Supplemental Protein: Convenient Nutrition for Your Herd
Sep 21, 2026
Justin R. Crocheck
Senior Cattle Consultant
Back in July of this year, I shared with you an article that talked about filling the forage gaps of our cow-calf nutrition program with supplemental protein. As you know, protein levels can differ by species of forage, by different fields, and by different cuttings. The protein value of our forages was lowered again this year as the nitrogen content was diluted by the rains and/or the additional tons harvested.
As I write to you on this third Monday of September, the total amount of rain that has been recorded by the neighbor’s weather station is 71 inches since he set it up on June fifth. Our pastures are still green and washy in a large area of Key Cooperative’s trade territory. We baled a lot of hay that was lightly kissed—or downright drenched—by rains that weren’t in the forecast. It wasn’t very convenient to make hay this summer, but we can make supplementing protein for your cow-calf operation convenient this fall.
With the wet fall that we have been dealing with so far, we need a convenient way to supply supplemental protein to our cow-calf operations while we are bringing in the fall harvest. Your time is valuable and so is your herd! Nothing could be easier or faster than rolling some tubs off the tailgate of your pickup truck, along with a salt block or two. QLF® Ignite 30 & 40 protein tubs are formulated to help fill the gaps of medium or lower-quality forage such as fall pasture, hay, and stalk fields. These low-moisture tubs have been poured, not pressed to combat the weather that we have been dealt this year. The QLF® Ignite poured tubs are durable and hard enough to limit intake through licking instead of the biting that can occur with pressed tubs. They have boosted palatability with molasses and can be consumed by your cows and calves at a more consistent intake compared to the softer and the higher-moisture content of a plant based, pressed tub.
It’s been a stressful summer; could your cows and calves use a boost? As we are waiting for the perfect time to wean this fall or have weaned, we can also add QLF® Ignite Stress Max AV4® mineral tubs alongside the protein tubs or on its own in the weaning pen. These tubs are formulated with Availa®4 mineral from Zinpro® to provide highly available sources of zinc, copper, manganese, and cobalt to fill the gaps in the trace mineral needs of our herd.
Our stress tub formulation at Key Cooperative also contains a product called Celmanax™. It’s a yeast culture that was originally created by VI-COR that contains yeast cultures, MOS, and Beta-glucan. It is designed to assist all stages of life in our cow-calf operations by improving gut bacteria and immunity all in one convenient package, while also binding pathogens and toxins in the gut and expelling them from the animal’s system.
Key Cooperative is your source for convenient nutrition this fall. To make it even more convenient for you, we're offering special pricing and/or booking options through December 31, 2026; see our fall beef promotions here. Contact your Key Feed Specialist today and we'll assist you in filling the nutritional gaps for your cattle this fall and winter.
Senior Cattle Consultant
Back in July of this year, I shared with you an article that talked about filling the forage gaps of our cow-calf nutrition program with supplemental protein. As you know, protein levels can differ by species of forage, by different fields, and by different cuttings. The protein value of our forages was lowered again this year as the nitrogen content was diluted by the rains and/or the additional tons harvested.
As I write to you on this third Monday of September, the total amount of rain that has been recorded by the neighbor’s weather station is 71 inches since he set it up on June fifth. Our pastures are still green and washy in a large area of Key Cooperative’s trade territory. We baled a lot of hay that was lightly kissed—or downright drenched—by rains that weren’t in the forecast. It wasn’t very convenient to make hay this summer, but we can make supplementing protein for your cow-calf operation convenient this fall.
With the wet fall that we have been dealing with so far, we need a convenient way to supply supplemental protein to our cow-calf operations while we are bringing in the fall harvest. Your time is valuable and so is your herd! Nothing could be easier or faster than rolling some tubs off the tailgate of your pickup truck, along with a salt block or two. QLF® Ignite 30 & 40 protein tubs are formulated to help fill the gaps of medium or lower-quality forage such as fall pasture, hay, and stalk fields. These low-moisture tubs have been poured, not pressed to combat the weather that we have been dealt this year. The QLF® Ignite poured tubs are durable and hard enough to limit intake through licking instead of the biting that can occur with pressed tubs. They have boosted palatability with molasses and can be consumed by your cows and calves at a more consistent intake compared to the softer and the higher-moisture content of a plant based, pressed tub.
It’s been a stressful summer; could your cows and calves use a boost? As we are waiting for the perfect time to wean this fall or have weaned, we can also add QLF® Ignite Stress Max AV4® mineral tubs alongside the protein tubs or on its own in the weaning pen. These tubs are formulated with Availa®4 mineral from Zinpro® to provide highly available sources of zinc, copper, manganese, and cobalt to fill the gaps in the trace mineral needs of our herd.
Our stress tub formulation at Key Cooperative also contains a product called Celmanax™. It’s a yeast culture that was originally created by VI-COR that contains yeast cultures, MOS, and Beta-glucan. It is designed to assist all stages of life in our cow-calf operations by improving gut bacteria and immunity all in one convenient package, while also binding pathogens and toxins in the gut and expelling them from the animal’s system.
Key Cooperative is your source for convenient nutrition this fall. To make it even more convenient for you, we're offering special pricing and/or booking options through December 31, 2026; see our fall beef promotions here. Contact your Key Feed Specialist today and we'll assist you in filling the nutritional gaps for your cattle this fall and winter.