Feed question new mama losing weight

[RedRider]

The cow that had her 1st calf on 3-5-13 is not keeping her weight. She is looking to skinny.
She is given oat hay...as much as she wants. She eats all the oats and will not touch the rest. She will eat alfalfa,but that is to rich for her as it gives her the runs. I have also given her good quality grass hay, but she eats some then makes it her bed.
What type of grain should I give her to put weight on...wet cobb or what?
I do have show steer grower & finisher grain that my daughter's 4H steer is on, will one of thise options work for her ?
The baby is doing great! I need weight on mama.

RedRider

[SpaceCadet12364]

They will help they are meant to put fat on a steer. So it will work just add a mineral addon for her and milk production. and has she been de wormed recently 6 mos. if not it won't hurt to do it. A hi- mag mineral will help with the new grass coming in.

[tinknal]

What breed of cow? How old? How much has she lost? Has she been wormed?

To some extent the cow losing weight means she is doing her job and putting it into her calf.

[sammyd]

cracked corn

[G. Seddon]

Depending on her size and age, I'd start her on a 14-16% stock feed (a pound or two a day, gradually increase) with all the hay she wants, plus a good loose mineral (hi-mag as SpaceCadet suggests). Ditto on the worming.

One consideration you need to keep in mind: Johnes Disease (chronic wasting, no cure) can be brought about by stress (calving). If the cow is showing a dramatic weight loss, get her tested ASAP and get your vet's advice on how to handle the situation with the calf. Hopefully, this is not what you're dealing with.

[RedRider]

Thamks everyone..I will de worm her today. She is a Brown Swiss/angus cross about 20 months old. She has lost about 25-30 lbs..

Is the high mag mineral a salt lick block or powder that goes into feed?
She has a mineral salt lick.

Thanks
RedRider

[opportunity]

25 pounds since before she calfed? That isn't that much really I had one loose 200 this year when we added a second calf for a month. We took the extra calf off she seems ot be to old to do it (she is 14) but loosing 25 is not much in a cow, it's like you loosing 5 pounds.

[SpaceCadet12364]

Hi-mag comes in several forms loose mineral , block, or tub. If you want them to eat it quick get the tub Kent mixes molasses with their tub and ours will clean the tub. Also how many are you feeding 250lb tub goes a long way if only feeding 1 or 2. also loose is good if you like to blend your own.
one blend I do is dried molasses,trace salt or hi-mag(time of year), selenium, eatable de-wormer. wait recommended no. days. and treat again. ours eat it quick. Just mix enough to treat everyone and feed individually. If possible.

[tinknal]

Remember that every ounce the calf gains for the first month or so comes directly off the cow.

[RedRider]

Space thanks, the feed stores here do not have the loose mineral. I have to make a trip to Tractor Supply, they are 1.5 hrs from here. They have Dumor Spring Mineral in a 50lb bag.
My herd is small... 10 so that tub would last a while. I like the idea of your blend, that way I know they are getting what they need.
I gave her grain am/pm and wormed her.
Thanks again!
RedRider

[Sparkie]

Does she have loose stool at all? With weight loss after calving I'd be checking for Johne's for sure. If she happened to have it you'd need to get her off your place as soon as possible because that stuff can live in the soil for a very long time to infect your other cows.

[agmantoo]

Do you know if the cow cleaned off after having the calf? Any foul odor from the cow?