.80 (1.27)	2.98 (1.35)	3.15 (1.43)	3.32 (1.51)
4	2.43 (1.10)	2.62 (1.19)	2.80 (1.27)	2.97 (1.35)	3.19 (1.45)
5	2.20 (1.00)	2.38 (1.08)	2.56 (1.16)	2.73 (1.24)	2.92 (1.32)
6	1.98 (0.90)	2.16 (0.98)	2.33 (1.06)	2.50 (1.13)	2.62 (1.19)
7	1.80 (0.82)	1.99 (0.90)	2.16 (0.98)	2.33 (1.06)	2.35 (1.07)
8	1.32 (0.60)	1.50 (0.68)	1.68 (0.76)	1.85 (0.84)	2.16 (0.98)
9	1.38 (0.63)	1.56 (0.71)	1.74 (0.79)	1.91 (0.87)	2.07 (0.94)
10	1.49 (0.68)	1.67 (0.76)	1.85 (0.84)	2.02 (0.92)	2.18 (0.99)
11	1.67 (0.76)	1.85 (0.84)	2.02 (0.92)	2.19 (0.99)	2.36 (1.07)
12	1.94 (0.88)	2.13 (0.97)	2.30 (1.04)	2.47 (1.12)	2.64 (1.20)
^aValues adapted from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle. 8th rev. ed. National Academies Press; 2016. Estimates are based on the assumptions that nitrogen and energy in the rumen are not limiting factors and that 64% of the dietary crude protein will be available to the animal as metabolizable protein, which may not be true for all rations or scenarios.