Lotu":3uxnlup5 said:
North central WV here ....Wintering 11 head and looking for suggestions on best way to stretch the hay farther. We buy all our hay and good sized bales run $30-$35 every year. We can only haul 6 at a time on our trailer so by the time we add in fuel we have over $210 in 6 bales. I can buy a ton of 11% feed for $234 at a local feed store. We grain the cows everyday in winter but it isnt much. Its just to keep them coming to the barn each day instead of exploring the countryside looking for them in the field. I will always keep hay free choice out for them. I am just wanting suggestions on how much feed they would need to put a dent in thier hay consumption and at those prices would i just be better off buying more hay.
Lotu, whether or not you are a hobbiest in it for fun, or a commercial person in it to make a living, the calf still has to pay for the cow.
Without knowing what your hay nutrition is, you could be in for a whole mess of trouble if you cut back feed, if you feed straw, or if you add grain to the ration.
Remember, as a cattle producer, everything you do know will affect the bottom line for two to three and maybe even 5 years.
Why you ask?
Reduced or improper nutrition and too much nutrition can lead to:
1. reduced BCS since the cow will have to use up stores to gain energy
2. a weak calf at birth
3. a weak calf to the plate, unthrifty if you will
4. a calf prone to sickness
5. poor quality colostrum
6. poor quanity colostrum
7. harder calving time since the cow will have no energy to calve
8. harder time to raise the calf since while on grass will have to replace depleted energy reserves
9. poor breed back which in turn will reduce the # of calves next year or poor wean weights
10. IF too much nutrition, you will see a cow that gains weight and adds fat to herself, and she show signs of...
2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,. Instead of trying to regain energy reserves a cow with to much fat will be a low producer of milk, putting the energy into her, and will have problems calving due to to much fat, problems breeding back due to to much fat.
If you find the cost of the hay is to high, reduce the herd and keep only what you can afford...experience talking...