Hay values

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pricefarm

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Just wondering for the ones that live around my area what are your feed value results for fair to good fescue hay? I haven't had mine checked and know I should but what I have found online fair fescue hay meets the nutrition needs of cows except during the time when she calves for around 60 days or so and at that time they need more protein. My hay is fescue clover mixed cut right when it started to seed and been stored in the barn. So should I just supplement protein with something? ( what and how much). I think Iam over feeding my cows they have all the hay they want plus about 5 lbs of ground ear corn and soybean mill mixed (12% protein) so is the ground ear corn useless do they just need the protein and not the corn? Just trying to figure this all out I raised corn this year for the first time really enjoyed doing it but it takes a lot of time from planting to grinding it for feed so if my hay meets the energy needs I don't really need the corn right ????
 
First off I am harsh on my cows. They do good on what I give them or they go to town. Some tests we done last year showed the stockpiled fescue will do a great job with the cows even while calving. The good fesure/ clover hay does also. The poorer hay will not. If I need to feed a cow I sell her. The only time mine ever sees a bite of feed is when I call them in the lot to work them or sell them. Then it is very limited. Feed the calves not the cows.
 
kenny thomas":15mtwnt9 said:
First off I am harsh on my cows. They do good on what I give them or they go to town. Some tests we done last year showed the stockpiled fescue will do a great job with the cows even while calving. The good fesure/ clover hay does also. The poorer hay will not. If I need to feed a cow I sell her. The only time mine ever sees a bite of feed is when I call them in the lot to work them or sell them. Then it is very limited. Feed the calves not the cows.
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Exactly! If a cow needs feed she isn't worth having.
 
Kingfisher":2t86taek said:
Not meaning to side track your thread but how much value does hay loose over time? I'm feeding last years Tifton.
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Most agree that the protein will loose about 1/2% per year so good hay can be good for a long time.
 
Kingfisher":1ij7lc6h said:
http://progressivecattle.com/focus-topics/nutrition/5848-manure-scoring-determines-supplementation-needs
Saw this on Ranchers the other day. Thanks for your reply Kenny.
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Very good link. Very easy way to tell what they are getting.
 
My dad has always investigated manure to see how his feeding program is doing. I always thought he was just making stuff up. I guess he was ahead of his time.
 
denvermartinfarms":paq0wbyt said:
kenny thomas":paq0wbyt said:
First off I am harsh on my cows. They do good on what I give them or they go to town. Some tests we done last year showed the stockpiled fescue will do a great job with the cows even while calving. The good fesure/ clover hay does also. The poorer hay will not. If I need to feed a cow I sell her. The only time mine ever sees a bite of feed is when I call them in the lot to work them or sell them. Then it is very limited. Feed the calves not the cows.
Click to expand...
Exactly! If a cow needs feed she isn't worth having.
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The best cow in the country can starve to death on the hay and grass some make available to them.
 

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