lazy farmer
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- som/dor border
no as most of the dry cow silage we make comes in the form of surpluses off the platform so can't be fussy.
Pre calving dry cow diet
- Thread starter farmer JD
- Start date
Cow cra
Hi I take it you feed haylage ?not grass silage bales ? I was going to ask does your dry cow roll contain a calcium binder like zeolite or x- zelit? The the one I use from forfarmers does , also what percent protein energy does your milking cake contain?also being honest with you why do you feed dry cow minerals and bolus when the minerals are all in the dry cow roll?is there any evidence that they need a bolus and minerals when they get a dry cow roll with it in just curious that's all would appreciate why , thanks
As of today I have gone for ad lib haylage putting mag chloride in water and 2.5 kg of dry cow roll cows are inside , I'm wondering if to give them 2.5 kg of a home made blend too help keep condition on cows and to milk when they calve similar to what cow crazy is doing as I have milky cows any thoughts on dry cow blouses or lick blocks ? When being fed a dry cow roll ?
Clay52
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Unless you are feeding them cardboard quality haylage. If you have good cow comfort and plenty of room for cows to access haylage you will more likely have issues with cows gaining too much condition than not having enough.
For high production you don't want fat fresh cows you want cows with big rumens and big appetites. That comes from fibre not fat cows on a heap of grain.
For high production you don't want fat fresh cows you want cows with big rumens and big appetites. That comes from fibre not fat cows on a heap of grain.
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Ok well I'm trying it and going from there clay you must be on a full dcab diet , mines partial dcab I think , I know what your saying, btw I see some of you bolus at drying off? And give a dry cow roll and lick blocks is all that necessary ? I'm just asking, everyone I speak to say cleansing is related too selinium ? The cattle are brown Swiss they all calve them selves no problem,
Clay52
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Full DCAD. Saw improvements going from partial to full.
I don't use dry cow licks. Expensive Lolly for cows if you ask me.
I don't use dry cow licks. Expensive Lolly for cows if you ask me.
This is why I asked you specifically about which cows were tested and what for, but you never answered my question.
Generally the majority are due to bad transition management and hypocalcaemia, not minerals. For some reason farmers want everything to me a mineral deficiency, I don't know why.
You can go full DECAB and monitor with urine pH.
Partial DECAB works but you can't monitor using urine pH as it's not having that much effect on the cows.
You can restrict calcium and it does work (either by diet, or feeding a binder) but you do need to worry about calcium and potassium levels in the forage and adjust accordingly. Need regular mineral analysis done as forage changes.
If you are short of selenium you need to know. Also want calcium and mag levels very close to calving.
I don't like mag cholride in water, it makes it bitter and cows drink less. Taste a bit and you'll see.
Ok I'm feeding ad lib haylage how would you get mag chloride into them without going into water? Also do you think full dcab is most effective ? Or should I stick with partial dcab, also Bovine answer me this, why is it the pre calving cows are always alkaline 8-9 and what ever I try it does not come down ?
Because you are not feeding enough anionic salts. You need to know the mineral composition of the forage and do a basic calculation. Then tweek it using urine pH.
It will never go low with partial DECAB
Depends what they need. There is a growing interest in over-supplimentation of cattle with copper. A bolus can be harmful as well as a benefit.
You can't even begin to contemplate full DECAB without a forage mineral analysis. How the hell do you plan on calculating the requirements?
You can't even begin to contemplate full DECAB without a forage mineral analysis. How the hell do you plan on calculating the requirements?
?....... and back in the real world
Clay52
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- Outer Space
What's wowzers about it?
Married 2 The Mob
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- E. Midlands
Why this route of feeding dcab ( or partial ) plus feeding a Calcium binder ?
The Calcium binder is a modern day twist on the older methods of restricting calcium in the diet, in the pre calving period.
Dcab is a way of allowing the cow to have calcium in her diet pre calving, but adapting her metabolism to cope when she calves.
If you feed dcab without sufficient calcium you will get problems associated with milk fever / sub clinical milk fever. Up to, and including milk fever like you wouldn't believe.
My guess would be your issues up to now have been you are using two opposing systems in the same ration.
Take out one or the other. Good luck.
Clay52
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- Outer Space
Agree. DCAD requires higher calcium in the diet.