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When in Rome (pics)

M

movin' on

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 25, 2006
Messages
624
Location
Independence, KS
They say when in Rome, do as the Romans.

Well, I live pretty deep in the heart of farm country. Although I don't enjoy everything about that, there is one really nice benefit......crop residue.

Every year I graze off corn and milo stalks and end up with a very inexpensive way to feed the cows through the winter. Most years I end up buying virtually no hay at all.

I supplement with protein tubs, check the fence every other day or so, make sure the water supply is adequate and let them go to work.

There are some challenges, especially when it gets wet, but all in all, this works really good.






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A new field of milo stalks.



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The milo was no-tilled into wheat.



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The yellow gal looks to be doing all right.


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A pretty good cow.


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One of my favorites.
 
Looks good to me... I wish I were in "Rome" to benefit from cheap feed :D .

Do you suppose the yellow cow has twins, she looks to have an awful big belly to me.
 
Thank you, per.

WyomingRancher, I don't think so, but I don't know. That yellow cow (peaches :D :D ) is one of a few that get just huge every winter on stalks. I don't know if it's because of the "unlimited" availability of forage or what, but some of them gals really do get wide! I love to see it, though :D

"Peaches" is one of just a handful that has a name. A six or seven year old cousin of mine called her that one day several years back and it just stuck. She has enough Charolais in her to really milk excellent and enough English base to throw black calves every year and stay in good shape. There have been a couple of heifers kept out of her already and I would sure keep some more.
 
Thanks, Blkbuckaroo.

I should have pointed out, though, that I run the cows entirely on rented stalks. I don't farm a single acre myself. Sometimes I think it would be easier if I could farm the ground and then graze the residues, but for now I have to beg, borrow, and steal. :D
 
movin' on said:
Thanks, Blkbuckaroo.

I should have pointed out, though, that I run the cows entirely on rented stalks. I don't farm a single acre myself. Sometimes I think it would be easier if I could farm the ground and then graze the residues, but for now I have to beg, borrow, and steal. :D
Click to expand...
Well then i'll give ya' even more credit for being smart enough to not have the hassel of heavy metal {i.e. Tractors and such} even though there fun to run, and hefty mortagage payments. :lol: :P
 
whereabouts in Kansas are you? You are right, this time of year sure does provide cheap cattle feed, well that is if you are "snow free". Neat pics, thanks for sharing.
 
South Central Kansas. Pretty much equal distance from Salina and Wichita.

Snow isn't much of a problem. Those stalks are from 2' to 3' tall. Even when the rest of the coutryside is a winter wonderland, the majority of those stalks will be sticking through.
 
Too bad we are so far away! I'd bet lots of guys out here could summer cattle here and send em' to ya to winter! Cattle look fat and sassy. Thanks for the pictures!
 
We are fortunate to live in an area that has alot of available crop residue. We graze sweet or grain corn stalks, and some years get overgrown timothy grass to graze. It sure helps keep costs down and the cattle actually do pretty good.

We do get some snow that will cover the stalks up pretty good, then we have to feed hay. I have already fed two weeks worth of hay, but then the snow melted and opened the stalks again.

We also feed a protein supplement, but it is more to help them break down the dry feed.
 
You are fortunate to have such easy access to stalks. Last year due to lack of rain and hay crop we trucked the cows to corn stalks trying to conserve hay and that even with trucking it was cheaper to do then to buy hay and have it hauled in. The cows were fat and just shined when we returned them home. For us this wasn't a cheap way to feed them as with trucking costs figured in there was a big bill to pay.
 
Yes, the cattle do get a protein/mineral supplement in a tub form.

The tubs are from Moorman's and they are about the best I've found. Loomix is another excellent choice, but can be a little hard to keep regulated if you don't stay on the ball.

Sic 'em reds, you are absolutely right that good "protein" supplements enable the rumen to make better use of what it takes in, as well as simply provide protein.
 

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