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<blockquote data-quote="Lucky_P" data-source="post: 829800" data-attributes="member: 12607"><p>MItch2,</p><p>It sounds like the same ol' thing I see year-in/year-out here in KY & TN.</p><p>Heavily pregnant cows, often broken-mouthed or toothless, toughing it through the winter on nothing but really sorry hay - TDN<30, crude protein levels at 3% or less; producer can't understand that they're starving to death with a rumen full of largely indigestible, lignified 'forage', with no energy or protein supplementation. </p><p>Lots of these ol' gals just 'run out of gas', with a near-term calf inside 'em or an orphan on the ground and green grass just around the corner.</p><p></p><p>dun makes a great point about space at the feeders - and whether the cows see enough spaces, and rockridge nailed it:</p><p>"I am leaning towards lack of protein and to much undigestable fibre. Basically eating straw. This will cause the cows to lose ground fast, especially if they are in the last trimester when the calves are growing the most and food quality is poor..</p><p>Grain or protein tubs or better hay would help. If something is not done soon, the calves born will be weak, failure of passive transfer will occur and more sickness problems because of being weak. The colostrum will be of poor quality and so will the milk. The calves will wean out lighter and breed back will happen later...act now or pay later</p><p>...I have this t-shirt."</p><p></p><p>I have the same T-shirt, and I've seen a lot of other folks wearin' it, too. But, I should have known better.</p><p></p><p>Having been in the vet practitioner's shoes, and now in a position where I'm not dependent upon 'repeat business', I can tell you that many veterinarians might be reluctant to tell you that you're starving your animals, - sure, they'll try to be more diplomatic about it, but some folks don't take a hint, and some get angry that you'd even insinuate such a thing. I feel fortunate to be able to be in a position to provide a diagnostic report that will allow that veterinarian to broach the subject of malnutrition with the client - kind of like this, "Michele, the diagnostic lab report suggests that we need to re-evaluate the nutritional program for these cows." Much better for that client to be 'mad' at some faceless third party(the pathologist at the lab) than their veterinarian, who's there, boots-on-the-ground, trying to help them.</p><p></p><p>Sounds to me like you need to look at supplementing your poor quality hay with some additional energy and protein.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lucky_P, post: 829800, member: 12607"] MItch2, It sounds like the same ol' thing I see year-in/year-out here in KY & TN. Heavily pregnant cows, often broken-mouthed or toothless, toughing it through the winter on nothing but really sorry hay - TDN<30, crude protein levels at 3% or less; producer can't understand that they're starving to death with a rumen full of largely indigestible, lignified 'forage', with no energy or protein supplementation. Lots of these ol' gals just 'run out of gas', with a near-term calf inside 'em or an orphan on the ground and green grass just around the corner. dun makes a great point about space at the feeders - and whether the cows see enough spaces, and rockridge nailed it: "I am leaning towards lack of protein and to much undigestable fibre. Basically eating straw. This will cause the cows to lose ground fast, especially if they are in the last trimester when the calves are growing the most and food quality is poor.. Grain or protein tubs or better hay would help. If something is not done soon, the calves born will be weak, failure of passive transfer will occur and more sickness problems because of being weak. The colostrum will be of poor quality and so will the milk. The calves will wean out lighter and breed back will happen later...act now or pay later ...I have this t-shirt." I have the same T-shirt, and I've seen a lot of other folks wearin' it, too. But, I should have known better. Having been in the vet practitioner's shoes, and now in a position where I'm not dependent upon 'repeat business', I can tell you that many veterinarians might be reluctant to tell you that you're starving your animals, - sure, they'll try to be more diplomatic about it, but some folks don't take a hint, and some get angry that you'd even insinuate such a thing. I feel fortunate to be able to be in a position to provide a diagnostic report that will allow that veterinarian to broach the subject of malnutrition with the client - kind of like this, "Michele, the diagnostic lab report suggests that we need to re-evaluate the nutritional program for these cows." Much better for that client to be 'mad' at some faceless third party(the pathologist at the lab) than their veterinarian, who's there, boots-on-the-ground, trying to help them. Sounds to me like you need to look at supplementing your poor quality hay with some additional energy and protein. [/QUOTE]
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