fedding alfalfa to replacements

[cleland]

I usually keep a handful of heifers for replacements at the house each year and feed free choice hay, minerals, and about 5 lbs of grain each day. This year I am keeping a few heifers, and have access to alfalfa hay for about $50/ ton, in big bales. I am coinsidering feeding this to my heifers, but was wondering about roughage. Will this be enough of should I feed another form of roughage with the alfalfa? Any thoughts on this feed?

My other option is what I usually do. 1% of body weight in grain, plus grass hay, mineral, an occasional square bale of alfalfa in the extreme cold. The calves also have access to stockpiled fescue in till they run out, at least a month or so.
thanks

 

[bigbull338]

i would feed alalfa to the heifers.an im thinking along with mineralsan hay theyll be ok.if they lose condition.feed 3lbs of feed.scott

 

[Susie David]

We have no problem with alfalfa, introduce it to them gradually.
We feed alflafa/grass 14-18% protein most of the year and a straight alfalfa 18%+ during the thrid trimester and suppliment cracked corn two pounds a day during the warmer months and five pounds a day during the winter, put the mineral mix in with the corn.