Whole corn?

[southernultrablack]

Gonna be wet,windy and cold the next few days. Have the cows on stockpile and was wondering if 3# of whole corn per head/day would be enough of an energy supplement for them? The are mostly early bred dry cows, about 1100-1200 pounds.

 

[kenny thomas]

Mine are on stockpile fescue and I wish them well because they aren't getting anything extra.

 

[Bigfoot]

In my opinion, to just feed in a cold snap would be a waste. In our area, it might be advisable to feed supplement steady from mid February to the green up.

 

[kenny thomas]

In my opinion, to just feed in a cold snap would be a waste. In our area, it might be advisable to feed supplement steady from mid February to the green up.

Bigfoot, i totally respect your opinion. In my herd if they need supplimement during a couple days in the 20's they get culled. Your way may make more sense but Im not set up for that.

 

[southernultrablack]

Thanks guys for the input, just thought they might could use a little extra energy.

 

[kenny thomas]

Thanks guys for the input, just thought they might could use a little extra energy.

It sure ain't going to hurt them any. I'm very harsh on my cows so don't always think my way is the best.

 

[Bigfoot]

In my opinion, to just feed in a cold snap would be a waste. In our area, it might be advisable to feed supplement steady from mid February to the green up.

Bigfoot, i totally respect your opinion. In my herd if they need supplimement during a couple days in the 20's they get culled. Your way may make more sense but Im not set up for that.

I debate how much sense it makes. It cost about $40, but it does save “some” hay. Not enough to off set the expense. I believe my early calvers (the ones that start in late Feb and March) breed back better. It can be a challenge to put out that much feed every day. I use 55 gallon drums bolted together, and feed around the edge of what I’ve already destroyed feeding hay. I do move the troughs almost everyday.

 

[Bigfoot]

I would add, my granddaddy used to say a wet cow is a hungry cow. Meaning, when it’s cold and wet, they will eat more. I believe the eating more keeps them warm ruminating.

 

[snoopdog]

I wouldn't , just extra cost, they'll be alright.

 

[True Grit Farms]

I feed my cows good before I know weather is coming. My cows must know something is up, we usually feed 4 rolls of hay a day and they ate it all before dinner. So I put 4 more rolls out and the cows were still eating at dark. Corn is really good to feed when it's unseasonably cold. If you have grass like Kenny has, you don't need to feed any corn.

 

[Silver]

In these parts the old timers used to feed some slough grass hay for the cold weather. Takes more work to digest it and keeps them warm I guess. I've never done it on purpose.

 

[skyhightree1]

Gonna be wet,windy and cold the next few days. Have the cows on stockpile and was wondering if 3# of whole corn per head/day would be enough of an energy supplement for them? The are mostly early bred dry cows, about 1100-1200 pounds.

Another instance of babying a cow like horse people would do. They weren't eating corn before humans started that trend. If they need a special diet to make it ...they need a special farm to live on and that ain't mine.

 

[talltimber]

I would think three pounds of corn would be ok to help them along.

I haven't been feeding mine much, about three pounds of 50/50 corn/ddg's every three or so days. (I have coming second calf spring cows, second calf pairs, and old cow pairs all together, not ideal). I will feed them today, set out plenty of hay in more of a windbreak area than they are now, and feed again tomorrow and maybe Monday, depending on the weather. I like to give them more in this kind of weather. Raining pretty hard right now at 48, dropping thirty degrees by this time in the morning. Could be a lot worse, but wet, and being used to the 40-50's we have had the last several days is going to be a shock. I'll go up tomorrow and the ground may be crusty enough to let me unroll a bale that will get the calves up off the ground. No use doing that now, as it would be stomped in the mud.

It's my cows, my feed, and my money. I am going to do what I want with them, I suggest you do the same, sub.

That's a good point TG made. Even with feed, I doubt mine are getting the protein kenny's are.

 

[True Grit Farms]

Gonna be wet,windy and cold the next few days. Have the cows on stockpile and was wondering if 3# of whole corn per head/day would be enough of an energy supplement for them? The are mostly early bred dry cows, about 1100-1200 pounds.

Another instance of babying a cow like horse people would do. They weren't eating corn before humans started that trend. If they need a special diet to make it ...they need a special farm to live on and that ain't mine.

You definitely know more about horses than I do, and you still let them on the place. :deadhorse:
Nature can take care of itself when left alone, I'm trying to manipulate nature to my benefit. When you run cows on marginal land you better supplement them or your going to loose cattle. I definitely screwed up buying cutover hunting land and then deciding to put cows on it. It was sorry land that had never been farmed for a reason. But with proper management and spending a few bucks on up grades, we have some pretty good pasture, especially during drought conditions.

 

[Air gator]

Any chance of Dried Distillers Grain? High protein and high fat.

 

[TexasBred]

Any chance of Dried Distillers Grain? High protein and high fat.

Can you purchase DDG by the bag or do you have to buy multiple tons bulk??

 

[MtnCows93]

Gonna be wet,windy and cold the next few days. Have the cows on stockpile and was wondering if 3# of whole corn per head/day would be enough of an energy supplement for them? The are mostly early bred dry cows, about 1100-1200 pounds.

Another instance of babying a cow like horse people would do. They weren't eating corn before humans started that trend. If they need a special diet to make it ...they need a special farm to live on and that ain't mine.

You definitely know more about horses than I do, and you still let them on the place. :deadhorse:
Nature can take care of itself when left alone, I'm trying to manipulate nature to my benefit. When you run cows on marginal land you better supplement them or your going to loose cattle. I definitely screwed up buying cutover hunting land and then deciding to put cows on it. It was sorry land that had never been farmed for a reason. But with proper management and spending a few bucks on up grades, we have some pretty good pasture, especially during drought conditions.

sounds like chicken litter would be a good investment if its poor cutover land

 

[southernultrablack]

Any chance of Dried Distillers Grain? High protein and high fat.

Can you purchase DDG by the bag or do you have to buy multiple tons bulk??

I can buy by the ton, or at least I could. Not sure now though.

 

[True Grit Farms]

Another instance of babying a cow like horse people would do. They weren't eating corn before humans started that trend. If they need a special diet to make it ...they need a special farm to live on and that ain't mine.

You definitely know more about horses than I do, and you still let them on the place. :deadhorse:
Nature can take care of itself when left alone, I'm trying to manipulate nature to my benefit. When you run cows on marginal land you better supplement them or your going to loose cattle. I definitely screwed up buying cutover hunting land and then deciding to put cows on it. It was sorry land that had never been farmed for a reason. But with proper management and spending a few bucks on up grades, we have some pretty good pasture, especially during drought conditions.

sounds like chicken litter would be a good investment if its poor cutover land

Good call, I've spread hundreds of tons of chicken litter through the years. Started with layer litter and now I use broiler at 2 tons yearly.

 

[TexasBred]

Any chance of Dried Distillers Grain? High protein and high fat.

Can you purchase DDG by the bag or do you have to buy multiple tons bulk??

I can buy by the ton, or at least I could. Not sure now though.

The DDG would be great if you really need that much additional crude protein and if you can get it reasonably priced. If your hay or grazing does not need that much supplementation the corn would be adequate.