Protein requirements

[StrojanHerefords]

It is also important to remember that the existing hay or forage also has protein in it. Let's say that your grass is 8% protein and you can supplement with 16% alfalfa hay or 24% distillers grains. For every pound of Alfalfa hay fed you are supplementing .08 pounds of protein but distillers adds .16 pounds of protein per pound fed. To supplement a half pound of protein in this example one would need to feed 6.25 lbs of alfalfa but only 3.125 lbs of distillers.

 

[idunno]

It raises the numbers only on paper. Nothing about the feed has changed one iota.

Right

 

[idunno]

It is also important to remember that the existing hay or forage also has protein in it. Let's say that your grass is 8% protein and you can supplement with 16% alfalfa hay or 24% distillers grains. For every pound of Alfalfa hay fed you are supplementing .08 pounds of protein but distillers adds .16 pounds of protein per pound fed. To supplement a half pound of protein in this example one would need to feed 6.25 lbs of alfalfa but only 3.125 lbs of distillers.

Wouldn't one lb of alfalfa that is 16% protein provide .16 lb protein and 3.125 lbs of it provide that .5 lb of supplemental protein?

 

[StrojanHerefords]

No, a pound of 16% alfalfa provides .08 lbs of supplemental protein because for each pound of supplement fed is one less pound of grass eaten. All else being equal

Let's say a calf will eat 20 lbs a day.

20 pounds of 8% protein grass will provide 1.6 pounds of protein.

3.125 lbs of Alfalfa provides .5 lbs of protein
16.875 lbs of grass has 1.35 lbs of protein
for a total consumption of 1.85 lbs of protein

3.125 lbs of distillers grains has .75 lbs of protein
16.875 lbs of grass has 1.35 lbs of protein
for a total consumption of 2.1 lbs of protein.

6.25 lbs of alfalfa has 1 lb of protein
13.75 lbs of grass has 1.1 lbs of protein
for a total consumption of 2.1 lbs

The funny thing is that right now in California, alfalfa is $400 a ton and distillers is $350.

 

[gcreekrch]

For calves, I ray to keep that 14 to 16% in mind. If they need more to ea you raise the ration accordingly in all ingredients.

 

[Dave]

The funny thing is that right now in California, alfalfa is $400 a ton and distillers is $350.

Switch that around here. I can buy top of the line alfalfa for $250 a ton and last fall I was quoted a little over $500 a ton for distillers.