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What kind of hay can cows not eat?
Most dairy cattle will not milk adequately on grass hay, nor on stemmy, coarse alfalfa without many leaves.
Can you feed fresh hay to cows?
HAY FOR CATTLE Cattle can generally tolerate dustier hay than can horses, and can even eat a little mold without problems.
What kind of hay can cows eat?
Alfalfa hay is often recommended for dairy cattle, but may not be a good fit for beef cattle, since it can lead to bloat. Legume hay is another nutritious option for cattle, since it’s high in protein.
Why can’t cattle eat alfalfa?
The biggest concern with grazing frosted alfalfa is the potential for bloat. Bloat is a serious problem in livestock, especially cattle, and preventative measures must be used when animals are placed in bloat-inducing situations, such as grazing alfalfa.
Why can’t cattle eat clover?
Sweet clover contains a compound called coumarol that can be converted to dicoumarol in the presence of molds. When dicoumarol is consumed by livestock it inhibits vitamin K production. Cattle fed hay with moldy sweet clover could be consuming the toxin dicoumarol.
Can cows eat grass hay?
The simple answer is hay. Most people are familiar the a cows diet in the summer, acres and acres of lush green grass. Hay is the staple forage in most cattle operations. Hay is forage (grass and alfalfa) that has been cut, dried, and made into bales.
How long will a round bale of hay last a cow?
Thirty-six pounds of hay is close to one small square bale of hay per day, taking into consideration some waste. Conversely, feeding one large round bale of hay, to two or three steers or cows will last a few weeks.
What is the best way to feed hay to cattle?
He suggests the following steps:
- Feed hay in small amounts or in a feeder to minimize waste.
- Feed hay in well-drained areas.
- If you intend to feed hay in a single location all winter, provide a footing such as crushed gravel or concrete to help minimize mud.
- Feed hay stored outside before hay stored inside.
Why can’t cows eat clover?
What hay is best for beef cattle?
Timothy hay is recommended by many experts due to its ease on various animal’s digestive system as well as promotion of bowel regularity. Additionally, there have been scientific studies done that show Timothy hay is an ideal feed for pregnant or lactating cows.
Is Johnson grass bad for cows?
Johnsongrass, which can be found in pastures, can produce toxic levels of prussic acid, especially when stressed during cold temperatures and can then poison cattle. Cattle may suffer from prussic acid poisoning caused by this grass.
Should beef cows be fed hay in the winter?
And it’s the tradition, the mindset that beef cows should be fed hay in the winter, that gnaws farthest into the farm budget book. But there is good news: Alternative feeding methods can reduce cost without affecting productivity, and August is the time to start thinking about them.
How much does it cost to feed a cow hay?
Except for the price. Hay is the most commonly used winter feed for beef cattle, but it’s also the most expensive. Each cow requires a daily intake of 40 pounds of round-baled hay, which amounts to $1.61 if pricing hay at $80 per ton.
How similar is hay to beef cattle feed?
Very similar, indeed. Except for the price. Hay is the most commonly used winter feed for beef cattle, but it’s also the most expensive. Each cow requires a daily intake of 40 pounds of round-baled hay, which amounts to $1.61 if pricing hay at $80 per ton.
Why do cows eat hay in a hay ring?
The combination of limiting access to feed and restricting the time cattle have access to feed may leave cows on the lower end of the social hierarchy without a meal.” Heifers eat hay from a traditional hay ring. Research shows that feeding bales in a hay ring results in less waste compared with rolling bales out on the ground.