bred heifers on corn stalks

[lakeviewwalker]

Hi i was wondering for any of you that feed cornstalks in the winter what if anything do you suppplement your cows with? I have three hereford heifers that I am currently feeding baled corn stalks to. I have done some internet searches and found some university studies about this but would like some first hand experience. I am going to be short on hay so I am mixing in some stalks I am also feeding three pounds of dried distillers grain and have a replacement heifer lick tub for them. your thoughts? there hair is shiny and nice i don't know how to acuratly rate BCS but they seem to be in good shape thanks

 

[SconnieBeef]

I'm feeding my bred hereford hiefers corn stalk bales right now and all they are getting with it is a 32% protien tub. I have a BCS app on my phone that helps me rate them and they are still holding around a 6 still from this fall. Don't know if any of that will help, just saying thats what I'm doing and that's how my cows are doing.
:2cents:

 

[Stocker Steve]

It really depends on how well you make them clean it up. Nebraska has done a number of studies on this.

If they eating a significant amount of corn stalk - - then some protein and ionosphore is in order. Lick tubs are too spendy for me but they will work for 3 head. DDG used to be the best deal but its price has not come down like corn. Urea and soybeans are your other common protein options.

I feed stalks and straw for 2 to 3 months each winter - - so I had a "low cost" supplement calculated up last year. It was based on DDG and urea and co product mineral mix.

 

[piedmontese]

I fed corn stalks all last winter to everyone and they did fine. They also had a protein lick and loose mineral.

 

[redcowsrule33]

With corn stalks and DDG you are calcium deficient even with lick tubs. Consider mixing loose salt and dical or feed lime 50:50 free choice.

 

[SconnieBeef]

For all you DDG users out there, I just read an article that said as ethanol plants try to derive more energy from corn, the fat content in DDGs has gone from 10% to 2-3%. Maybe everyone already knows this or its not a big deal but I just thought I'd throw it out there so people could be aware of it.