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Barnyard Buddies:  Feeding Cows  |
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Megan
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Megan
Hudson
South Dakota
USA
155 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 18 2011 : 6:41:02 PM
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Ladies i need help figuring out what and how much to feed my calf. She weighs about 400lbs and about 6 months old. i have been following the general rule that i use on my horses, you take the weight of the animal times .03 and that gives you the amount of feed to feed then 80 - 90 % of that should be roughage depending on work and weight condition.
the thing is that my dad said that im feeding to much grain.
at 400lbs i figured she needs about 12lbs of feed a day and i feed 10-11 lbs of alfalfa and about 3/4lb of corn and 1/4lb of oats.
Any one know if that's right or do cattle need a different ration? i really dont want to hurt her from feeding her wrong, ive seen people really muss up horses feet by feeding them wrong.
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
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StephB
Farmgirl in Training
27 Posts
Stephanie
Alcove
Quebec
Canada
27 Posts |
Posted - Nov 18 2011 : 7:22:54 PM
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I'm curious, are you sure she needs grain at all?
I'm not an expert re: cattle but we got a family milk cow a year ago she is a six year old Jersey. This is what we have done. We've been giving her free choice hay in the winter and she is on pasture in the summer. When she was in milk we gave her a small bucket of non-urea dairy feed at each milking (about 3 pounds twice a day). The grain was really more to keep her occupied while I milked than anything else, I had not planned on giving her any grain. A couple months ago she ended up getting bloat and drying up. We're pretty sure it was the feed. When she is in milk again I'll probably want to have something to give her at milking time but it will definately be something nice and plain and I'll be sure not to give her too much. Her calf has never had anything except grass, hay and her mother's milk and she is a nicely padded, happy, bouncy girl. All that to say that even when our cow is in milk the grain was really just a treat and she has always been a good weight and very healthy. Sometimes I wonder if people can't stand the thought of giving their animals what seems like a boring unvaried diet so they make it more complicated than it needs to be. It seems to me that cows are really meant to eat good grass or hay (with a salt lick of course)and really only need something extra if the hay is lacking in protein or if an individual animal has trouble keeping its weight on. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Nov 19 2011 : 11:16:43 AM
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hi megan, this is the dispute that goes on for ever. grain or no grain. i prefer feeding alfalfa and hay. no grain at all. this year i had to change my thinking. we are like many challenged with dollars. we have a grocery produce route. we get there fresh pulled produce garbage. we pick through and feed each animal what they can eat. cows love root crops.LOL so we also now feed sprouted steamed barley (wort). we get it fresh each day from a brewery. hot and steaming. we feel very greatful for this free food. we also do feed beet pulp pellet. our milkers ( jerseys) are fed about 60 pounds each a day. they get it free choice. michele will be able to help you more. it does depend on what your breed needs too. grain changes their rumen ph to acid. it is thought that in doing so it changes the good fats on the animal to cholesterol. just a thought sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4260 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4260 Posts |
Posted - Nov 20 2011 : 04:55:46 AM
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Hi Megan. With good hay, salt and minerals available to your heifer, she won't need alot of grain. So it would be up to you if you want that extra expense. It does help tame them down, and if she is ever out, seeing that grain bucket will have her coming to you. I am feeding my calves yet. When I wean they get some grain. I give them 3 scoops a day, for 7 calves. So that is maybe 6-8 pounds. I get mine mixed at the feed store. As far as hay, mine have round bales available to them all the time. So free choice. If she is cleaning up all her hay, then she might need some more. If she has leftover before the next feeding, then a bit less. Feeding your corn and oats won't hurt her, as long as she is not getting too fat.
good luck
Michele |
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Megan
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Megan
Hudson
South Dakota
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - Nov 20 2011 : 12:44:38 PM
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thanks for the help gals, do you guys feed corn stalk bales on the side for something to chew on, was tinking about getting one for her, because alfalfa costs alot this year
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
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Barnyard Buddies: Feeding Cows |
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Feeding Cows
