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advice wanted please update, pictures, update
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<blockquote data-quote="Willow Springs" data-source="post: 618554" data-attributes="member: 9002"><p>People get hung up on protein because that is the way the feed companies market their products. In our Western Canadian climate protein is very rarely limiting unless you are feeding straw. The protein in this hay is adequate for these cows; in fact if you have been feeding free choice hay they are getting way more than they need. ENERGY is way below what they need! Buying high protein lick tubs or supplements is a waste of money; they don't need it. Also, as another person pointed out, animals use energy to break down un-needed protein, and it takes energy to break down urea based protein as well. The last thing you need in this situation is to be losing energy for protein break down; you don't need protein! We have seen instances where cows have lost weight eating the very best second cut alfalfa hay becasue there was TOO MUCH protein.</p><p></p><p>Your change, with adding the bale of green feed, will work for now. As you get closer to calving and into lactation will will be short of energy again. The cows will begin losing weight again; this will be hardest on your young cows. A person can't afford to lose their youngest cows, the depreciation is astronomical. You will still need another plan to increase energy in the diet. The cows don't look to bad now, but you have a lot of winter to go, fluffy winter hair also hides their true condition. </p><p></p><p>I really suggest that you work closely with a ruminant nutritionist; don't rely on advice you get here. Sometimes there's too much opinion and not enough fact.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Willow Springs, post: 618554, member: 9002"] People get hung up on protein because that is the way the feed companies market their products. In our Western Canadian climate protein is very rarely limiting unless you are feeding straw. The protein in this hay is adequate for these cows; in fact if you have been feeding free choice hay they are getting way more than they need. ENERGY is way below what they need! Buying high protein lick tubs or supplements is a waste of money; they don't need it. Also, as another person pointed out, animals use energy to break down un-needed protein, and it takes energy to break down urea based protein as well. The last thing you need in this situation is to be losing energy for protein break down; you don't need protein! We have seen instances where cows have lost weight eating the very best second cut alfalfa hay becasue there was TOO MUCH protein. Your change, with adding the bale of green feed, will work for now. As you get closer to calving and into lactation will will be short of energy again. The cows will begin losing weight again; this will be hardest on your young cows. A person can't afford to lose their youngest cows, the depreciation is astronomical. You will still need another plan to increase energy in the diet. The cows don't look to bad now, but you have a lot of winter to go, fluffy winter hair also hides their true condition. I really suggest that you work closely with a ruminant nutritionist; don't rely on advice you get here. Sometimes there's too much opinion and not enough fact. [/QUOTE]
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