Other grains may also be possible substitutes for hay. Grains such as milo, oats, barley or wheat may be used in cow-calf rations. Each of these grains will require some processing before feeding. Be sure to include the cost of processing in the total cost of the feed.
What Hay is best for cows?
Three implant regimes were compared:
- No implant,
- Revalor-H at processing,
- Revalor-H delayed 21 days after initial processing.
How to round bale hay?
The potential benefits of using round hay bales are:
- System simplicity
- Easy to transport
- Requires less labor than other storage systems
- Optimal cost-benefit ratio
- High nutritional value of forage
- Ease of storage, transport, and handling
- Does not require an expensive investment in structures
Is grinding Hay better for cattle?
Hay is not suppose to be ground extremely fine. Cattle need long stem roughage to stimulate cud chewing and production of saliva. Grind it too find and you lose all of this. This is why soyhulls, beet pulp etc. although roughage, are limited when included in a diet.
What is the best hay for dairy cows?
They do best with fine, soft hay that’s cut before bloom stage; it not only contains more nutrients, but is also much easier to eat. Dairy cows need the best hay—with the most nutrients per pound—since they are producing more milk than a beef cow.
What do cows eat besides hay and grass?
Everything! Commercial cows usually eat a TMR (total mixed ration) with grass and corn silage. Total mixed rations may contain byproducts like cottonseeds, corn gluten, almond hulls, and soybean meal. In addition to TMR feed – cows love to graze and snack on alfalfa, clover, and other grasses, shrubs, or legumes.
Can cows survive on grain alone?
While many people rely on cows as a source of protein in their diet, cattle rely on their vegetarian meals to meet the same nutritional requirement. A healthy pasture provides all the protein that cows require. Scant pasture as well as hay or grain diets should be augmented with additional protein.
What to feed a starving cow?
The supplemental feed for malnourished starving cattle should be moderate in energy (55-70 percent TDN), moderate in protein (10-14 percent) and high in digestible fiber. The supplemental feed should contain an ionophore (such as monensin or lasalocid) and be fortified with vitamins and minerals.
What is the best feed to finish cattle?
per day of corn, oats or barley fed to grazing cattle is a good finishing ration. This fed to a 900-1000 pound steer for 3-4 months should will you a nicely finished animal. If you do not have access to pasture or if you are finishing during the winter, you might increase the amount of grain to 15-18 lbs. per day.
Do cows need hay everyday?
Cows will voluntarily consume 2.0% of body weight or 24 pounds per day. The 24 pounds is based on 100% dry matter. Grass hays will often be 7 to 10% moisture. If we assume that the hay is 92% dry matter or 8% moisture, then the cows will consume about 26 pounds per day on an “as-fed basis”.
How can I make cattle feed for cheap?
“Corn residue is one of the lowest cost forages on a cost per pound of energy. That's why mixing a high energy and protein feed like distillers' grains with a low quality forage like corn stalks is so cost effective.
Are alfalfa cubes good for cattle?
Alfalfa pellets and alfalfa bales benefit animals because they are high in fiber, packed with nutrients such as calcium and are a viable source of digestible protein. Alfalfa's high fiber content makes alfalfa an ideal animal feed choice due to the fibrous diet requirements of livestock.
How do you feed cattle over the winter?
Feeding an additional 1 to 2 pounds of grain per head per day for every 10°C drop in temperature below -20°C improves energy levels in the diet to meet higher energy requirements. An additional 0.5 to 1.0 pounds of protein supplement may also be needed depending on the voluntary increase in straw consumption.
What is best to feed cows in winter?
Forage quality is important, but you can get through the winter with decent quality roughage (i.e., hay, stockpiled introduced pasture and/or dormant native grass) if you have enough of it and your cattle (mature cows) are in the right physiological stage and condition.
Is cracked corn or whole corn better for cattle?
Processing Corn Even though corn can be fed whole with satisfactory results, cracking or rolling prior to feeding will increase digestibility by 5 to 10 percent. In most instances, grinding or rolling corn will not markedly improve average daily gain, but proper processing will improve feed conversion efficiency.
What is the best grain for cattle?
Corn, oats, and barley are the primary grains fed to cattle. Oats, which has a lower energy value due to its high fiber content, is considered the "safest" grain in regards to potential digestive disturbances.
How much grain should I feed my beef cow per day?
Cows will voluntarily consume about 2 percent of their body weight or 24 pounds per day. The 24 pounds is based on 100 percent dry matter.
Why cows should not eat grain?
Grains can accumulate in an animal's intestines because they lack starch-digesting enzymes. Thus, a high-grain diet can promote an overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens, a bacterium associated with sudden death in feedlot cattle, Russell's article suggests. Finally, grain-based diets can promote Escherichia coli (E.
Is it OK for cows to eat grain?
Corn, oats, and barley are the primary grains fed to cattle. Oats, which has a lower energy value due to its high fiber content, is considered the "safest" grain in regards to potential digestive disturbances.
What happens when cows eat grain?
It causes a higher acidity level in a cow's stomach in order to soften those grains for digestion. This can lead to heartburn and bloat. They are not burping and releasing those gasses like they would normally. This, among other effects of this grain digestion, can have serious impacts on their health.
Do cows eat grain naturally?
Whereas cattle today are often fed grains, the animals people ate throughout evolution roamed free and ate grass. Many studies have shown that the nutrients in beef can vary depending on what cows eat. Where beef is mass-produced, such as in the United States, cattle are usually fed grain.
What do ruminants need to eat?
Ruminants require a diet that is at least 10% forage (pasture or hay) for a functional digestive system. A high-grain diet contains more energy than mature cows need. Although the cow's need for feed will be satisfied, she will probably gain weight on this diet.
What is endophyte fescue?
As you may know, endophytes are a type of fungus that helps protect the plant from disease. They are bred into turfgrass-type fescues but are toxic to livestock. The forage-type fescues and ryegrass sold in Oregon are endophyte-free. Information on endophyte testing and tolerances by livestock is available.
What animals need supplemental protein?
But, if you are feeding animals with higher requirements (lactating cows and ewes, replacement heifers and ewe lambs) or using low-quality forage (poor quality hay or grass straw/screening pellets), you will need to add supplemental protein and energy.
How to conserve forage?
Feeding some grain is another way to conserve forage. Depending on the cost of grain and hay, it may or may not be more expensive. Slowly adapt animals to grain diets by substituting a few pounds of grain for a few pounds of hay. Every few days, increase the amount of grain in the diet until you reach the desired grain level.
Is alfalfa hay better than grass hay?
Usually higher in protein and energy than grass hay, it is sometimes available at a lower cost. Some rained-on alfalfa hay might meet the nutrient requirements of your livestock. Alfalfa may be fed at strategic times like after lambing or calving.
Do you have to feed protein every day?
You don’t have to feed the protein supplement every day. Protein supplements are actually used more efficiently if you feed a double dose every other day, or three times the daily amount every three days. This improves both labor costs and feed efficiency.
What happens when cattle eat less forage?
In short, when the forage is depleted and they eat less of it, the need to give your cattle supplemental feed increases dramatically.
Why do cows need cubes?
Cattle Cubes. Cattle cubes help your herd maintain both their weight and condition because they are formulated to supplement fair and low-quality forage. Cattle cubes provide the protein, minerals, and vitamins a cow’s forage sometimes lacks. Cattle cubes come in several different sizes, making them easier for your cattle to eat.
Why do cattle need supplemental feed?
Protein and nutrient deficiencies are the other main reasons your herd may need supplemental feed. Low-quality forage is defined as forage that contains less than 7% crude protein (CP) and has lower than 50% total digestible nutrients (TDN).
What to do if cattle have insufficient forage?
With insufficient forage, cattle need feed. You should take action right away if you know that your herd’s grazing will be limited. You could simply reduce the number of cows in your herd, which would immediately reduce the amount of supplemental feeding the remaining cows require.
Why is pelleted feed digestible?
Another reason pelleted cattle feed is more digestible is the thermal process used to manufacture it. The thermal process locks in amino acids and other nutrients, providing better nutritional benefits for your cattle.
What is textured feed?
Textured cattle feed is made from flaked corn, molasses, protein pellets, and several other energy sources. It is also fortified with macro and micronutrients, vitamins, and other natural ingredients. Because it contains molasses, textured cattle feed is often referred to as “sweet feed.” Today’s textured cattle feed, which uses less molasses than in the past, still provides an advantage; it makes the feed more palatable, which is good news for your cattle.
What are cattle cubes?
Cattle cubes come in several different sizes, making them easier for your cattle to eat. Most cattle cubes contain 20% crude protein but also can be found in higher protein percentages. TIP: To reduce competition among your herd, your best choice is to feed them with ground, free-choice cattle cubes.
You likely feed hay to your livestock, but do you really know what's in those flakes? Read more to learn about what's in a bale of hay
Hay is a stable roughage for almost—if not all—hobby farmers with four-legged livestock. We rely on it during the winter when grass is gone or covered with snow and throughout the rest of the year when our animals may have limited access to pasture for various reasons.
Types of Hay
The two most commonly encountered types of livestock hay in the U.S. are grass and legume hays. And several specific types exist within these two classifications. There is also mixed hay, which, true to its name, is a mix of both grass and legume types.
Time of Cutting
In many parts of the U.S., the growing season occurs over several months through late spring into early fall. This means that a field of crop grown for hay can be cut up to three or four times during a single season.
But How Do You Know for Sure?
Of course, all of this is to say that you can’t be totally sure of your hay’s nutritional value just by looking at its leaves, knowing what cut it is and its type. Laboratory analysis of your hay is a fantastic way to really understand what you’re feeding your animals.
What is the best way to feed round bales?
Feeding round bales requires the use of a tractor or a well-planned means of situating bales so you can roll them where you need them. 2. Hay Feeder. Whether feeding round bales or square bales, a feeder will reduce the amount of hay that gets trampled, soiled and ruined.
What is the easiest hay to handle?
Square bales are the easiest hay to handle, requiring no equipment to stack, move or feed, though handling and feeding costs are two to four times more expensive for square bales than for large, round bales, according to the UM Extension, because making them is a very hands-on process.
How to maximize hay dollar?
Depending on your climate and property, it may even be a pricey piece of your livestock budget all year long. Finding a good deal on hay or learning to make it yourself are ways to maximize your hay dollar. Then you need to feed it efficiently, as every mouthful of wasted hay adds up to wasted money.
How to save money on livestock?
Save yourself some money feeding your livestock this winter by setting up a hay feeder that reduces waste. Hay can be the most expensive element of keeping livestock over the winter. Depending on your climate and property, it may even be a pricey piece of your livestock budget all year long. Finding a good deal on hay or learning ...
What should I do if I feed hay in the same place?
The University of Missouri Extension suggests that if you’re feeding hay in the same location all the time, you should provide some kind of footing, such as crushed gravel or concrete, to reduce mud. Consider building a sacrifice lot for this purpose.
What do horses feed from?
Horse owners might feed from hay nets or bags. (Generally, the hay is pulled from square bales.) These nets and bags are small and generally only hold one feeding’s worth at a time. The horse may pull hay out of the bag and drop it on the ground, but it will also usually clean up this little bit that is dropped, so there isn’t much waste.
How to tie hay for horses?
If you are using one, tie it high and tight enough that the horse cannot yank it down and is unlikely to reach it with its hooves. As winter approaches, get your hay-feeding plan in order. Any investment you make in feeding infrastructure will likely result in a forage-loss savings over time. FOLLOW. MORE ARTICLES.
What does it mean when hay is harvested late?
A late harvest date means grasses have already produced seed heads and are rapidly declining in forage nutrient value. While having even low quality hay on hand for winter feed is better than none, producers will need to consider the challenges of meeting cattle nutrient requirements this winter. During a normal year, hay harvest starts in late ...
What are some ways to provide protein?
Common methods many producers use to provide protein are lick tubs and range cubes. Alternative feedstuffs can be utilized to meet protein needs and may be a more cost effective option if proper storage sites and feeding equipment are available.
Why use small square bales?
Using small square bales will usually result in low feeding losses if fed properly. Small square bales should be fed in bunks or racks whenever possible to minimize trampling and soiling losses. However, it is possible to distribute small square bales in daily amounts throughout a pasture without too much hay being trampled or wasted (Figure 6). This can be advantageous in that it further distributes manure throughout the pasture. The downside to using small square bales is the high labor requirement. Handling and feeding costs are two to four times more expensive than for large round bales.
Why are large bales of hay important?
Large bale systems are designed to minimize labor, not waste. It is important to remember that outside storage of large bales will increase hay losses due to weather-related spoilage. Spoiled, rotted, or moldy hay is often refused by all but the hungriest of cattle and will result in more waste during feeding.
How many hay rings should I use for a 30 cow herd?
As an example, a 30-cow herd would consume one 900-pound round bale per day. To feed a 30-cow herd, we could use one hay ring that is filled daily.
Why are bales grouped in a corner of the pasture?
In this system, the bales are grouped in a corner of the pasture before winter feeding time (often at harvest) to reduce labor, tractor use, and pasture damage from running trucks or tractors during muddy conditions. Bales are spaced on 20-foot centers.
How much does hay cost per pound?
Feeding hay to cattle is expensive. Recent analyses show that hay costs between $0.02 and $0.07 per pound of dry matter; usually more than double the cost for the same amount of nutrients from pasture. Hay is expensive because:
Why is hay so expensive?
Hay is expensive because: It requires a large investment in equipment. It requires labor to make and feed. More than 50 percent of it is wasted by either poor storage methods or improper feeding practices, or both (Figure 1). This guide focuses on the last of these expenses — losses associated with feeding hay. Figure 1.
Where to feed large round bales of hay?
The simplest system for feeding large round bales is to set the bale in the pasture or feeding area where the stock have free access to hay. This system does not require the purchase of any extra equipment for feeding, but it is prone to high feeding losses.
Why is hay so expensive to feed cattle?
Feeding hay to cattle is expensive due to the cost of machinery, fertilizer, fuel, and labor to make and feed the hay. Minimizing the amount of hay needed to support the cow herd and/or becoming more efficient in the use of that hay is a good start to improving profit potential.
Why not use the same pasture every year?
Do not use the same pasture (s) every year for winter feeding to prevent creating a nutrient imbalance among pastures on the farm. When choosing land to feed on, try to select those areas where the hay was harvested or nutrient-lacking land such as go-back land or cool-season pasture that is not regularly fertilized.
How far away should a feed site be from a stream?
Location of these feeders and feed sites should be 180 feet away from streams and water supplies to protect surface water quality. A producer should save feed areas protected by cover for the coldest winter days and during warmer days, feed farther away from cover and water to better distribute manure and grazing.
Why do you setback when feeding?
As mentioned before, use setbacks when feeding near streams, ponds, and other water bodies to prevent surface water contamination by nutrients and manure. Reducing inefficiencies during winter feeding can greatly impact your pocketbook as well as your resources.
