Alfalfa & Orchard Grass

[Bestoutwest]

I did a deal with my neighbor to trade a stack of alfalfa for grass (they needed the alfalfa for a horse). Anyway, I have a stack of grass and a stack of alfalfa. Should I go through one first, hold on to one for the winter or feed them 50/50 (one bale of alfalfa then a bale of grass)? Right now I have two heifer calves and a pregnant cow that's nursing one of the calves if that means anything.

Oh, and one other thing. After the frost, they are going on a small pasture of alfalfa, if that helps determine anything.

Thanks

 

[Nesikep]

The nursing cow ought to get alfalfa, as well as the calf that isn't nursing. is the cow close to weaning the calf? I would try to go through the grass hay first, to save the alfalfa for colder weather, even though it might not be the ideal thing to feed a milking cow, I don't see much of a way around it.

 

[Bestoutwest]

Well, I can do alfalfa for a bit and then throw some grass bales at them after I get the calf weaned. I'm not planning on doing it until around Thanksgiving b/c she was born May 9. Can I give them some cubes as a sort of suppliment while feeding the grass hay? Thanks for the help!

 

[Karin]

Four months in lactation the cow will definitely still be needing alfalfa. But when she gets closer to weaning, her nutritional demands will be dropping so it might be worth considering to start gradually changing her over to grass hay until it's time to wean. Supplements just depend on the nutrient quality of the hay. Orchard grass is usually pretty high quality in itself, but you never know.

 

[msscamp]

I would try to go through the grass hay first, to save the alfalfa for colder weather, even though it might not be the ideal thing to feed a milking cow, I don't see much of a way around it.

Actually, you've got this backwards. Grass helps keep animals a lot warmer in cold weather than alfalfa ever will! Heat come from digestion, and grass is harder to digest than alfalfa.

ETA: The ideal thing would be mix the grass and alfalfa hay together, flake for flake. That way the OP can control how much grass and alfalfa each animal gets. Maybe 1 flake of grass with 2 flakes of alfalfa so the bred cow will be supported in her gestation, 2 flakes of grass with 1 flake of alfalfa for open animals to keep them in condition, straight alfalfa for any nursing cows, etc.

 

[msscamp]

Oh, and one other thing. After the frost, they are going on a small pasture of alfalfa, if that helps determine anything.

Thanks

I'm out of practice on grazing alfalfa but, if memory serves, you probably want to wait a couple of weeks after a killing freeze before you turn your cows out on alfalfa. I cannot remember the exact reason, but I think it has something to do with aflatoxins that are produced as a result of frost/freezing. I think they can be toxic, and I think it takes a couple of weeks for them to dissipate.

 

[Workinonit Farm]

Oh, and one other thing. After the frost, they are going on a small pasture of alfalfa, if that helps determine anything.

Thanks

you probably want to wait a couple of weeks after a killing freeze before you turn your cows out on alfalfa. I cannot remember the exact reason, but I think it has something to do with aflatoxins that are produced as a result of frost/freezing. I think they can be toxic, and I think it takes a couple of weeks for them to dissipate.

There is a very strong possibility for bloat.

 

[Alan]

I would try to go through the grass hay first, to save the alfalfa for colder weather, even though it might not be the ideal thing to feed a milking cow, I don't see much of a way around it.

Actually, you've got this backwards. Grass helps keep animals a lot warmer in cold weather than alfalfa ever will! Heat come from digestion, and grass is harder to digest than alfalfa.

ETA: The ideal thing would be mix the grass and alfalfa hay together, flake for flake. That way the OP can control how much grass and alfalfa each animal gets. Maybe 1 flake of grass with 2 flakes of alfalfa so the bred cow will be supported in her gestation, 2 flakes of grass with 1 flake of alfalfa for open animals to keep them in condition, straight alfalfa for any nursing cows, etc.

Msscamp!! Good to see you post again! You've been gone way to long! Although this is the first post of yours I have ran into, but nice to hear from you again? :D :tiphat:

To the OP, I agree completely with msscamp, alfalfa is pretty hot and I have seen some big birthweights and calving problems coming from some local breeders from the use of "too much alfalfa and too much extra grain". Also I would look at my environment, I don't live in a heavy snow or sub zero area, my pregnant cattle never have and never will get alfalfa. If their BCS gets looking like a "slight" problem they get more grass hay.

 

[msscamp]

Hi Alan, thank you for the warm welcome! How has life been treating you? Good, I hope. :)

 

[Stocker Steve]

I cannot remember the exact reason, but I think it has something to do with aflatoxins that are produced as a result of frost/freezing. I think they can be toxic, and I think it takes a couple of weeks for them to dissipate.

Legumes are a bloat problem for a couple days right after a frost. The explanation I have heard is that the frost bursts parts of the leaf and it is digested too fast. I hold animals off the pasture for 4 to 6 weeks before a killing frost, then graze it quickly before the leaves drop off.

Alfalfa hay can cause bloat more often than grazing. I would mix it with something if you have aggressive eaters.