Post by mazurzoo on May 3, 2007 11:34:56 GMT -5
The Jersey cow that I am buying will be here monday. I dont know what I will be feeding her yet! I guess I better figure that out. So help me out a little here. Where she lives right now they are giving her 15-20lbs/ day of a grain mix that is 1 part dairy concentrate and 4-5 parts of corn, she gets a bale a hay a day as well (half grass and half alfalfa), and she is not on pasture. At my place she will be on a grass pasture, moved daily, I plan on giving her free choice kelp and redmond salt. But as to the grain I am confused! Since she will be getting minerals in the kelp and salt, I am thinking that it might be best to use plain whole grains and not a premixed ration or concentrate, is my thinking right? So then what kind of grain do I feed instead of what she's been getting? And how do I make the switch in such a way that she wont bloat or get sick? The current owner said he'll sell me some of her current grain, so that I can wean her onto the new stuff.
I know I am asking a lot of questions here. But I have heard that once she goes on pasture she might put weight on, which she is on the thinner side so that would be good. But then today a consultant for Bio Ag told me that when I put her on pasture, it will be like putting her on atkins diet and she may lose weight. I think the first is true right? I dont think the grass will make her lose weight. But who am I to know?
I was also told that since she is not used to grass I should also supply dry hay for her as well. How long should have to keep offering hay before the I can just rely on grass alone?
Just in case it changes your answers I should mention that right now she is hopefully bred and she is giving 4-5 gal milk/ day. She is slightly on the thin side, but not too bad.
I know I am asking a lot of questions here. But I have heard that once she goes on pasture she might put weight on, which she is on the thinner side so that would be good. But then today a consultant for Bio Ag told me that when I put her on pasture, it will be like putting her on atkins diet and she may lose weight. I think the first is true right? I dont think the grass will make her lose weight. But who am I to know?
I was also told that since she is not used to grass I should also supply dry hay for her as well. How long should have to keep offering hay before the I can just rely on grass alone?
Just in case it changes your answers I should mention that right now she is hopefully bred and she is giving 4-5 gal milk/ day. She is slightly on the thin side, but not too bad.