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<blockquote data-quote="Anonymous" data-source="post: 14449"><p>Yes, it is true that a heifer is still growing, since bovine continue to grow until they are about four years old. I can tell you from this spring's experience that feeding a first calf heifer all she can eat will cause her to be fat. The extra fat causes birthing difficulty because it narrows the birthing canal, deposits on the udder, reducing milking ability, and is just extra weight that she doesn't need. This is how NOT to feed -- I was feeding twice a day... first cutting alfalfa (which I THOUGHT couldn't be overfed) a little more than two flakes per feeding, plus all the straw I could get into the manger. Thinking that a growing heifer needed to have everything she wanted until she was four years old, I let the cattle roam in and out of the manger at will. The grain I give is negligible, being a 13 oz Rubbermaid container, hardly more than a mouthful. I never let the manger get empty.... NEVER! The result was three first calf heifers that had to have each calf pulled. The calf wasn't any too big, so that meant that every bit of feed over the needed amount was going on to the mother. This winter, I will be making sure that the cattle NEVER have in front of them more than they can eat in two hours. Even if they aren't grazing outside, that is about all they need to grow, make milk, and grow the calf. I will be watching those ribs. If more than three show up, I will up the amount of alfalfa a bit. And, I will not be feeding more than one flake of alfalfa to each cow per feeding. The reason I feed alfalfa is because where I live, grass hay is as expensive as alfalfa. I might as well have the good stuff. I am going to add a few ton of grass hay to my hay order, however, for the last month. I will quit feeding the straw when the snow quits flying and put out just hay... no alfalfa for the last six weeks or so of the pregnancies. And, when the new babies drop, I will be putting some alfalfa back into the mom's diet for the milk, but the calves will be given free choice of grass hay until their first winter. Cows, after they get weaned, have this marvelous ability to produce some of their own health. I can't explain why, but apparently it has to do with having four stomachs. The other thing I will do is use the molasses tub (mineral form feeding of my choice) on a more limited basis than I did this last winter. It won't be out in the field constantly. I think I got all your questions answered, but if I didn't I shall return!</p><p></p><p> <a href="mailto:Sailor_One@hotmail.com">Sailor_One@hotmail.com</a></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Anonymous, post: 14449"] Yes, it is true that a heifer is still growing, since bovine continue to grow until they are about four years old. I can tell you from this spring's experience that feeding a first calf heifer all she can eat will cause her to be fat. The extra fat causes birthing difficulty because it narrows the birthing canal, deposits on the udder, reducing milking ability, and is just extra weight that she doesn't need. This is how NOT to feed -- I was feeding twice a day... first cutting alfalfa (which I THOUGHT couldn't be overfed) a little more than two flakes per feeding, plus all the straw I could get into the manger. Thinking that a growing heifer needed to have everything she wanted until she was four years old, I let the cattle roam in and out of the manger at will. The grain I give is negligible, being a 13 oz Rubbermaid container, hardly more than a mouthful. I never let the manger get empty.... NEVER! The result was three first calf heifers that had to have each calf pulled. The calf wasn't any too big, so that meant that every bit of feed over the needed amount was going on to the mother. This winter, I will be making sure that the cattle NEVER have in front of them more than they can eat in two hours. Even if they aren't grazing outside, that is about all they need to grow, make milk, and grow the calf. I will be watching those ribs. If more than three show up, I will up the amount of alfalfa a bit. And, I will not be feeding more than one flake of alfalfa to each cow per feeding. The reason I feed alfalfa is because where I live, grass hay is as expensive as alfalfa. I might as well have the good stuff. I am going to add a few ton of grass hay to my hay order, however, for the last month. I will quit feeding the straw when the snow quits flying and put out just hay... no alfalfa for the last six weeks or so of the pregnancies. And, when the new babies drop, I will be putting some alfalfa back into the mom's diet for the milk, but the calves will be given free choice of grass hay until their first winter. Cows, after they get weaned, have this marvelous ability to produce some of their own health. I can't explain why, but apparently it has to do with having four stomachs. The other thing I will do is use the molasses tub (mineral form feeding of my choice) on a more limited basis than I did this last winter. It won't be out in the field constantly. I think I got all your questions answered, but if I didn't I shall return! [email=Sailor_One@hotmail.com]Sailor_One@hotmail.com[/email] [/QUOTE]
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