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Economic Brood Cow Ration/Nutrition?
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<blockquote data-quote="Anonymous" data-source="post: 122471"><p>I figure he is feeding small squares because he does not have or cannot handle the big rounds - or the big squares. It does become an expensive hobby when you have to buy the hay - but if he grows it - well, he is simply doing what has been done for many years. </p><p></p><p>Cows get the best hay I have on site - if it is low quality - then that is what they get - if it is mouldy - then that is what they get. If it is beautiful stuff - then that is what they get.</p><p></p><p>If I have no hay - they get straw. I have fed straw for long periods of time - in fact - once for two years straight when hay was not available.</p><p></p><p>They get some mineral, water when it is warm and snow when it is cold, corn when they need it - below minus 40 they get about 5 pounds per day - or whatever they can get when they fight to the line of corn I drop in the snow for them.</p><p></p><p>Warning: Straw creates potential problems with compaction - cows need lots of water availaboe and good quality free choice mineral - your local feed specialist can help if you do not know.</p><p></p><p>Dairy farms feed VERY differently from beef operations - do NOT compare their feed process to yours - they are milking for volume - the cow needs all sorts of things - grains, silage, hay, mineral and "stuff". Often this is all mixed together and fed as one.</p><p></p><p>If you have corn stalks available to bale - do it - I have done this with great success. Just be sure to throw a little hay to the animals as well. We used to feed - if memory serves me - about 10 corn to every hay bale. Do not worry about putting it in a feeder - yeah, there will be wastage - but you can stop buying straw for bedding - they lay in what they do not eat.</p><p></p><p>I have fed some soy bean - but my animals do not like it - they will eat it only when hungry - makes excellent bedding - I have a couple of hundred 5 foot bales under cover for that purpose.</p><p></p><p>We stockpile a couple of pastures for the cows - that way we do not have to fight the mud to feed them. Our cows will forage in the snow until it is about level with their eyes - after that they noticeable go down if we do not bring them in and feed them in the winter pasture.</p><p></p><p>I have probably missed a bunch of things - get back to me with questions - start slow - learn as you go - less opportunity to lose money that way.</p><p></p><p>Regards,</p><p></p><p>Bez'</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Anonymous, post: 122471"] I figure he is feeding small squares because he does not have or cannot handle the big rounds - or the big squares. It does become an expensive hobby when you have to buy the hay - but if he grows it - well, he is simply doing what has been done for many years. Cows get the best hay I have on site - if it is low quality - then that is what they get - if it is mouldy - then that is what they get. If it is beautiful stuff - then that is what they get. If I have no hay - they get straw. I have fed straw for long periods of time - in fact - once for two years straight when hay was not available. They get some mineral, water when it is warm and snow when it is cold, corn when they need it - below minus 40 they get about 5 pounds per day - or whatever they can get when they fight to the line of corn I drop in the snow for them. Warning: Straw creates potential problems with compaction - cows need lots of water availaboe and good quality free choice mineral - your local feed specialist can help if you do not know. Dairy farms feed VERY differently from beef operations - do NOT compare their feed process to yours - they are milking for volume - the cow needs all sorts of things - grains, silage, hay, mineral and "stuff". Often this is all mixed together and fed as one. If you have corn stalks available to bale - do it - I have done this with great success. Just be sure to throw a little hay to the animals as well. We used to feed - if memory serves me - about 10 corn to every hay bale. Do not worry about putting it in a feeder - yeah, there will be wastage - but you can stop buying straw for bedding - they lay in what they do not eat. I have fed some soy bean - but my animals do not like it - they will eat it only when hungry - makes excellent bedding - I have a couple of hundred 5 foot bales under cover for that purpose. We stockpile a couple of pastures for the cows - that way we do not have to fight the mud to feed them. Our cows will forage in the snow until it is about level with their eyes - after that they noticeable go down if we do not bring them in and feed them in the winter pasture. I have probably missed a bunch of things - get back to me with questions - start slow - learn as you go - less opportunity to lose money that way. Regards, Bez' [/QUOTE]
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