- Thread starter Kelly C
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Dave from MN
Well-known Member
I give my cows all the hay they want, no grain, and they have a 30% heifer replacement crystalix tub, water is a big thing as well in this cold. Pour gals heater went out in the tank and I didn't catch it. Last night they had a nothing but a block of ice, got the heater working,( breaker- tractor heaters on the same circuit) the cows were drinking the water as fast as it was coming out of the hose. My (6)weaned calves, 500-700#, are getting about 100# of rolled corn and pellets a day and all the hay they want. I think I am heavy on the grain so I am not increasing it. They sure do not look like they aren't getting enough. My big concern is pneumonia, picked up 50# of terramycin crumble yesterday to mix in the feed.
Most outdoor cattle I see when driving our out there with just hay and cornstalks and no grain ration. A few have protein licks, but most just have free choice salt and mineral.
Most outdoor cattle I see when driving our out there with just hay and cornstalks and no grain ration. A few have protein licks, but most just have free choice salt and mineral.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
i dont use my bale feeders in cold weather i roll out the round bales so that they all get a fair chance at it, im on my way out to feed right now gonna haul down into the bush near the river, 5 alfalfa, 5 grass, 2 slough, 5 oatbales, 2 straw, 1 flax straw, i did the same yesterday and by 5 pm. they had everything cleaned up, i will decide maybe 2 more when i feedup. temp. right now -31 with -43 winchill.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I keep the feeder full of hay no corn just minerals salt and a protein tub.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Take sheep fur and make coats for the cows. That'll make for a lot of double looks.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
your funny 
Only down to 7 above here this morning. No wind,so it was like a heat wave.
I feed everything free choice anyway,so if they need more,they've got it. Some pens seem to be eating more,some less. I think some of them are eating a lot of straw for some reason. Oh well,it's their choice.
I feed everything free choice anyway,so if they need more,they've got it. Some pens seem to be eating more,some less. I think some of them are eating a lot of straw for some reason. Oh well,it's their choice.
cj in wisconsin
Member
-24 here this am. I make sure they have all the hay and water they need and they all where laying there content chewing their cud, when it gets real cold I give them a big bale outside the feeder so they have a warm bed.
I have one I am kind of worried about. he had the runs last summer into the Fall. Got that cleaned up but he is not as strong as the others. not as much fat on him.
He is eating well and drinking ok, So thats good.
He is shivering alot more than the others. Hopefully he snuggles up with the others to keep warm when they are laying around the feeder.
He is eating well and drinking ok, So thats good.
He is shivering alot more than the others. Hopefully he snuggles up with the others to keep warm when they are laying around the feeder.
Glen D Anderson
Member
We feed LOTS more when its cold and throw down a deep bed of straw/bedding...........to some people that might be overkill and may reduce their bottom line, but then again they aren't the ones out there shivering when it's 30 below!
It all boils down to what your conscience will allow, try and put yourself in their hooves
It all boils down to what your conscience will allow, try and put yourself in their hooves
Dave from MN
Well-known Member
Do they have aouto waterers or do you fill a tank every day? There is great stuff you can get from the vey to mix in the water tank when you fill it since you can mix pretty accuratly. Otherwise I would think of getting something if he starts hacking or panting bad, watch for fever if you can get a thermometer up you know where. I used Draxxin for 4 that had it here and it cured them right up, but it's expensive, it has 7 day of meds in one shot, I like it. Didint seem to burn them like la200. I'm like you, just learning as I go. my cousen and Mnut have been great advice giover for me, helped me alot.
Growing up used to keep cows and late calves in barn overnights- already to milk in morning. a few ears of corn to get them up and milked then hay from barn loft, turn out late morning and shovel out the waste. Cattle tank had a heater in it wood fired. If no snow storm cows went out to nearest field to glean some corn stalks or beans, headed back to barn late afternoon to get milked or warm stall for the dry ones. repeat next day for 3/4 months. Final spring cleanout had a couple feet of manure in stall area and outside feed lot. 2 spreaders and H with loader got it cleaned up in couple days. Learned to warm hands before massage and squeezing or might get a kick. Worked on human females also.
Dave from MN
Well-known Member
Well, just came in from bedding up the cows and the calves. The cows came from the hay and licks and out devouring the oats straw, looks like they are gonna eat every strand. Weirdo's. Guess I'll have to use some rye straw.
Cattle are wierd. I have some square bales of great horse hay.They will pick at it and hardly ever finnish it. Then I throw out a bale of the rained on stuff that i cant sell to the horse people. They just dig in and eat it all gone.
Good for me because most of what I keep is the rainerd on stuff.
They seem to like the bottom bales the best. Wierd.
Good for me because most of what I keep is the rainerd on stuff.
They seem to like the bottom bales the best. Wierd.
My cows have all the hay they want in front of them at all times. When I feed, I always feed so that no more than 12 cows have to fit around a ring. If they have to push and shove, it's always the heifers or the old cows that end up getting nothing. I also put out two bales of bedding hay on Sunday afternoon, and with that and the loafing barn they stay pretty well dry and out of the wind.
I have a tank that I fill once a day or so.
Last winter I kept a floating tank heater in it.
Wow, that about broke me. The 1st 2 mos it was $70 or $80 a mo to run it.
Then I put it on a timer and cut that in half.
Now I go out in the morning and bust up the ice with a sledge hammer, Fill and redo that again in the Eve.
Every 2 or 3 days I drop the tank heater in to melt every thing for a couple hrs.
Rinse and repeat.
Last winter I kept a floating tank heater in it.
Wow, that about broke me. The 1st 2 mos it was $70 or $80 a mo to run it.
Then I put it on a timer and cut that in half.
Now I go out in the morning and bust up the ice with a sledge hammer, Fill and redo that again in the Eve.
Every 2 or 3 days I drop the tank heater in to melt every thing for a couple hrs.
Rinse and repeat.
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