Larrry
Well-known member
So what is everyone using for winter protein this year and what is it going to cost?
http://www.feedsandfeeding.com/index.php?next=spotchart
http://www.feedsandfeeding.com/index.php?next=spotchart
Protein prices
- Thread starter Larrry
- Start date
Faster horses
Well-known member
Test your hay and you might not need to buy protein.
Might be the best $10-$25 you ever spent.
We never buy supplemental protein...10% protein hay is good enough for a range cow, as long as she gets enough of it.
Hope this helps!
Might be the best $10-$25 you ever spent.
We never buy supplemental protein...10% protein hay is good enough for a range cow, as long as she gets enough of it.
Hope this helps!
Just Ranchin
Well-known member
Canola meal $200/t
Distillers $160/t
Midds $100/t
Hoping for the mildest winter on record...priceless
Distillers $160/t
Midds $100/t
Hoping for the mildest winter on record...priceless
BRG
Well-known member
We don't give our cows any extra, but we do feed alot of bull calves so we got in 130 ton of Dry distillers grain a few weeks back from an ethonal plant 110 miles east of us. It cost us $85 delivered. We also got some corn screenings deliverd for $65/ton for some extra energy. I thought that was pretty good as all it is is cracked corn. Tested up good too. I think the distillers is about $35/ton cheaper this year than last.
Broke Cowboy
Well-known member
Faster horses said:
Wise words that many will not take to heart
BC
This can turn into a very controversial subject if we want it to. So, here goes. Some years ago I sent in a sample of feed my brother was giving to the cows. First clue was the cows looked like s**t. Dale Blassi from K-State interpreted the analysis for me. His exact words were " If they could eat 50 lbs of this stuff a day, and there is No Way they CAN eat 50 lbs of this stuff a day, they would loose 5-8 lbs a day". That was a proud moment in my life--not. So, what I'm saying is, can the cows eat enough to meet their nutritional requirements? The following is from Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska forage specialist: Anderson says that research suggests that the strategy of minimizing input costs may overlook the impact supplements have on the future performance of the calf. He says recent Nebraska research has shown that properly supplementing the cow can increase profitability of the calf she's carrying. In one study, steers from cows that received protein supplement while grazing winter range produced an extra 60 pounds of carcass weight worth $80-$100 per animal compared to steers from non-supplemented cows.
Pregnancy rates of heifers from cows that received protein supplements was 5-14% higher that heifers from non-supplemented cows. Steers from these supplemented cows graded choice 5-23% more often. Fetal growth rate is the highest during the last third of gestation. Nutrient requirements of the cow and her calf are higher than earlier in her pregnancy. As cows approach calving time,don't scrimp on the protein. Feed what is needed, both for the cow and her calf. You'll be money ahead.
The statement about pregnancy rates on heifers from the supplemented cows is what caught my attention.
Pregnancy rates of heifers from cows that received protein supplements was 5-14% higher that heifers from non-supplemented cows. Steers from these supplemented cows graded choice 5-23% more often. Fetal growth rate is the highest during the last third of gestation. Nutrient requirements of the cow and her calf are higher than earlier in her pregnancy. As cows approach calving time,don't scrimp on the protein. Feed what is needed, both for the cow and her calf. You'll be money ahead.
The statement about pregnancy rates on heifers from the supplemented cows is what caught my attention.
Faster horses
Well-known member
We supplement them...with hay, not purchased protein.
I agree, that if you are grazing in the winter, cows need more
protein...and they need it to help digest the dried grass.
But if you raise hay, and feed hay, purchasing supplemental
protein is rarely needed. We've done many, many forage
tests on the hay for us and customers--and we've done it for
years. Only one time did we find hay that was too low in protein.
In her third trimester a cow requires 2 lbs. of crude protein.
At 10% protein, 25 lbs. of hay with 10% moisture makes the
crude protein 2.2 lbs. At 30 lbs. as fed they would be getting
2.7 lbs. of crude protein. So many times we find too much
protein, as in feeding 20% alfalfa hay. That can be an overkill.
What we are short of in this country is energy.
When it's cold and windy here in the winter, a cow can't eat enough
to meet her requirements. So she should be in a body score
of 6 going into the winter.
OOPS, gotta run, be back later.
I agree, that if you are grazing in the winter, cows need more
protein...and they need it to help digest the dried grass.
But if you raise hay, and feed hay, purchasing supplemental
protein is rarely needed. We've done many, many forage
tests on the hay for us and customers--and we've done it for
years. Only one time did we find hay that was too low in protein.
In her third trimester a cow requires 2 lbs. of crude protein.
At 10% protein, 25 lbs. of hay with 10% moisture makes the
crude protein 2.2 lbs. At 30 lbs. as fed they would be getting
2.7 lbs. of crude protein. So many times we find too much
protein, as in feeding 20% alfalfa hay. That can be an overkill.
What we are short of in this country is energy.
When it's cold and windy here in the winter, a cow can't eat enough
to meet her requirements. So she should be in a body score
of 6 going into the winter.
OOPS, gotta run, be back later.
Everything here gets protein through hay for about 200 or so days per year. Costs about $20.00 or so a ton. Trace mineralized salt is the only suplement that comes from off the farm most years. Come to think of it, it's amazing the critturs are still alive 
katrina
Well-known member
We don't buy protein either...
gcreekrch
Well-known member
We have put out a few lick tubs (the harder ones are the best) while the cows are still rustling in late Nov. and Dec. (depending on weather and grass quality) and if we are feeding any late cut, low quality hay. ( like this year is turning out.) Once they are on good hay the only extras are salt and Min.
If the cattle are sorted into groups of similar flesh conditions it solves a lot of wintering problems.
If the cattle are sorted into groups of similar flesh conditions it solves a lot of wintering problems.
