What to feed my dexters...

[Tilly]

I went out and walked all three pastures yesterday and it's time to start haying the cows. I had beef cows growing up in Oregon that had access to large round bales, but being Oregon, Grass grew plentiful year-round. What type of hay would be best for a preg Dexter and 10 mo hiefer?

[genebo]

Dexters are pretty good at foraging. They'll eat things that other cows would pass up. Having access to trees and undergrowth is a benefit to them.

That said, there is a best feed for them. Especially when they are pregnant. You want to make sure that they get adequate nutrition without getting fat. Most grass hays will fill the bill. The really rich hays, like timothy and alfalfa, are a little too rich, unless you're milking. I feed Fescue, BMR, pearl millet, rye, oat hay and clover to mine. I augment that with two handfuls of sweet feed laced with loose minerals each day.

Watch for her to keep good condition. If she looks a little thin, give her a little grain. If she's getting fat, cut her ration.

Avoid moldy hay. It can cause a thick placenta, which can give her problems in cleaning out after calving. It's best to buy loosely baled hay, where air can circulate, if you have to store it. Tight bales tend to mold quickly.

Here in the east, where the drough is so severe, we have to watch out for nitrate poison in the hay. It's best to have the hay tested. Much better than having a dead cow.

My Dexters aren't too picky. Just like Mikey in the commercials, they'll eat anything.

Genebo
Paradise Farm

[Tilly]

thanks, I've been worried about not giving her the richer hay, it's sooo expensive. But we'll do what we have too!!! most guys selling hay around here want to sell us straight alfalfa since she is an older cow and will be milked, but sounds like maybe a grass/alfalfa mix will be good.

[ebook]

I would second the grass hay or the grass/alfalfa like you mentioned. I know quite a few Dexter breeders that only are feeding grass hay, but of course none of them are milking so I don't know if that would factor in.