Keeping them Healthy? What do you feed?

[francismilker]

Here's the dilema?:

I've got jerseys, jersey\holstein cross, angus\holstein cross, and pure ayrshire that I use as nurse cows and milk cows.
This year I've got better pastures than last year. (due to God sent rains in the Spring as well as some fertilizer and spray) I keep a very good loose mineral out at all times as well as use internal and external parasite control 2X per year. What I'm seeing though is poor body condition on my cows. (especially on the jerseys) To keep overhead down I've changed my operations a little this year on the nurse cow business. Instead of bringing a cow into the stanchion and bucket milking her or turning four calves loose, I'm grafting one extra calf on each cow and letting them run together full time in the pasture. I do feed them all some 12% ration each day to keep them coming up so I can fly spray them.
While the angus/hostein crosses are doing well, the jerseys and jersey/holstein crosses are looking awful. And, with the grasses I have to offer I'm at a loss. I've yet to have an ayrshire freshen so I'm not able to compare their performance as a fresh cow. But, as a dry cow, they're out performing all the others hands down. They actually are as fat as most beef breeds at this point.

Are any of you having this problem? What are you feeding to your milking cows to keep them healthy? Don't get me wrong, I realize you have to feed them according to what they're milking. But, these girls are only being asked to give a portion of what year's past expectations were and they're not doing well at all. I've not had any problems with them breeding back. I'm just seeing them milking "off their backs".

[Mrs. Homesteader]

Our pasture is in desperate need of rain. If we don't get some soon, we may have to start feeding hay. We only have the one cow in milk right now. She is a jersey and she is 14 years old. We are giving her alfalfa cubes when we milk her trying to keep the weight on her. They also have salt, kelp and minerals free choice. We used to feed her beet pulp, but she would not eat it right after she calved. We need to try it again.

[randiliana]

Just curious, when were they dewormed last, and with what. When we have beef cattle that are looking poor, a shot of Ivomec (injectable) seems to do wonders for most of them.

Our nurse cow, purebred Holstien, is nursing 3 calves this year. We haven't fed her any grain of any sort. She is looking pretty good, not fat really, but in good shape. She has been on some pretty green and lush pasture, Crested Wheat, Meadow Brome and Alfalfa mix. Calves are weighing in the 300-400 lb range right now.

[Ronney]

Originally Posted by francismilker

Here's the dilema?:
I've not had any problems with them breeding back. I'm just seeing them milking "off their backs".

And that is just what they're doing - milking off their backs. And I wouldn't worry about it too much either. Like you, I milk a mixed bunch and it's interesting to note that anything that is straight dairy breed looks like a coat hanger, anything with beef in it keeps it's condition up. Also the Jersey and Jersey Friesians that I have produce considerably more milk than those that are dairy/beef crosses - the Jersey/Friesian produces 25 litres a day at the height of the season as opposed to the 15 litres a day produced by the Jersey/Belgian Blue. The dairy puts it in her udder, the beef puts in on her back.

My cows are not unhealthy, they are all wormed, they all get a bit of supplementary feed, they all look like little podges when they're dry, they all get in calf the first time to the bull and the fact that most are now between 10 and 13 years of age and still going strong........

Cheers,
Ronnie

[francismilker]

[QUOTE=randiliana;3927679]Just curious, when were they dewormed last, and with what. When we have beef cattle that are looking poor, a shot of Ivomec (injectable) seems to do wonders for most of them.

I use Ivomec + injectable once a year and cidectin pour-on once a year. I've even taken fecal samples and had them tested. These girls are parasite free. The only troubles I've had in years with parasites has been lice on the exterior.

[randiliana]

OK, then that isn't your problem. Our milk cow has alfalfa as part of her pasture, that adds a lot to a pasture, but you have to be cautious with it. But, as I said before, she is on pasture only, and is looking good raising her 3 calves.

[agmantoo]

From my rotational grazing experience I think I can define your problem. In a nutshell your cows are giving too much milk! In order to do the rotational grazing effort and feed only grass and legumes I have to have a short in height and not overly long animal for the specific breed. Such animals are easier maintained on the type of forage I have. I also have to have an animal that gives a moderate amount of milk. It is my intent for the cow to only supplement the calf's food intake once the calf is weaned. I will raise the calf from it foraging along with the herd. With the described brood cow I will have an animal that will maintain condition and produce calves timely. The reasons I listed are why the beef breed influenced cows maintain condition while the dairy ones lose condition. I realize that conventional thinking will bring to mind that you need as much milk as the cow can give but in reality that is not the case. Calves that get less milk than what will fill them will start grazing earlier and will flourish. It is necessary to understand that different parts of the country will produce calves that will vary. Some areas can produce a calf that will market as a feeder calf at 575 lbs where other areas may only produce a calf that weighs 525 lbs in the same time period. What you need to consider IMO is what is the ideal setup for your location and your feed and end use of the animal. I strive to be a low cost producer of feeder calves that sell in the top 10% at the sale barn. I do not compare my calves to calves raised elsewhere and on different diets. I need to do what works best for me and my herd. My opinion is that you have a mismatch between some of your cows and what is available as feed for your operation. Increasing the quality of feed and thus the expense may improve your animals condition but the expense will probably not be justified and the net income will probably shrink. I suggest that you slowly phase some of the nurse cows out and carefully choose their replacements with the above suggestions in mind.