Stocker Steve
Well-known member
Do you get better feed conversion if hay is limit feed rather than free choice?
1982vett":9unwnlt1 said:I want the cows to maintain condition and raise a calf. I'm not necessarily looking to fatten them on it.
Free choice hay (in my way of thinking) would result in greater waste as they wouldn't be forced to "clean up" after themselves but that is not what you asked.
Stocker Steve":3tw3xl7q said:I had heard that limit feeding calves increases grain feed conversion, but I had never seen any cow hay data. In my case - - I was trying to put some pounds on before the below zero weather hit. The shorthorn and hereford crosses were really packing on some pounds. The angus crosses were not gaining as much.
I must be doing something wrong. Mine gain condition over the winter on just hay and stockpiled grass and lose some while they're raising a calf. This year the grass was so good that a couple of them gained weight and still weaned big calvesWewild":11pr1v3g said:I thought cows always lost body condition in the winter when feeding hay and calving.
dun":1z5l89wx said:I must be doing something wrong. Mine gain condition over the winter on just hay and stockpiled grass and lose some while they're raising a calf. This year the grass was so good that a couple of them gained weight and still weaned big calvesWewild":1z5l89wx said:I thought cows always lost body condition in the winter when feeding hay and calving.
dun":1dajecf4 said:I must be doing something wrong. Mine gain condition over the winter on just hay and stockpiled grass and lose some while they're raising a calf. This year the grass was so good that a couple of them gained weight and still weaned big calvesWewild":1dajecf4 said:I thought cows always lost body condition in the winter when feeding hay and calving.
Since calving my cows have maintained or gained weight and they are on stockpiled fescue and mine usually don't lose much when I start feeding hay and that is with a calf on themTexasBred":3e8je2o6 said:dun":3e8je2o6 said:I must be doing something wrong. Mine gain condition over the winter on just hay and stockpiled grass and lose some while they're raising a calf. This year the grass was so good that a couple of them gained weight and still weaned big calvesWewild":3e8je2o6 said:I thought cows always lost body condition in the winter when feeding hay and calving.
Quality, quality, quality....cattle and feed.
:tiphat:
Stocker Steve":1tj9pqxe said:1982vett":1tj9pqxe said:I want the cows to maintain condition and raise a calf. I'm not necessarily looking to fatten them on it.
Free choice hay (in my way of thinking) would result in greater waste as they wouldn't be forced to "clean up" after themselves but that is not what you asked.
I currently "bale graze" by providing a row of bales with rings, which has an electric poly twine temporary fence to keep them from the next row. No tractors/no grinders/no unrollers.
I force them to clean up to some extent, but they will break down the electric fence and have a hay buffet party :banana: if I don't watch it closely. In this situation I think weight is mostly controlled by hay or straw quality.
Dun - I realize processing increases waste.
I had heard that limit feeding calves increases grain feed conversion, but I had never seen any cow hay data. In my case - - I was trying to put some pounds on before the below zero weather hit. The shorthorn and hereford crosses were really packing on some pounds. The angus crosses were not gaining as much.
4CTophand said:I want to be your hay supplier since I know that bale grazing wastes about 60% of your hay due to trampling and shat.
Let me know
T
Some people use rings...
When the cattle have cleaned it the hay, you roll the rings to the next row of bales.
dun":37keyrkj said:I must be doing something wrong. Mine gain condition over the winter on just hay and stockpiled grass and lose some while they're raising a calf. This year the grass was so good that a couple of them gained weight and still weaned big calvesWewild":37keyrkj said:I thought cows always lost body condition in the winter when feeding hay and calving.
grannysoo":8hpda7ar said:dun":8hpda7ar said:I must be doing something wrong. Mine gain condition over the winter on just hay and stockpiled grass and lose some while they're raising a calf. This year the grass was so good that a couple of them gained weight and still weaned big calvesWewild":8hpda7ar said:I thought cows always lost body condition in the winter when feeding hay and calving.
I guess I'm failing too. My girls look as good now as they did in the summer.