alfalfa for beef cows??

Dave from MN · Dec 15, 2010

With a farm I rented I picked up 22 acres of 2nd year pure alfalfa for the same rent as the tillable. I have beef cows, and ussually feed out my calves. First question is, alot of "beef" people tell me the alfalfa is no good for them, because they get loose. They will milk to much and I will get mastitis and scours in the calves. I know right now I am feeding pure alfala to my weaned 500-800# weaned calves and thayy are gaining and not loose. This will be the only hay ground I have. Am I better off selling the alfalfa and buying lower quality hay or should I just feed it. I will have nice pasture next year, so my requirements will be from fall pull from pasture until late spring-early summer let out to pasture.
Also, Two options I have for the baling 4x5 rounds or 3'x3'x8' big squares. Friend of mine says I can use the big sqaure baler if I run it for him on custom jobs when he is unavailable( oimited hours of course). Which is better for the hay quality? I sure do like cutting 4 big strings vs the dozens around the 4x's

buickanddeere · Dec 15, 2010

If you do, introduce the new feed gradually over a week or two.

senoj · Dec 15, 2010

Talk to your vet, he should know and advise you MORE properly than any of us can.ggp

rrlund · Dec 15, 2010

The more alfalfa the better. I feed all the best second and third cutting to my weaned calves and the fat cattle. The cows get the first cutting.
As far as round vs square bales,depends on how much room you have to store them inside and whether or not you have the equipment to handle the big squares. The big squares aren't gonna store outside in Minnesota.

Pair-a-dice farm · Dec 15, 2010

I wish I had that problem, we don't have much alfalfa here because it's hard to get it baled in good condition. I know there are some ranchers out west that feed alfalfa exclusively

Jerry/MT · Dec 15, 2010

There are cheaper feeds than alfalfa to feed calves but there is nothing wrong or harmfull about feeding good alfalfa hay to any class of beef animal. They all do good on it. I prefer grass alfalfa mixed hay for my cows and first calf heifers in their last trimester of gestation because of the added energy and minerals that it has. We start feeding grass hay in the late fall and then move to grass alfalfa in about February.

The only bad thing that I"m aware of about afalfa is turning out hungry cows on fresh alfalfa and that"s because of the bloat risk.

country boy 01 · Dec 15, 2010

to your weaned calves you can feed your alfalfa but like some one said do it gradually. now with your cattle you can feed your alfalfa. what we do is feed alfalfa (which is high in protein) and also feed it along with forage such as cane or straw hay.

4010 puller · Dec 15, 2010

I agree, give them some free choice minerals if they wish to eat they will, if not dont worry. The biggest thing about alfalfa here in the east is the cost. If you can buy grass hay for $20/round bale, alfalfa generally cost $35-40/bale. If you had dairy cattle it would be different, you would want heifers to grow quick and want to get the most milk out of the cows. I know of many people feeding alfalfa and have no real problems, other than if they are switched too quick they can get loose and if you try to feed different types of hay (i.e. grass hay) they wont eat it as well if you feed them the alfalfa. Always feed the worse hay first and work up to the best. If you have dairy's around, an idea next year may be to bale the big squares of alfalfa and sell them.

Nebraska Cowman · Dec 15, 2010

you always want the best hay you can get. And a calf ain't gonna do good if the momma won't milk. You may have to limit feed the dry cows, don't just give them all they will eat. If they lay down and chew their cuds an hour or two after you feed they are getting enough. If they won't lay down they are hungry.

JayinNY · Dec 15, 2010

When you see a cow/cows laying down chewing there cud you know they are content/ happy. J

LeonardWD45 · Dec 15, 2010

When I was growing up that's all we fed our cows when the pasture dried out and all winter. No problems at all. They also got a mineral/molasses and salt lick.

Leonard

tjdub · Dec 15, 2010

In my opinion, the only thing feeding them pure alfalfa will hurt is your profit margins

If you have any hay sales nearby, you could take loads of pure alfalfa and take home loads of lesser quality hay for the beefers and pocket the difference. The big advantage to feeding alfalfa is you don't have to worry about supplementing protein for pregnant cows like you do with grass hay. If you feed pure grass hay you almost need to give them some type of bean meal, brewers grain, cottonseed, or protein lick tubs (made out of beans usually) to lower the risk of calving problems in the spring. If you give them enough alfalfa hay, you don't need to worry about that. That's my experience anyway.

alfalfa for beef cows??

Dave from MN

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buickanddeere

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senoj

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rrlund

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Pair-a-dice farm

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Jerry/MT

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country boy 01

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4010 puller

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Nebraska Cowman

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JayinNY

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LeonardWD45

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tjdub

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