price of calves and ranching expenses

[Faster horses]

tlakota, it takes 80 lbs. to change body condition score.
Are you sure you weren't looking at their belly 2 weeks ago.
Look at their back...see if they are 'flat backed'. That's when they
are in good shape.

I'd try some higher percentage grass hay. That good feed might
be going right through them. Have you ever noticed that you can feed grass hay and the cows look full all day, but when you feed alfalfa, they
look empty again in a couple of hours? Grass hay contains more
energy and it takes longer to digest.

And I guess I would test that artesian water. Some thing here just
isn't adding up.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

 

[WyomingRancher]

Might want to fence off that "crick" or run a test on that water. Sounds like that's one big item that changed when it started warming up.

Yep, could something be seeping into the creek? Just thinking out loud.

 

[Silver]

I find it is not uncommon for cows to get run down when spring is about upon us. Seems they start thinking green grass even though there isn't any, and quit eating hay. They will wander around and browse old grass or sometimes eat nothing at all.
Maybe your case is different, have you had it happen previous years?

 

[Faster horses]

I agree, Silver. I started to post something similar and got called away from the computer.

Old cows make it through the winter and die in the sping. That happens to old people too, it seems.

But the cows would have to either be awfully old, or awfully thin.

There is a definite difference between a 'thin cow' and a 'poor cow.'
But you have to see a 'poor cow' to know the difference. A thin cow
can be stout while a 'poor cow' will be weak.

 

[tlakota]

silver thats exactly what it seems like to me

 

[Trinity man]

You might have Blister beetles in your forage.

 

[Richard Doolittle]

silver thats exactly what it seems like to me

I'm assuming you have them in a lot and if that is the case, they are not going to just quit eating hay in anticipation of green grass. You've obviously noticed a change in their appetite and something is causing it.