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grazing on alfalfa
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<blockquote data-quote="Anonymous" data-source="post: 15056"><p>Yes, you can graze alfalfa, and yes, there is a chance of bloating. We have put cows/calves/bulls in on alfalfa pasture with the alfalfa about 12" to 15" high for several years, and haven't had any problems. This is a pasture that is a grass/alfalfa mix, heavy on the alfalfa, and it's difficult to get equipment into this pasture to hay it.</p><p></p><p>We put the cows on bloat blocks about a week ahead of time. The literature says they have to be on the bloat block for at least 2 days before they have some protection. I get nervous every time we do this, so I try and err on the long side.</p><p></p><p>We fill them up on hay, then turn them out.</p><p></p><p>There can be problems grazing alfalfa that has been frost nipped or frozen. Some of the university ag web sites have information on this. There are some links you can try on my web site links page. <A HREF="http://www.murraygrey.com" TARGET="_blank">http://www.murraygrey.com</A></p><p></p><p>We don't ease the cows into this pasture only because it is not near the house and there is no holding area.</p><p></p><p>I do notice our cows put their heads down and graze the grass growing between the alfalfa plants first. They seem to prefer the grass, thank goodness.</p><p></p><p>One note - the cows must be on the bloat blocks continuously to have protection. Remove any other source of salt, so they use the bloat blocks daily. They must have the medication in the bloat block on a daily basis or you have no protection. I just make sure there are bloat blocks out all summer and watch closely to see they don't run out of the blocks at any time. I could probably take them off the blocks at some point, but I'm chicken.</p><p></p><p>> Cattle can BLOAT on Alfalfa and</p><p>> other such feed, especially when</p><p>> damp from dew and jucy and</p><p>> succulent.</p><p></p><p>> That said, I have seen about 20</p><p>> young steers grazed on a 40 acre</p><p>> patch that had been cut for it's</p><p>> last seasonal cutting and then had</p><p>> a few inch dusting of snow.</p><p></p><p>> They were digging through (nosing</p><p>> through?) the snow and eating what</p><p>> was available. Some supplemental</p><p>> baled alfalfa was spread and fed</p><p>> in the field on a regular basis.</p><p>> They did well through the winter</p><p>> and the field suffered little or</p><p>> no damage as they were removed</p><p>> prior to the Spring thaw.</p><p></p><p>> Dunmovin can prolly give you a</p><p>> better answer, as he's had greater</p><p>> experience.</p><p></p><p>> Eaglewerks</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Anonymous, post: 15056"] Yes, you can graze alfalfa, and yes, there is a chance of bloating. We have put cows/calves/bulls in on alfalfa pasture with the alfalfa about 12" to 15" high for several years, and haven't had any problems. This is a pasture that is a grass/alfalfa mix, heavy on the alfalfa, and it's difficult to get equipment into this pasture to hay it. We put the cows on bloat blocks about a week ahead of time. The literature says they have to be on the bloat block for at least 2 days before they have some protection. I get nervous every time we do this, so I try and err on the long side. We fill them up on hay, then turn them out. There can be problems grazing alfalfa that has been frost nipped or frozen. Some of the university ag web sites have information on this. There are some links you can try on my web site links page. <A HREF="http://www.murraygrey.com" TARGET="_blank">http://www.murraygrey.com</A> We don't ease the cows into this pasture only because it is not near the house and there is no holding area. I do notice our cows put their heads down and graze the grass growing between the alfalfa plants first. They seem to prefer the grass, thank goodness. One note - the cows must be on the bloat blocks continuously to have protection. Remove any other source of salt, so they use the bloat blocks daily. They must have the medication in the bloat block on a daily basis or you have no protection. I just make sure there are bloat blocks out all summer and watch closely to see they don't run out of the blocks at any time. I could probably take them off the blocks at some point, but I'm chicken. > Cattle can BLOAT on Alfalfa and > other such feed, especially when > damp from dew and jucy and > succulent. > That said, I have seen about 20 > young steers grazed on a 40 acre > patch that had been cut for it's > last seasonal cutting and then had > a few inch dusting of snow. > They were digging through (nosing > through?) the snow and eating what > was available. Some supplemental > baled alfalfa was spread and fed > in the field on a regular basis. > They did well through the winter > and the field suffered little or > no damage as they were removed > prior to the Spring thaw. > Dunmovin can prolly give you a > better answer, as he's had greater > experience. > Eaglewerks [/QUOTE]
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