Haytrucker wrote:I'm gonna disagree with RW about alfalfa. If fed as protein I don't think I see more than 5 pounds of green left behind any bale I feed. Wind will waste more unrolling than the cows do. We are fussy about when we bale and that helps with palatitibility. I see stems left behind but not alfalfa stems.
rightwinger82 wrote:I am now considering a grain mix of half cracked corn half whole cotton seed. That would be around 15 protien and 15 fat. No out of wack minerals or trace elements for around the same price as cake, and no need to change mineral programs. If all a person was short was protien alfalfa would be fine. Especially if you feed twice the amount needed, cause they ain't gonna eat them stems. I am looking to push fat to keep consumption of hay up.
Faster horses wrote:We had a friend in Texas that fed whole cottonseed. The cows loved it and did amazing on it, mixed with hay. We had never seen that done but always knew what high regard the oldtimers in the north had for it. They still tell stories about cottonseed cake and how good it was. It had lots of energy because of the cottonseed oil in it. Now, up here, if you can get cottonseed cake, the oil is pressed out and used for other things, so it isn't as good as it was. (I am referring to cottonseed cake, not whole cottonseed.)
TexasBred wrote:Faster horses wrote:We had a friend in Texas that fed whole cottonseed. The cows loved it and did amazing on it, mixed with hay. We had never seen that done but always knew what high regard the oldtimers in the north had for it. They still tell stories about cottonseed cake and how good it was. It had lots of energy because of the cottonseed oil in it. Now, up here, if you can get cottonseed cake, the oil is pressed out and used for other things, so it isn't as good as it was. (I am referring to cottonseed cake, not whole cottonseed.)
Same here FH. Cottonseed meal has about 1% fat guaranteed. the new process is much more efficient at extracting the oil. Still a great product and the primary protein source used by most feed companies for cattle feed across the south/southwest. Just a personal opinion but you can't make a commercial feed as good as whole cottonseed. Just limited by how much you can feed but it will make a cow bloom and milk production and butterfat will go straight up.
Haytrucker wrote:Ok I have 2 questions, is there any fat in corn stalks and alfalfa? And how much is there in DDG? I lied, one more, what percent does a 2nd thru 3rd trimester cow need? Anymore than she carries on her ribs going into winter?
Faster horses wrote:Third trimester 'maintenence feed' does require higher nutrition requirements than second trimester. Of course, after she calves, her nutrition requirements are even greater.
If the producer can get more body condition on their cows before going into winter/third trimester it is much cheaper to maintain that condition as opposed to trying to build body condition when the weather is cold. Sometimes, here in the north, we can't feed enough to maintain them, so good body condition going into the winter is very important; both for the cow and the producers pocketbook.
TexasBred wrote:rightwinger82 wrote:I am now considering a grain mix of half cracked corn half whole cotton seed. That would be around 15 protien and 15 fat. No out of wack minerals or trace elements for around the same price as cake, and no need to change mineral programs. If all a person was short was protien alfalfa would be fine. Especially if you feed twice the amount needed, cause they ain't gonna eat them stems. I am looking to push fat to keep consumption of hay up.
Have you considered just feeding straight cottonseed and feeding only half as much. Should still have adequate crude protein and great energy level not to mention milk production if you have cows nursing calves. Would be a great compliment to hay and your cattle should flourish.
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