Define Grain

[wuden]

We have recently acquired a 4 year old jersey cow who is due to calve in July. She was doing well when we first got her but since the grass is starting to come (slowly here in MN) she isn't interested in the last batch of hay we got her. We know she's not getting enough grass yet and she's pregnant so we're thinking she needs more. What should we be feeding her until the grass is enough? Or do we need to keep feeding her *grain*? And if so what do people mean by grain. We have what's called "sweet feed" right now and it makes her go nuts and uppety for more!!! Any grain advice would be greatly appreciated. Do we even need any at all???

Thanks

[Up North]

If she is still being milked and you would like to continue to harvest a comparable amount of milk to what you have been getting, then you may want to continue feeding grain. If she is dry, then there is no need for grain(Unless she is visibly in poor condition). As long as hay is left available to her, if she runs out of grass she will revert to eating hay.
"Sweet Feed"is usually in the 10-12 % protien range and has a whole lot of molasses in it. Most dairy cow owners will feed a 16% protein dairy grain mix.

[Karin L]

Grain is another word of feeding seeds that come from forages that are most commonly used to feed livestock. Such grain that come to mind are rye, barley, oats, corn, wheat, and triticale.

Upnorth pretty much summed it up for you.

[Up North]

When hot weather comes all that Molasses in sweet feed is a fly magnet.

If in Northern MN, the Black Bears like it too.

[francismilker]

AMEN to the molasses being a fly magnet. One of my local dairy friends has went to an all pellet form ration in his parlor just to help control flies around the farm.