7lazy77":131luzqb said:
What are the advantages/disadvantes of one over the other. I found some "reasonably-priced" grass & alfalfa/grass hay. Will the grass feed pretty good? I normally feed straight alfalfa in years prior. But with a deal like this, it is hard to pass up!
Advantages of alfalfa - higher overall protein content, generally higher overall total digestability, higher calcium content, when raised right tends to be a finer stemmed hay, in my area it also tends to be cheaper than grass hay.
Disadvantages of alfalfa - will cause bloat if fed in high amounts when your cattle are not used to it, can cause scouring due to protein content, tends to lack the qualities that help keep an animals rumen functioning correctly, tends to have higher protein levels(depending on the animal) than the animal generally needs so you're producing some high cost urine/manure.
The protein content of grass hay is going to vary from grass type to grass type, but you can't beat grass for helping to straighten out a scouring weaning calf, feeder calf, bottle calf, or a cow with a loose stool. Assuming the hay was put up correctly, yes they will eat it just fine. We have fed grass mixed with alfalfa - generally 2 small bales of alfalfa for every 4-6 small bales of grass - for years, and never had a problem with the cattle eating the grass - in fact, a number of them tended to choose the grass over the alfalfa. Assuming the proportions are right, grass/alfalfa mix is an ideal combination because you have everything in one bale.