Are these feeds safe for a calf?

bulldog · #1 09/30/08, 08:00 PM

Hi there,
I am the proud owner of a nearly two month old Jersey Holstein cross. She is real healthy, and eats everything!!!! I have owned horses for some time but this cow thing is new to me. I plan on her being our milk wagon

at some point in the distant future. Any way, I have saved for her winter feed this really great second cutting red clover hay. I am now wondering if this will be a good base for her diet or not? She is now on good pasture and calf starter grain. Also she loves corn husks, as do my horses. Are they any good for her? and if so how much can I safely give her? I give her about 4 cobs worth per day right now. If thats no good will somebody please tell me quick! As you can see I am floundering here and could use some help, any feeding advice would be great! Thanks

bulldog · #2 09/30/08, 08:26 PM

Also I was wondering how much hay she would need over winter? She will be two months sept 28. Our winters in NY are real nasty, no good grazing comes up till the end of June. Do you think 80 square bales will be enough????

Gregg Alexander · #3 09/30/08, 09:25 PM

I would think 80 bales (square) should be more than enough

sungirl · #4 09/30/08, 09:39 PM

I would put her on a heifer ration. Not sure what DH is using on his now, but I will ask him. I would put out in a feeder some dairy cow mineral. Just ask for something for a dairy cow on non lugume hay. Another thing to remember is keep her fill ALWAYS! Her ruman is just like a wood stove keeping her warm. When the ruman runs low she can't keep warm and will do poorly.
Congrats & welcome to the dairy cow world!
Patty.

sammyd · #5 09/30/08, 11:45 PM

Clover is a legume. Very good for cows, and if harvested at the right maturity very full of protein. I would say 80 bales is a low estimate since you'll have almost 6 months till she can get out on good pasture once the snow flies. I am always nervous about hay supplies myself can never have enough.
You could switch to a lesser protein grain mix. Our starter is usually 18% but we switch to a 16% grower at weaning (2 months) till they are better than 600 pounds then we switch to a 14% mix.
Corn husks are fine for treats or for something to keep a cow busy but without any corn on the cobs the feed value is negligable.

francismilker · #6 10/01/08, 06:39 AM

I usually figure 1/2 small bale per head per day to be on the safe side. The clover should have good feed value. Have you had it tested to see what it's TDN and protein are? Once you find this out, you can decide what grain, if any is needed, you want to feed along with the hay.

stifflej · #7 10/01/08, 07:14 AM

Getting my 2 feeder calf in November, they will be about 4 months old and weened at that time, would this be OK to feed him? "
ROUND BALES OF hay, 800lbs, timothy & alfalfa" I thought I saw somewhere that to much alfalfa was not good for them?

Thanks.

sungirl · #8 10/01/08, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyd

Clover is a legume.

Yes, it seen my error this morning. DH feeds 18% until weaning and then 16% grower until she freshens.

Patty.

bulldog · #9 10/01/08, 05:27 PM

Thanks everyone for your input! I also have horses so that is not all the hay we have, I was just trying to get an idea. Boy do I have a lot to learn! I am real good at keeping animals full!! But it is good to know that it will help her keep warm. Thanks again, Claire