Oat hay or grass hay for heavy bred heifers ?

[Richnm]

I have 7 month bred heifers that are in a separate pen for 45 days until the field my field is ready to graze. My question. I have fescue grass and oat hay. Which should I feed ? I had to pull a calf last year ( I was feeding wheat hay ), I don't want to do it again. The grass is endophyte free fescue. Thanks

 

[MurraysMutts]

Hay been tested?

I'd feed whichever is lower protein, personally.
Disclaimer.... I know nothing about fescue

 

[Richnm]

Hay been tested?

I'd feed whichever is lower protein, personally.
Disclaimer.... I know nothing about fescue

Non tested hay. The oat hay is lower in protein , the oat hay has more energy though.

 

[MurraysMutts]

Non tested hay. The oat hay is lower in protein , the oat hay has more energy though.

Your hay looks really nice in the pics!
Without a test, it's a crapshoot really tho, I would imagine.
The lower protein won't grow the calf as big in the last trimester.
With heifers tho.....
You know how it goes

 

[GoWyo]

Grass hay. Oat hay can have a nitrate hot spot even if it tests well and cause an abortion. Grass hay is safer from that standpoint.

 

[Fishhook S Cattle]

There is a lot of mythical information when it comes to nutrition and calving difficulty. More often than not the issue stems from not enough nutrition causing the heifer or cow to "give up " during calving. On the other side is a build up of fat around the reproductive tract. Heifers need the best quality nutrition throughout gestation.

 

[MurraysMutts]

I certainly agree with that @Fishhook S Cattle
Welcome to the boards!

"Adequate" nutrition is a must!

I think rich don't wanna OVER do it tho

 

[Richnm]

I certainly agree with that @Fishhook S Cattle
Welcome to the boards!

"Adequate" nutrition is a must!

I think rich don't wanna OVER do it tho

I have a problem of over feeding hay. I usually feed free choice horse quality wheat hay.

 

[ClinchValley86]

I have a problem of over feeding hay. I usually feed free choice horse quality wheat hay.

I'd say you're in there. Pulling a calf isn't necessarily nutrition related IMO. I'd give them the best stuff I had for the last trimester especially. That's just me though.

 

[Fishhook S Cattle]

Just picking, but…I love the term "horse hay". Hay is either poor, average, or excellent Quality. No matter what species eats it. That being said, I prefer forage over feed. I use Sweetpro blocks ( 16% with heifers) in conjunction with standing forage or hay/haylage. A heifer is going to typically eat around 2.5% of her body weight in dry matter. That may increase depending on the needs of the calf. Let's remember, a heifer has a maintenance, growth, gestation or lactation requirement and nutrition is key to fetal programming during gestation.