Silly question about grass

[ranchmom77]

I grew up believing that when the pasture is green, the grass is full of the protein and nutrients needed to sustain happy cows. Then when it turns brown, either by drought or fall, the protein and nutrients are gone and the pasture becomes nothing but a "filler" and you need to supplement them with protein to keep condition on them.

I was talking to another person the other day and he said that they don't supplement protein on dry pasture because there is still protein in the brown grass... Is this correct? :?:

 

[TexasBred]

When grass is lush and green it normally will have high protein, however, it will also be extremely high in moisture so it will require huge consumption to add up any real amount of "dry matter". As grass matures it develops more cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin which are highly undigestible so more of this grass will pass thru the cow undigested (Lower TDN). Protein levels also decrease but never go to zero. At that time it does become more filler than protein source and often requires some protein supplementation if the standing grass makes up the entire diet.

 

[dun]

I grew up believing that when the pasture is green, the grass is full of the protein and nutrients needed to sustain happy cows. Then when it turns brown, either by drought or fall, the protein and nutrients are gone and the pasture becomes nothing but a "filler" and you need to supplement them with protein to keep condition on them.

I was talking to another person the other day and he said that they don't supplement protein on dry pasture because there is still protein in the brown grass... Is this correct? :?:

Yes, that is correct. Our cows are on old dried up stockpiled fescue all winter long and they don;t get or need supplementing.
It depends on the type of grass and the nutritional requirements as to if it will work or not. Stockers/feeders may need it but pregnant 3rd stage cows and weanling bulls and heifers do just fine with good growth without supplementing the
Google "stockpiled fescue forage" and see what you get

 

[ranchmom77]

Great! Thanks for the info guys!