OT Feeding beef

Mark W. · Sep 3, 2009

I was wondering what the rule of thumb is for feeding beef cows dry hay. I am going to be wintering two, 2 yr. old beef cows and was wondering approximately how much hay they will consume per day. They will also be on some grain, cracked corn and ground oats. Will a bale a day suffice both. There is no grazing with our winters

cj in wisconsin · Sep 3, 2009

Give them extra and let them eat all they want, a full belly helps keep them warm and healthy!

LAA · Sep 3, 2009

Depends on the hay, percent protein and TDN, whether the cows are bred or open. In general, a 1200 lb. non-lactating, bred cow needs 2 pounds of protein per day plus enough total digestible nutrients to maintain her weight, body heat in cold weather and amply grow the calf she is carrying. An example would be 25 lbs. of 8% protein grass hay or 15 lbs. of 14% alfalfa or any combination of the two that adds up to 2 pounds of net protein plus free choice forage of lesser quality. Most people, myself included, like to make sure they get their protein and have something in front of them all the time. I feed my good hay in the barn to the cows requirements and keep the rings in the pasture full of the cheap hay I roll on shares. There is usally a copy of Morrisons ''feeds and feeding'' on e-bay for less than 10 bucks. Revisions 21 and up were updated in the 50s and early 60s, plenty of useful information on feeding and care of all classes of livestock. This was the text book of choice for many years in Agriculture colleges all over the country.

Mark W. · Sep 3, 2009

Thanks for the info. Just trying to plan for hay storage and amount. I got 350 #80 first cut alfalfa, on the rack and just want to have plenty.

Mark W. · Sep 3, 2009

Thanks, will do.

Stan - Florida · Sep 3, 2009

Good advice about the "Feeds and Feeding" book, but there is one warning I have to share with you.

In 1958 or so, I thought I would save a little money by using my Dad's late-20s version of the book. Some things had changed over 30 years, and I didn't do well in the class.

Another factor might have been that I was maybe having too much fun that semester. Ya think??

Stan

Anonymous-0 · Sep 3, 2009

Dont grind the oats, crack the corn. Just add the oats whole...

Anonymous-0 · Sep 3, 2009

What do you mean by "first cut alfalfa"? If it has little or no grass in it it will be a little high on the protein side. Mix it with grass hay or sell it for good money and buy grassier hay for less.

WA-Hal · Sep 3, 2009

That is what we always did. Our cattle got all the hay they wanted. And after we built our feed bunk attached to the hay barn, the hay wasted went down to almost zero. Our mostly alfalfa hay was always conditioned, and the cows ate the flattened stems just fine.

We usually fed about 40 cattle of various sizes, so I suppose there was somewhat of a pecking order. The big cows probably got most of the leaves and blossoms from the alfalfa, and the younger animals probably got mostly stems and grass. But our cattle always wintered over just fine, and we usually had the cows have their calves in late March or April. The younger animals probably did not gain weight like they did during the Summer, but they always looked really good at the end of feeding season. We usually turned them out to pasture in May.

Well fed cattle are a whole lot easier to keep in, too. Good luck!

OT Feeding beef

Mark W.

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cj in wisconsin

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LAA

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Mark W.

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Mark W.

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Stan - Florida

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Anonymous-0

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Anonymous-0

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WA-Hal

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