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<blockquote data-quote="Anonymous" data-source="post: 15448"><p>I was ok with the first two paragraphs of your post. However, I do disagree with some of the other information and comments you made.</p><p></p><p>First of all, we raise Murray Grey cows. They do well on any forage we provide and DO NOT turn down or pass up food in any form.</p><p></p><p>All of our hay is fed in either large round feeders or through feeder panels. That solves any waste of feed through tramping or scattering.</p><p></p><p>We feed no range cubes. Our cows do well on straight alfalfa or grass/alfalfa hay in the winter, and we are at 5700 feet with snowy, windy winters.</p><p></p><p>I find most of my momma cows average 23# of alfalfa hay per day per cow. The only time we've supplemented with grain, and we use a rolled barley/rolled corn mix, is when the price of hay is so high that it is more economical to substitute 1# of grain for 3# of hay. Some years we can feed less hay and come out $$ ahead by substituting the grain for part of the hay. Hay this year ran $130/T - we will be substituting some grain for hay this winter. Three years ago hay was $60-$80/T. We have had four years of severe drought. Our cows do not get any other "sweet feed" in addition to their hay, pregnant, nursing or not. Notice I said substitute, not add grain to their ration.</p><p></p><p>We prefer loose mineral compared to blocks. Some cows need more mineral than others and can't get what they need licking a block.</p><p></p><p>The past few years we have been providing good supplement tubs for the cows. This is not necessarily the most economical way to go. However, a close friend started selling livestock supplement and pays my husband in tubs for his help in unloading the semi's. Since he would be there helping anyway, we take the tubs and put them out for the cows. They do seem to decrease the hay consumption in the winter and the cows have shinier coats. I do not feel they are a necessity, though, as we did fine for years without them.</p><p></p><p>> Hey! Don't know what type of</p><p>> cattle or in what type of feeding</p><p>> environment you are dealing with.</p><p>> However, in general...cattle are</p><p>> cattle...ok?</p><p></p><p>> Simple stuff first: All cattle</p><p>> should have plenty of clean fresh</p><p>> water and free choice/access to</p><p>> salt and mineral blocks, esp.</p><p>> salt. Also, free choice to</p><p>> roughage (hay, grass, etc.) is</p><p>> important.</p><p></p><p>> We raise registered Texas</p><p>> Longhorns which are better at</p><p>> grazing & forage utilization</p><p>> than other breeds--will eat stuff</p><p>> the "English" and other</p><p>> cross-breeds will pass up.</p><p></p><p>> When pastures are sparse, can</p><p>> "monitor" feeding by</p><p>> feeding small square bales of hay,</p><p>> thereby they will not tromp down</p><p>> and scatter hay nearly as bad as</p><p>> when you feed the large round</p><p>> bales.</p><p></p><p>> We have had good success with</p><p>> maintaining condition with a</p><p>> sparse fall/winter/early spring</p><p>> pasture grass by feeding about a</p><p>> 4" flake of alfalfa hay twice</p><p>> a day per 1000 lb animal unit.</p><p>> Increase hay some when really cold</p><p>> and miserable outside. Also,</p><p>> provide a few range cubes (20% or</p><p>> so protein + other supplements)</p><p>> every day or so.</p><p></p><p>> With our pregnant and mama cows</p><p>> with un-weaned calves, we keep</p><p>> them separate from others (in some</p><p>> cases) and feed a "sweet</p><p>> feed" supplement--2-3 coffee</p><p>> cans (3# size) per 2 x day for</p><p>> added nutrition.</p><p></p><p>> With the longhorns, if their rear</p><p>> end/backbone area begins to become</p><p>> little sunken, then we increase</p><p>> the feed supplements--this can</p><p>> happen within just a few days--so,</p><p>> we can monitor feeding rather</p><p>> easily.</p><p></p><p>> Hope this info. helps a little!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Anonymous, post: 15448"] I was ok with the first two paragraphs of your post. However, I do disagree with some of the other information and comments you made. First of all, we raise Murray Grey cows. They do well on any forage we provide and DO NOT turn down or pass up food in any form. All of our hay is fed in either large round feeders or through feeder panels. That solves any waste of feed through tramping or scattering. We feed no range cubes. Our cows do well on straight alfalfa or grass/alfalfa hay in the winter, and we are at 5700 feet with snowy, windy winters. I find most of my momma cows average 23# of alfalfa hay per day per cow. The only time we've supplemented with grain, and we use a rolled barley/rolled corn mix, is when the price of hay is so high that it is more economical to substitute 1# of grain for 3# of hay. Some years we can feed less hay and come out $$ ahead by substituting the grain for part of the hay. Hay this year ran $130/T - we will be substituting some grain for hay this winter. Three years ago hay was $60-$80/T. We have had four years of severe drought. Our cows do not get any other "sweet feed" in addition to their hay, pregnant, nursing or not. Notice I said substitute, not add grain to their ration. We prefer loose mineral compared to blocks. Some cows need more mineral than others and can't get what they need licking a block. The past few years we have been providing good supplement tubs for the cows. This is not necessarily the most economical way to go. However, a close friend started selling livestock supplement and pays my husband in tubs for his help in unloading the semi's. Since he would be there helping anyway, we take the tubs and put them out for the cows. They do seem to decrease the hay consumption in the winter and the cows have shinier coats. I do not feel they are a necessity, though, as we did fine for years without them. > Hey! Don't know what type of > cattle or in what type of feeding > environment you are dealing with. > However, in general...cattle are > cattle...ok? > Simple stuff first: All cattle > should have plenty of clean fresh > water and free choice/access to > salt and mineral blocks, esp. > salt. Also, free choice to > roughage (hay, grass, etc.) is > important. > We raise registered Texas > Longhorns which are better at > grazing & forage utilization > than other breeds--will eat stuff > the "English" and other > cross-breeds will pass up. > When pastures are sparse, can > "monitor" feeding by > feeding small square bales of hay, > thereby they will not tromp down > and scatter hay nearly as bad as > when you feed the large round > bales. > We have had good success with > maintaining condition with a > sparse fall/winter/early spring > pasture grass by feeding about a > 4" flake of alfalfa hay twice > a day per 1000 lb animal unit. > Increase hay some when really cold > and miserable outside. Also, > provide a few range cubes (20% or > so protein + other supplements) > every day or so. > With our pregnant and mama cows > with un-weaned calves, we keep > them separate from others (in some > cases) and feed a "sweet > feed" supplement--2-3 coffee > cans (3# size) per 2 x day for > added nutrition. > With the longhorns, if their rear > end/backbone area begins to become > little sunken, then we increase > the feed supplements--this can > happen within just a few days--so, > we can monitor feeding rather > easily. > Hope this info. helps a little! [/QUOTE]
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