Post by finallyfarming on Apr 2, 2014 10:17:06 GMT -5
I noticed that there are several threads about how to put weight on a cow going on right now. I want to throw out the idea of cooking whole grains for cows. When my Nelly freshened she looked like a potato with toothpicks for legs. Ate like a pig so her rumen was always full but was she was funny shaped and unhealthy looking. I think she was much younger than the 2 years she was supposed to be. My vets only suggestion was more bagged dairy feed. I just can't afford to be feeding bagged feed at the rate she needed so off to my trusty laptop I went. After doing lots of research about the best way and type of grain, I was intrigued by some studies done on steaming barley. Seems it put weight on really well, as did sprouting, but the papers always ended with, "Not practical in actual farm applications." So I wormed Nelly, put her on Probios and started up my crock pot. I could only fit 2 pounds of soaked barley in my pot but I did that twice a day until the pigs needed it more. Nelly did put on some weight, her shape became normal and she sort of filled in here and there. As a scientific experiment it was a flop as I had too many variables but the cow did well on the cooked food and loved it as well.
It would be great if several of us were to try this, take before and after pictures, and report our results here. Nell could use more weight still and I am willing to try it again. Might not be something for big farms, but those of us with just a cow or two could do it for our hard working and much loved cows and see if cooking makes the grain more digestible. Anyone else want to try it?
Carol
It would be great if several of us were to try this, take before and after pictures, and report our results here. Nell could use more weight still and I am willing to try it again. Might not be something for big farms, but those of us with just a cow or two could do it for our hard working and much loved cows and see if cooking makes the grain more digestible. Anyone else want to try it?
Carol