Cows have 4 stomachs so you can feed them 4 days of grain at once…

[jdcopkid]

Context: we feed our calves twice a day and have a camera on their feed and water. My dad has been feeding them and I had only seen my dad on camera once in two days so I reached out to ask if the camera was broke, which was likely.

My dad was at lunch with a local rancher when I reached out to my dad and he told the rancher "my son is getting on to me for not feeding the calves"

The rancher than explained to my dad, that since cattle have four stomachs you can feed them 4 days of food at once with no problem… now, I am naturally a very suspicious person when it comes to people making claims that don't seem to make sense.. I also have a science degree and have learned a good deal of biology, chemistry, anatomy…

So I laughed and said yea…. That's not how that works… which I was promptly told that this person has done it their whole life and are quite wealthy doing it.

My questions are twofold: how many of you feed grain free choice? I know people do creep feeders a lot, but in my head that's for calves that are on their moms also right? So they don't really gorge themselves on grain? Is there a risk is free choice grain for weaned calves?

And do you find the older ranchers reasoning.. funny to say the least? Or just me?

 

[kenny thomas]

4 stomachs but you cant feed them 4 days worth in 1 day. Even if they eat it its digested soon so the next 3 days they go hungry.

 

[farmerjan]

I do not feed free choice... any one that I have heard of doing something along that line has a feed mixture with something that is a "limiter" so they do not gorge themselves... One of the guys who has feeders on here should be able to chime in..

As for the 4 stomachs... it would be laughable if it wasn't so downright DUMB... and for the record, they only have one "true stomach" .... and it has 4 COMPARTMENTS.... the omasum's main purpose is to digest MILK.... and other liquids, so is the biggest section in a calf and then the rumen develops and starts to function, breaking down the feed and it starts to digest and produce things that break down the feed.... when they start eating feed/grass etc.... so omasum does not "function" the same way after they are totally off milk.... the reticulum is the "first section" where often things like hardware will wind up, and the abomasum is where more of the digested food is absorbed on the way out to the intestine....
That rancher might be feeding every couple of days , but he is very lucky if he is feeding 4 days worth of grain at a time and they have not gotten acidosis or some other after effect....

 

[wbvs58]

With grain even feeding once a a day is not ideal, you get fluctuations with rumen pH. Bipass protein such as the protein meals like copra, canola and cottonseed meal will work if fed twice a week.

Ken

 

[Dave]

Feed them one day starve them the next. That how they put the layers of fat and lean in bacon.

 

[Travlr]

My questions are twofold: how many of you feed grain free choice? I know people do creep feeders a lot, but in my head that's for calves that are on their moms also right? So they don't really gorge themselves on grain? Is there a risk is free choice grain for weaned calves?

And do you find the older ranchers reasoning.. funny to say the least? Or just me?

The only reasons I feed grain are to teach my cattle to come when they are called... and lightly for a couple of months before I put one in the freezer.

I've tried to avoid cattle that won't survive well on good grass.

And yeah, the rancher might be a little off on his understanding of how a rumen works.

 

[GoWyo]

I think they are messing with you. Hopefully your dad is keeping up with it in spite of lack of picture evidence.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

Feed a dairy cow 4 days worth of grain and it would kill her. I feed my cattle and calves grain twice a day. Cow in milk gets 16% dairy feed. The calves are 400lb ers getting 14% stocker grower. This is dairy stock.

 

[MurraysMutts]

Sounds to me like "someone" is just plain arse lazy.

Those little calves you've been working so hard to get going deserve better.

 

[farmerjan]

Although they are a more expensive way to "feed"... I would suggest you go with some of the big "tubs" for protein for the calves...they will have a consistent availability of protein and some vit and minerals etc.... I see no point in the 24% protein because they have added urea and the calves do not need 24%... I like a 16 or 20% all natural tub... cooked so the molasses is "harder" and they consume it slower...
I use them for areas that we might NOT be getting into as regularly as we would like... And, it gives small or timid cows or calves a chance to go get some when the "bullies" go out to graze, or go to the hay roll or something....
Most will get to using them regularly... and since you've done pretty darn good to get those calves turned around and looking good... I think it would give you a better return with them having access to them 24/7.
Still take some feed to give them a treat so they still come to call, with a bucket....but you can get by with less often, and less grain.... so "missing" a day or 2 is not as big of a deal....

 

[Mrcopier]

I don't think they would eat 4 days of feed in 1 day

 

[WFfarm]

Does he think a guy with 3 wives can have a baby in 3 months?

 

[greybeard]

Does he think a guy with 3 wives can have a baby in 3 months?

Sure, if they did the deed 6 months ago..

 

[redcowsrule33]

I don't think they would eat 4 days of feed in 1 day

Mine would die trying.