Fire Sweep Ranch
Well-known member
I have gone on a quandary! I just got my test results back from 100 bales I picked up, and now I am looking at supplementation. The hay tested at 10% protein, 50.7 TDN, and a RFV of 80. Since half of my herd is nursing fall calves, and we have several each month until March that will be calving, I need more protein to maintain body weight on my cows. We do not supplement feed, nor creep calves. I have Vitaferm Conceptaide out with free choice salt, so my mineral program is up to snuff. I am hoping to find a protein supplement to go with the hay.
Here is some items I found:
I can get a lick tank, that has QLF Pature Plus 34/6 liquid feed (34% protein). The tank (for a 125 gallon lick tank) is $250 to purchase, and each time I fill it it will cost $250 (the liquid feed is $18.20/cwt). I used a round number of 20 cows, and came up with that tank lasting about 34 days (2 pounds a day average consumption). The liquid feed has NO fat in it. It does have some Urea in it (I think that is what the 6 stands for, 6% urea protein).
I have also found a 32:19 tub. This is a 200 pound tub, containing 32% protein, and average consumption is 1 to 1 1/4 pounds a day per cow. This tub has 19% of the protein coming from Urea. The tub cost $92, and would last around 10 days (20 cows eating one pound a day). It contains 5% fat.
How much of an impact with the urea have in the digestibility of these two sources of supplement? How important is the fat? Am I figuring this out correctly? Are they comparable in price, excluding the purchase price of a lick tank?
TB, help me out here! Any other ideas for a source of protein that is cheap and easy? Or is this the best way? I learned after the 2012 drought to NOT skimp on my cows. That year we had junk hay, and gave no supplements. My conception rates suffered on into the fall breeding season of 2013, and it took me a while to gain back what I had lost in one winter of sub-par feed. I will NOT go down that road again.
Here is some items I found:
I can get a lick tank, that has QLF Pature Plus 34/6 liquid feed (34% protein). The tank (for a 125 gallon lick tank) is $250 to purchase, and each time I fill it it will cost $250 (the liquid feed is $18.20/cwt). I used a round number of 20 cows, and came up with that tank lasting about 34 days (2 pounds a day average consumption). The liquid feed has NO fat in it. It does have some Urea in it (I think that is what the 6 stands for, 6% urea protein).
I have also found a 32:19 tub. This is a 200 pound tub, containing 32% protein, and average consumption is 1 to 1 1/4 pounds a day per cow. This tub has 19% of the protein coming from Urea. The tub cost $92, and would last around 10 days (20 cows eating one pound a day). It contains 5% fat.
How much of an impact with the urea have in the digestibility of these two sources of supplement? How important is the fat? Am I figuring this out correctly? Are they comparable in price, excluding the purchase price of a lick tank?
TB, help me out here! Any other ideas for a source of protein that is cheap and easy? Or is this the best way? I learned after the 2012 drought to NOT skimp on my cows. That year we had junk hay, and gave no supplements. My conception rates suffered on into the fall breeding season of 2013, and it took me a while to gain back what I had lost in one winter of sub-par feed. I will NOT go down that road again.