feeding question

[Deepsouth]

This cold weather has done a number on my rye grass. My cattle have made it through the winter on hay and protein tubs. They look fine but calves are coming now and I'm thinking they may need a little something more than the tub.

I had been holding them off the grass trying to give it a chance to grow. I finally went ahead and turned them in on it about 3 weeks ago trying to get what grazing I could out of it.

I could keep doing what I'm doing. Hay, tub and short grass grazing.

I could do what I'm doing and add some feed.

I could change and replace the tub with feed.

I can get a 12% feed for $160/1000lbs or a 24% for $280/1000lbs. I can also get cottonseed meal but not sure on the price right now.

 

[cross_7]

This cold weather has done a number on my rye grass. My cattle have made it through the winter on hay and protein tubs. They look fine but calves are coming now and I'm thinking they may need a little something more than the tub.

I had been holding them off the grass trying to give it a chance to grow. I finally went ahead and turned them in on it about 3 weeks ago trying to get what grazing I could out of it.

I could keep doing what I'm doing. Hay, tub and short grass grazing.

I could do what I'm doing and add some feed.

I could change and replace the tub with feed.

I can get a 12% feed for $160/1000lbs or a 24% for $280/1000lbs. I can also get cottonseed meal but not sure on the price right now.

Depending on your hay and grass whether you need to add protein or stretch hay
Nursing cows need about 2.5 total protein more or less depending on the cow, weather, milking ability and etc
So not knowing the quality of the hay or the cows it's hard to say
If whole cotton seed is available that would be my choice
Edit
I'd replace the tubs if I could hand feed every day

 

[Deepsouth]

This cold weather has done a number on my rye grass. My cattle have made it through the winter on hay and protein tubs. They look fine but calves are coming now and I'm thinking they may need a little something more than the tub.

I had been holding them off the grass trying to give it a chance to grow. I finally went ahead and turned them in on it about 3 weeks ago trying to get what grazing I could out of it.

I could keep doing what I'm doing. Hay, tub and short grass grazing.

I could do what I'm doing and add some feed.

I could change and replace the tub with feed.

I can get a 12% feed for $160/1000lbs or a 24% for $280/1000lbs. I can also get cottonseed meal but not sure on the price right now.

Nursing cows need about 2.5 total protein more or less depending on the cow, weather, milking ability and etc

That's what I really needed to know. Thanks!



I'd replace the tubs if I could hand feed every day

That's kinda what I had in mind.

 

[cross_7]

Come across this and just wanted validate the above

 

[cross_7]

The early lactation and late lactation is intrresting
You'd think as the calf gets older and bigger the greater the milk demand would be and so would the nutritional requirements for the cow
But it's just the opposite

 

[Kingfisher]

The early lactation and late lactation is intrresting
You'd think as the calf gets older and bigger the greater the milk demand would be and so would the nutritional requirements for the cow
But it's just the opposite

Is that because the calf is eating grass/hay and or supplements and not getting everything from the cow?

 

[TexasBred]

The early lactation and late lactation is intrresting
You'd think as the calf gets older and bigger the greater the milk demand would be and so would the nutritional requirements for the cow
But it's just the opposite

Late lactation the cow produces less milk and uses more for maintenance and gain. Calf needs less milk too as he is grazing and meeting most of his needs there. Nursing is done more out of habit and enjoyment than need.