Hay vs grain feed

[widfam]

I wanted some opinions on feeding this year. Here in central Alabama we are in a severe drought already this year and hay is hard to find and very expensive when you do find it. The pastures are pretty much not growing at all. My few head are eating as much or more hay then they did in the winter. So people here are talking about maybe feeding more grain then hay. The hay I found is this years cutting of rye grass, it was grown on a field that had cotton on it for years (they thought they would make more money this year growing hay). It hasn't been tested for nutrient level but maybe I will send some off. The cattle feed is 11% protien and made up of : soy hull pellets, soy bean meal, and corn gluten (last year it had corn but this year they put in corn gluten to keep the cost down). Now the price for the hay was $30 bale it is a 4x4 (about 500-600lbs) and the price of the feed is $140 ton. So for $120 you can buy about a ton or so of hay or for $20 more you can buy a ton of feed. I know they need some hay to balance out the rumen but grain seems like it would be better for them and for the cost people here are considering buying grain feed. Just curious as to what some of you on here think. Thanks

[JeffNY]

It should test decent, generally hay is of a higher quality when its not as wet, it doesn't seem to over grow the hay as fast.


As far as grain. You can feed them heavy grain, just dont over do it, or you can get the runs. They will need some hay, to balance as you said. Depending on body size, target about 40-50lbs of feed per cow per day, make up some of it with grain, the other part with hay, should help the wallet.



Jeff

[genebo]

Feed lots feed mostly grain. The cattle get the runs when they're first changed over. They may lose 50 lbs. Then they get it back and start gaining.

There are drawbacks to feeding grain. It changes the chemistry of the rumen. It can raise the acidity of the rumen and the steer can develop the strain of E-Coli that is hazardous to humans. I don't think that cattle put on straight grain rations are expected to live very long. It probably isn't nearly as healthy as a diet containing the cow's natural feed.

If you have woods that you can turn them into, do it. Many breeds like to browse among the trees. There's a lot of good stuff to eat in there. Even tree bark. It can save your cattle during a drought.

Get a list of the poisonous woods plants in your area and check the woods out before turning the cattle in. You'll probably be clean, but it doesn't hurt to check.

Genebo
Paradise Farm