Post by rd200 on Apr 18, 2015 14:19:15 GMT -5
First, just wanted to say my Heifer freshened Thursday! A nice, small heifer calf. I went out to check her at 10:45am, no feet yet but she had been showing visible signs of labor since about 6am. Went back out to the pasture at 11:05am and the calf was already born and she was licking it off real nice. I'm relieved it went well & quick. Minimal stress on the mama & Calf
Anyways, I truly wish I could post a picture of her but my computer is so messed up I can't get it to upload. She was looking real nice condition wise this fall/winter. Not too fat, not too thin. Well, she must've had WAY MORE HAIR than I thought because ever since her hair has come off from the winter about 2weeks ago, she is thinner than I would like to see her. And now that she's had the calf too, she's even thinner yet. She's super healthy, not scruffy looking or anything, eats real well. I just think she needs to put a few pounds on so she doesn't get too thin while milking.
What's the best/fastest way to do that?? I just started giving her a grain mix about 2 weeks ago. But didn't want to push it too hard since she's never had any before so I'm just giving that once a day 4# right now. Its a 14%. I can also get an 18% from the same feed mill if need be. Its an Organic mix because I wanted to stay away from GMO, (but I'll feed what I need too so she gets some more weight on.) Hay is real good quality. 3rd crop, probably 70/30 Alfalfa/Grass mix. (I had been feeding mostly grass hay the past 2 or 3 months) but now have been giving the better stuff the past 3 weeks or so. She has only about 1- 1.5 acres of pasture. And its barely green, so she's not even on it yet. And I tried frost seeding an organic grass mix into part of it but the seed shipment was delayed and it came 2 weeks late and by the time I got it out there, it wasn't even really freezing at all overnight anymore so I don't think much if any will grow. But I have that part sectioned off for now in case something does start to grow.
So, all of that rambling to ask........ What would you do right now with not having access to fresh pasture yet. And I'm thinking another 2 weeks until she can go out on the pasture.
A: Try and buy some top quality dairy hay
B: Feed more grain mix
C: Feed other options??? soaked beet pulp or BOSS?
D: Anything I'm missing?
Thanks in advance for any help or advice