alfalfa for beef cows...overkill?

[greenhorn]

I need to buy some hay and I'm trying to decide how to best allocate my limited $$ :P

I'll be feeding one Jersey who is (supposed to be) pregnant and is about 9 months into her lactation. I'm trying to increase her production just a little from about 3/4 gallon to 1+ gallon a day. Not much, I know, but I mainly don't want her to drop off more. She is on her own acre with access to the barn.

Then I have 2 Angus cows, one newly freshened and one due in April, the new calf and a 9mo heifer calf. They are out in the pasture with a three sider for shelter.

I have several round bales of fair-good grass hay but am planning to buy a bunch of square bales of really good stuff to put out as supplement. I figure a half bale/day for the Jersey and 1 or 2 per day for the Angus, plus their "filler" hay.

Would you go for the good alfalfa for all, or a grass clover mix? I want the Angus to keep some weight and deliver a healthy calf in the Spring, but I don't want to throw out the high $$ stuff if good grass/clover would be enough. I'm avoiding grain for the Angus (they've never had it) and the Jersey just gets a couple scoops of corn when she is milked. Maybe a dairy ration would be a better use of $$ ?

What would you do for a little herd like mine

Thanks!

greenhorn

[springvalley]

Well greenhorn, do you know when your jersey is due to calf? Never feed a jersey alfalfa during her dry period, you will have more of a problem with milk fever if you do. And your angus don`t need grain before they calf, the calves may get to big and the cows might have trouble giving birth. I would go with giving your jersey some alfalfa now to help make her milk better, 1/2 bale would be enough and one bale for the angus should be enough, plus the grass hay you have. Good luck, > Marc

[greenhorn]

Thanks, Marc. She was AI'd mid August, so that puts her as a May calf if my math is sound. I need to have her tested...I bought her the last of September with an intact heat patch on her, but that's no sure guarentee. I was certain my Guernsey wasn't able to breed and then when I was preparing her for sale (brushing her and checking her out) I felt a little kick and she calved on Thanksgiving day! I sold her and the calf just before Christmas, so they're with an experienced dairyman and should be fine

I think investing a little more this winter will bring a better return when I sell the Angus in August but I just don't want to overdo it.

[Up North]

Evaluate body condition before making any changes.
Ask yourself what you are trying to accomplish by changing your feeding.
Dairy cow will necessarily require different feeding and management than the beef cows.
Protein (Alfalfa, Soybean meal, etc) will produce milk or muscle.
Energy(Corn, Milo, etc.) will produce fat and hence improve body condition.
Your dairy cow may need both if she is to produce more milk and yet maintain body condition. To be adjusted during the dry period.
Your beef cows may not need either, or they may need energy to produce more body condition. Feeding supplemental alfalfa to a beef cow may give her a boost of protein, vitamins, and minerals found in good alfalfa, but more protein without a balance in energy can can pull the fat off their back and have the undesirable outcome of losing body condition and becoming thinner.
Let body condition be your guide.

Availability of good minerals and salt are essential to good health and maternity.

[greenhorn]

Thanks, UpNorth. I see on your website your in Udall, KS. My mom was born and raised in Oxford...that's like only 5 miles away! My grandma was still living there up until a year ago. Now I'm missing KS.....

[lonelyfarmgirl]

If the angus have never had grain, dont start.
the calf would do good to have alfalfa hay (the grass hay also), as he needs protein for growth. The pregnant angus, just the grass/clover mix. If you give her a bunch of extra protein, her baby might get too big and she will have trouble calving.

The jersey should have it during lactation, but not when she is dry.