BOSS, can i feed it to my jersey heifer?

[MandersGoaters]

I have searched this forum for the answer, but had no luck. I feed BOSS to my goats, for healthy coats, and better milk, but i was wondering if i could feed them to my jersey heifer. i know goats can digest the hulls, but can cattle? or would they pass them like whole corn? thanks yall!
Amanda

[francismilker]

Call me a greenhorn, but I'm not sure what BOSS is. Can you educate me?

[gone-a-milkin]

black oil sunflower seeds.

seems kinda 'spensive for cattle feed to me, though I am sure they could digest it...

[Lannie]

I feed a double handful of BOSS to my Jersey cross heifer to get her used to coming up to the barn and the stanchion twice a day (she's due to have her first calf this fall). My chickens and guineas tell me that, no, there are NO sunflower seeds left over after being processed.

After having had horses all my life and now a cow, I am amazed at how efficient a cow's digestive system is. Much better than a horse. Not that I go around examining poop or anything.

~Lannie

[matt_man]

We fed BOSS last year our Jersey cow. There were a lot of sunflowers growing in her cow pies but she ate those too so they didn't really go to waste.

[MandersGoaters]

i know it's expensive, but the grain we feed our milking goats is the same as the heifers, but for the BOSS i figured it would be easier to take one bucket of feed rather than two, I'll try it for a while, but if she passes them like whole corn i'll have to stop, cause she won't be getting anything out of it. thanks yall for the replys i do appreciate it!

[RdoubleD]

Yes you can feed BOSS to cows. I use them all the time. I will give my cows about 1-2 cups a day depending on the needs of the cows. You will get the same benefits feeding them to cows as you get in with your goats.