organic feed--she won't eat it!

[mtngranny]

Hi all,

A few weeks back I posted in the main forum about my cow refusing to eat the organic feed we'd recently purchased for her. At that time someone asked what the composition was so I'm posting it here. If anyone has any insights on why Jo thought this wasn't good for her and/or didn't like it I'd be grateful to hear them!

We had looked forward to getting her all-organic but apparently that is not going to be possible. We are now mixing the certified organic stuff 50/50 with her previous conventional ration (Milkmor 20A from the co-op) and she is eating it fine although it is incredibly dusty and chokes us when we pour it into her trough. On the bright side, conventional feed is about 35-40% the cost of organic so we will save money by not buying it anymore.

Certified Organic cattle feed:


Crude protein, minimum..............................................14.00%
Crude fat, minimum.......................................................2.00%
Crude fiber, maximum...................................................8.00%


INGREDIENTS

Organic Field Peas, Organic Corn, Organic Oats, Organic Alfalfa Meal, Organic Flaxseed, Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate, Dried Organic Kelp, Salt, Condensed Corn Fermentation Solubles*, Soft Rock Phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Condensed Lactobacillus Fermentation Solubles, Seashell Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Oxide, Potassium Chloride, Yeast Culture, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin A Supplement,Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), d-Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Bentonite, Zinc Polysaccharide Complex, Manganese Polysaccharide Complex, Iron Polysaccharide Complex, Copper Polysaccharide Complex, Cobalt Polysaccharide Complex, Cobalt Choline Citrate, Niacin, Riboflavin, Thiamine, Folic Acid.

[Jenn]

I'm guessing because it's dusty...or just different. Our cow had never had alfalfa pellets before, she just didn't recognize it as food for a while. Now they are her treat.
-Jenn

[danb]

Try adding molasses. Cows will often times refuse feed if it is too dusty. Molasses helps to reduce the dustiness and will make it more palatable.

[Shelby]

HOw fast did you switch her over to the new feed from the old?

[mtngranny]

Maybe we switched her too fast--we only gradually mixed in more organic over about 3-4 days. We ran out of conventional then so tried to go all-organic and that's when she flat out refused to eat.

Re: molasses, we have powdered molasses but it sounds like you are talking about liquid? That stuff is really expensive and it seems like it would take a lot to "undust" several pounds of feed. Am I not understanding something? Thanks so much for helping!

[campfarmerangie]

Is the new organic feed from Countryside? If so, I've had the same problem as you, just with goats. I think they mill their feed too finely, in my opinion. Even the chickens don't like that powdery, dusty feed. I wonder if we could perhaps talk to Steve and ask just why they grind so finely. Good Luck-hope your girl will eventually get used to it!
Angie

[Shelby]

Feb 26, 2009 15:51:55 GMT -5 mtngranny said:

Maybe we switched her too fast--we only gradually mixed in more organic over about 3-4 days. We ran out of conventional then so tried to go all-organic and that's when she flat out refused to eat.

Re: molasses, we have powdered molasses but it sounds like you are talking about liquid? That stuff is really expensive and it seems like it would take a lot to "undust" several pounds of feed. Am I not understanding something? Thanks so much for helping!

That's probably what did it, I know it's dusty but the feed I used to get was dusty too and the cows ate it just fine.

Depending on how much grain you are feeding,
I'd say you should have gradually done the change over over a period of a couple of weeks, take a 1/2 cups to a cups worth of the old stuff out and replace with the new, keep that for a couple of days and then replace another 1/2 cup to a cups worth. and so on until you are all switched over,

another thing you could try is the powdered molasses you have but maybe drizzle it with a little water also to help bind it together and keep the dustyness down.

[blaire]

You can also water down liquid molasses pretty significantly to help it go farther. 1-4 would probably still have planty of molasses taste for her. I mix my organic feed pellets with organic barley. The organic barley I order is cheaper than conventional barley from my feed store . Maybe some extra structure would help her like it more.
Blaire

[mtngranny]

Thanks, I will give the molasses water a try.

Angie, yes, I bought it from Countryside. Yesterday I called a lady near me who runs a cowshare program with her 6 cows. She is the one who recommended Countryside to me in the first place, but she reminded me that she does not use their "cattle feed," her cows don't like it either! She buys the bulk peas and oats and mixes them with corn she grows herself. She said she soaks the peas. I guess if we order from Countryside again I will try doing that and mixing my own; I won't buy their cattle feed again. The corn goes right through her, too. Investing in organic feed was a disappointing mistake.

On the positive side, I do really like the kelp and DE I got from them.

Where are you located, Angie? I've forgotten.

[campfarmerangie]

I'm in Fincastle, north of Roanoke. I think mixing your own sounds like a great idea! Good Luck!
Angie
*wanted to add that I really love their healthy minerals!