Bloat on backgrounding hay ?

[Stocker Steve]

I have been putting purchased light calves on hay that is 2nd or 3rd crop alfalfa/grass mix from some very old stands, along with some sweet creep till they know what grain is. Most of them have never seen grain so it takes a couple weeks to get them going on a corn based grain mix. At that point about 2 % of the calves will bloat enough to have a problem.

I have not had this problem other years so I am a bit surprised. I tested the hay and it came back 19% protein. Most years it is 13 to 14%. The only thing I can think of is we have more alfalfa in the mix due to the drought?

Any tips other than cutting the hay a little later ?

 

[dun]

Maybe more bicaarbonate in the grain or put out a bloatblock

 

[denvermartinfarms]

I have never had such a problem, but i don't creep, other than that i would be doing it the same way. It also has never taken any calves i have brought in over a week at the most to get on the feed pretty good, a couple weeks suprises me.

 

[Aaron]

The last time I had bloat in calves were in young yearlings and that was ...oh...1997 or '98 something like that. We were feeding 1st cut alfalfa/mixed hay and a corn/oat/alfalfa hay mixture that we put through the hammermill, so it came out very fine. Only happened in the two youngest steers and I can't remember if we lost one or both or none.

Anyways, being that your feeding heavy alfalfa with a superb protein content, I would eliminate the grain ration altogether. If the calves don't grow on that hay, they won't with extra grain.

 

[TexasBred]

The last time I had bloat in calves were in young yearlings and that was ...oh...1997 or '98 something like that. We were feeding 1st cut alfalfa/mixed hay and a corn/oat/alfalfa hay mixture that we put through the hammermill, so it came out very fine. Only happened in the two youngest steers and I can't remember if we lost one or both or none.

Anyways, being that your feeding heavy alfalfa with a superb protein content, I would eliminate the grain ration altogether. If the calves don't grow on that hay, they won't with extra grain.

Bloat blocks will help. Look for a block with active ingredient of "Poloxoline. They'll cost you over $20 but worth it for insurance. Good alfalfa can easily bloat a calf not use to it.

 

[dun]

Bloat blocks will help. Look for a block with active ingredient of "Poloxoline. They'll cost you over $20 but worth it for insurance. Good alfalfa can easily bloat a calf not use to it.

You need to protect the bloatblocks from the rain. They aren;t hard like the salt blocks and will desolve not nothing but a pile really fast.

 

[TexasBred]

Bloat blocks will help. Look for a block with active ingredient of "Poloxoline. They'll cost you over $20 but worth it for insurance. Good alfalfa can easily bloat a calf not use to it.

You need to protect the bloatblocks from the rain. They aren;t hard like the salt blocks and will desolve not nothing but a pile really fast.

True, most are simply pressed blocks. Stockade use to make a good one and probably still does.

 

[Lazy M]

I doubt that they would eat the block if they have access to the grain

 

[TexasBred]

I doubt that they would eat the block if they have access to the grain

The blocks usually consist of plant protein products, grain by-products and a large amount of molasses. Very palatable and cattle usually enjoy them.