Post by freetodream on Feb 16, 2012 10:50:17 GMT -5
Okay so this fodder idea and threads are amazing! I have a couple question regarding the amount to feed. We've started our fodder system and when finished the 17x36ish biscuts weigh about 26 lbs. I'm wondering how much to feed though. Right now we have 3 guernsey cows: sally is milking was fresh in september currently open and her bull calf that sharemilks and also, a 15 month old heifer thats bred, Sally is milking quite a bit with her greedy bull calf on her all the time and she still milks 3 gallons for us in the evening, she gets about 10lbs of rolled barley/day and her condition is great wouldn't want her any fatter. Right now the 3 of them eat about 110lbs of awesome 3rd crop alfalfa and thats feeding free choice as much as they want. I read that you feed 20-22lbs of fodder per head per day but this doesn't seem like nearly enough to feed no other hay and only straw or something for roughage? I guess I'm confused as to how much fodder equals how much hay? We've only got a shelf that will do the one 26lb biscut per day (we plan on expanding just had to see if it worked) so if I can't grow enough to fodder exclusively how much hay do I feed in addition. Last night we fed the 26lbs of fodder and about about 85 lbs of hay and at 7am they were out of food mooing like they were starving. it takes them about 15min to eat the fodder they LOVE it. So any suggestions? would there be harm in feeding fodder free choice or would they get fat (not sure if it's practical though if they eat it like candy we'd have to grow ALOT) or is that how you can reduce how much grain you feed? Is there a specific formula to figure it out somehow?
