alfalfa as protein supplement

[Texas Gal]

Is it feasible to use alfalfa as a protein supplement for yearling heifers? How often would you feed it? How much per head for yearling heifers? I've never fed alfalfa to anything so have no concept of how to go about doing it. I can get small bales for $5.75 per bale ( supposedly are 65-70 pounds but haven't looked at them yet) and have 8 yearling heifers to feed over the winter. The heifers will have free choice prairie hay and, if God sends the rain, some ryegrass. Thanks for your help!

 

[bigbull338]

since you just have 8 heifers to feed.id say yes feed them alalfa if it looks good an isnt junk.a 70lb bale is all they need a day.thats 8lbs or so pre heifer a day.the protine should be 14% or better.an to my way of thinking thats enough protine along with prearie hay.i know my spelling stinks sorry.he hay sounds like a real good price to.

 

[Stocker Steve]

Good alfalfa is usually a low cost way to provide protein. Most of the mixed alfalfa hay in my area goes from $60 to $75 a ton. Protein content usually varies from 12% to 19% - - so it depends.

 

[hayray]

Is it feasible to use alfalfa as a protein supplement for yearling heifers? How often would you feed it? How much per head for yearling heifers? I've never fed alfalfa to anything so have no concept of how to go about doing it. I can get small bales for $5.75 per bale ( supposedly are 65-70 pounds but haven't looked at them yet) and have 8 yearling heifers to feed over the winter. The heifers will have free choice prairie hay and, if God sends the rain, some ryegrass. Thanks for your help!

for yearling heifers that alfalfa will be all you need for protein, you won't need any other protein for them.

 

[msscamp]

Is it feasible to use alfalfa as a protein supplement for yearling heifers? How often would you feed it? How much per head for yearling heifers? I've never fed alfalfa to anything so have no concept of how to go about doing it. I can get small bales for $5.75 per bale ( supposedly are 65-70 pounds but haven't looked at them yet) and have 8 yearling heifers to feed over the winter. The heifers will have free choice prairie hay and, if God sends the rain, some ryegrass. Thanks for your help!

Yes, it's feasible to use alfalfa as a protein supplement for yearling heifers. How often and how much I fed would depend entirely on the protein content and the total digestibility of this particular hay. Check with the seller to see if he/she has had it tested. If not, I would have it tested because alfalfa can vary dramatically as far as protein (up to 20 some %) is concerned but, even more important, is the total digestibility factor. As I understand it, the higher the total digestibility factor the more the cattle get out of it, and the less you need to feed - I could be wrong on that, though. Since your cattle have free choice prairie hay and, hopefully, ryegrass, you sure don't want to overfeed and cause yourself problems that could have been easily avoided with a simple test of the hay. I would also introduce it slowly since it does have the capability of causing bloat in cattle that are not used to it. I hope this helps!

 

[auctionboy]

If the cheapest protein is what you are looking for soybean meal is 3x the protein and $14 for 100lbs here. Care has to be taken when feeding, but it would be cheaper. Maybethere is a better choice in your area or maybe a by product but I would go with a true concentrate.

 

[moocow]

I can get small bales for $5.75 per bale

Good grief, I've been selling small squares of alfalfa for $2.50-$3.00. :shock:
Sounds like I need to start shipping down there. It's that pesky supply and demand thing. Fuel cost would probably kill the profit thou.

 

[Texas Gal]

Thanks for the replies; they'll help me make my decision. A lot of people from Indiana and Illinios are shipping alfalfa down here to Texas. I saw an ad in the newspaper today for Indiana alfalfa for $10.00 per bale. Of course, the only folks who can afford to pay that price are the horse people! ;-)

 

[Bluestem]

I adjust the alfalfa by the look of the manure piles. Piles hard as bricks, give them more alfalfa. Piles that start at the tail and drip down, give them less. Start slow and work into it.

 

[msscamp]

I saw an ad in the newspaper today for Indiana alfalfa for $10.00 per bale. Of course, the only folks who can afford to pay that price are the horse people! ;-)

And here I was thinking that 5.75/small square was highway robbery! :shock: :shock:

 

[Susie David]

Up here we're paying $120 a ton for second cut delivered thats running 18%...we just put up some third cut that is all leaf and I paid $80/ton in the field...not much of it but good hay.
All we feed through the winter is alflafa and tend to save the good stuff for the third trimester cows.
We do keep a few bails of grass mix to start the replacements on while we introduce the alflafa.
DMc

 

[hayray]

I can get small bales for $5.75 per bale

Good grief, I've been selling small squares of alfalfa for $2.50-$3.00. :shock:
Sounds like I need to start shipping down there. It's that pesky supply and demand thing. Fuel cost would probably kill the profit thou.

Some years I have those problems. Just sold some 2nd cut alfalfa to someone from Oklahoma for $4.00 out of the barn - I was pretty happy with that. I have been delivering 2nd for $5.00, makes up for all the heart aches I had putting up 1st cutting. I want to relax this winter and not have to worry about making equipment payments.

 

[Herefordcross]

You know, I never thought about Alfalfa as a supplement but, I guess it is if it's used that way.

 

[Mango1]

I'm moving North!!!!!! Alfalfa in Florida is a minimum $10.00 a bale!! What about feeding alfalfa pellets as a supplement? And can you tell me more abotu the soybean meal? My son is trying to use it as a supplement, but we have no idea of how much to feed, he has 2 commercial heifers and a steer, he is feeding a 12% mix and wants to increase the protein without paying the extra to go to a 14% show ration.--Thanks

 

[bigbull338]

yes you can use the alalfa cubes as a suplement.id say feed them 5lbs of cubes a peice.so 15lbs a day.