Post by Jennifer on Dec 8, 2007 18:55:43 GMT -5
There has been a lot of discussion lately about feeding family cows and calves. I haven't said much because my opinion is different then the norm but I decided to tell you all a little about my experiences so people understand that there can be options. We have a small herd of Jersey and Jersey/Normande crosses. We only feed grass (fescue, crabgrass, and clover), 3 kinds of hay (a large amount being high quality alfalfa), free choice minerals and water. We practice rotational grazing for all but about 2.5 months in the winter (I know this goes against the concept but we are just getting on our feet concerning stockpiled grazing). Our cows have come from a variety of places but the majority of them are our original herd that we searched for a long time to find. We wanted to start with good grass genetics. Since then I have transitioned a few from a 'light grain' environment to all grass. Here are a few things I have learned.
1. Where you live has a great impact on how you run an all forage program. It does not mean that you can't do it in severe climates but it becomes more critical to have a cow that naturally holds good body condition.
2. There needs to be the proper balance between amount of land and amount of livestock. I have talked to many people who try to do all forage with several cows on a tiny piece of land. Again not impossible but you really have to know what you are doing to properly care for the land so it can support the animals.
We got lucky when we started and had more grassland then animals so it allowed us an easier learning curve.
3. Genetics. This to me is hugely (is that a word ;D?) important and is my current pet project. I have a tiny smidgen of the knowledge that others on this board have about cattle so I won't try to pretend I know what I am talking about. What I do have is a willingness to spend an enormous amount of timing observing my herd. I watch who gets a lot of flies, who often has a poopy butt, what consistency is the poo, who is thin at 30, 60 or 90 days post calving, who can maintain production in the 6-9 month time, who grazes the most, what are they eating, etc, etc... I am learning which cows in my herd can hold body condition, maintain quality production and stay clean. Often these are not the cows that are the most "correct" body conformation wise. In fact a lot of my herd has incorrect conformation but are excellent grazers that consistently produce a good quantity of milk. Here is one for example. This is our matriarch, Momma. We don't know exactly how old she is but she is an awesome cow. She is healthy, is a great producer and maintains wonderfully on grass and hay year round.
Here are a few pictures of some heifers I have raised that have never had any grain ever.
This is Molly, all Jersey, at 9 months (that I wish I wouldn't have sold )
This is Belle, mostly Jersey with either 1/8 or 1/16 Normande, at 12 months
and again at 19 mo (she's not a looker but out of an excellent producer)
This is another heifer, Butter, that we raised. Again not perfect conformation but will hold her own grazing (This was the day she calved)
This is Butter with one of our Normande cross girls Nana who is 3/4 Jersey and 1/4 Normande
and this is Nana's baby Mable who is 7/8 Jersey and 1/8 Normande (did I do my math right?)
Ok now for the other side. Not all cows can handle a forage only diet. Unfortunately many cows have been bred to make money and not for things like pest resistance and body condition. Several cows have left our farm because they didn't work in our system. If a cow can't hold weight then she needs a different feeding program then ours. Hopefully in time we will have a solid herd that can excel on a forage diet.
The information posted on the other threads concerning what to feed calves and cows is all very valuable. Calves especially need the correct protein, fats and such. That is why we have decided to not bottle feed our replacement heifers. We foster them onto nurse cows and allow them to nurse until at least 4 months (we are currently experimenting with longer).
I am not someone who is good at putting words to paper (or screen ) so if I left more questions then answers then let me know and I will try to explain my system better. I am not out to inflame or mislead anyone I just wanted to explain that you can raise dairy cows successfully on an all forage diet but you have to be committed to study your system and continue to change it until it runs smoothly.
1. Where you live has a great impact on how you run an all forage program. It does not mean that you can't do it in severe climates but it becomes more critical to have a cow that naturally holds good body condition.
2. There needs to be the proper balance between amount of land and amount of livestock. I have talked to many people who try to do all forage with several cows on a tiny piece of land. Again not impossible but you really have to know what you are doing to properly care for the land so it can support the animals.
We got lucky when we started and had more grassland then animals so it allowed us an easier learning curve.
3. Genetics. This to me is hugely (is that a word ;D?) important and is my current pet project. I have a tiny smidgen of the knowledge that others on this board have about cattle so I won't try to pretend I know what I am talking about. What I do have is a willingness to spend an enormous amount of timing observing my herd. I watch who gets a lot of flies, who often has a poopy butt, what consistency is the poo, who is thin at 30, 60 or 90 days post calving, who can maintain production in the 6-9 month time, who grazes the most, what are they eating, etc, etc... I am learning which cows in my herd can hold body condition, maintain quality production and stay clean. Often these are not the cows that are the most "correct" body conformation wise. In fact a lot of my herd has incorrect conformation but are excellent grazers that consistently produce a good quantity of milk. Here is one for example. This is our matriarch, Momma. We don't know exactly how old she is but she is an awesome cow. She is healthy, is a great producer and maintains wonderfully on grass and hay year round.
Here are a few pictures of some heifers I have raised that have never had any grain ever.
This is Molly, all Jersey, at 9 months (that I wish I wouldn't have sold )
This is Belle, mostly Jersey with either 1/8 or 1/16 Normande, at 12 months
and again at 19 mo (she's not a looker but out of an excellent producer)
This is another heifer, Butter, that we raised. Again not perfect conformation but will hold her own grazing (This was the day she calved)
This is Butter with one of our Normande cross girls Nana who is 3/4 Jersey and 1/4 Normande
and this is Nana's baby Mable who is 7/8 Jersey and 1/8 Normande (did I do my math right?)
Ok now for the other side. Not all cows can handle a forage only diet. Unfortunately many cows have been bred to make money and not for things like pest resistance and body condition. Several cows have left our farm because they didn't work in our system. If a cow can't hold weight then she needs a different feeding program then ours. Hopefully in time we will have a solid herd that can excel on a forage diet.
The information posted on the other threads concerning what to feed calves and cows is all very valuable. Calves especially need the correct protein, fats and such. That is why we have decided to not bottle feed our replacement heifers. We foster them onto nurse cows and allow them to nurse until at least 4 months (we are currently experimenting with longer).
I am not someone who is good at putting words to paper (or screen ) so if I left more questions then answers then let me know and I will try to explain my system better. I am not out to inflame or mislead anyone I just wanted to explain that you can raise dairy cows successfully on an all forage diet but you have to be committed to study your system and continue to change it until it runs smoothly.