How much grain?

[mamalisa]

Ok, for those of you who know what you are doing:

My little Jersey, about 800 lbs I guess, is giving me 4.25 gallons a day. She's just freshened 3 weeks ago. She was too thin when I got her, I only managed to start to put some condition back on her....maybe a 2? I can see each and every short rib though not the backbone bumps.

I'm giving her 14 lbs 20% a day + about 4 cups molasses. Is this ok?

Hay in the evening (she's up) about a half of a square bale, lots of water, lick block+minerals in the feed, and nice pasture during the day.

[uncle Will in In.]

Sounnds like you are feeding her very well. It is not easy to get a cow that is milking well to gain much weight. She may be growing some but you wouldn't notice that.

[Up North]

Uncle Will is right- very hard to put weight on once they are milking. Sounds like a reasonable diet you have laid out. I would watch consistency of manure, as long as it is not runny, bump her grain up in small increments and try to restore some bodyfat on ribs. Some long stem dry hay at milking or a cup of whole oats on top of grain will help to bind up and slow flow of green grass and grain thru rumen, hence alowwing her to digest and retain grain better and maintain healthy balance. Best Luck with her.

[Sprout]

With no backbone bumps I don't know if I'd call her a two, but it is still alarming to see how skiny they are after they've gotten rid of that growing calf. Lactating or in the last stages of pregnancy it all seems to run right through them into what they are producing. Up north has a good suggestion feed roughage hay an hour before her heavy grain too. It will get the rumen going and it'll break down the seed coats better. I would also try adding soybeans to her diet, they don't have much value other than they are very high in fat content. I havn't met alot of dairy farmers who use it but the pig farmers always have nice fat hogs with it. Always balance out her diet with high fiber grains like oats and barley. Have fun with your new pair.

[commomsense]

You can't put weight on a good milker. You should see the outline of her ribs. Her body only uses want it needs to keep alive. The rest goes into making milk. She will not put on much fat while she is milking.

[mailman]

Originally Posted by commomsense

You can't put weight on a good milker. You should see the outline of her ribs. Her body only uses want it needs to keep alive. The rest goes into making milk. She will not put on much fat while she is milking.

I agree with "commonsense". You won't be able to expect much weight gain as long as she is milking. Try anyway. If she was asked to produce less milk, she might stand a chance....Dennis