Grazing Alfafla

[Gripshover]

I have about a 1.5 acre alfalfa field that I want to graze instead of baling this fall. My question is what is the best way to go about it to prevent my cattle from bloating?

Leo

[Ceilismom]

The answer depends, at least in part, on what kind of alfalfa you have. I'm not an expert on the subject, but I do know that my in-laws planted Travois alfalfa years back, so that in drought years, the cattle could graze it (in late summer or early fall) with less chance of developing bloat. In the almost 9 years that DH and I have been married, I only recall losing one steer to bloat.

[ksfarmer]

We always grazed alfalfa in fall and early winter. After a killing frost it was dry enough to be safe. I also remember we used something called "bloat blocks" (not sure a proper name), these prevented any problem with bloat even when the alfalfa was green and growing.