Dry cow protein

[lazy farmer]

Hi. Dry cows are short of protein. Had the same issue last yr and had colostrum issues for a while. Feed rep is suggesting we need at least 2 kgs of dry cow rolls &£473 a ton. Is the best solution? Through management calving issues aren’t a big issue here.

 

[More to life]

would your winter blend be mineralized?

 

[Green Grass]

0.5 kg soya?

 

[som farmer]

Hi. Dry cows are short of protein. Had the same issue last yr and had colostrum issues for a while. Feed rep is suggesting we need at least 2 kgs of dry cow rolls &£473 a ton. Is the best solution? Through management calving issues aren’t a big issue here.

our transition diet, included 1kg soya, to correct protein.

but different cow type. Have you looked at forage booster blocks ? They should raise P a bit.

dry cow rolls are very expensive, but do work, and easy to use.

we use our keenan to make a specific transition diet, get it right, calving issues just vanish, used part of a box of 12, calcium this autumn, very few dirty cows, usually following a twin.

 

[More to life]

Rape meal is the easiest fix

 

[Conrod96]

Hadn’t enough colostrum with our drys fed them 0.5kg of soya seemed to have sorted it

 

[DairyNerd]

Do you bolus for minerals? Could feed 2kg of unmineralised parlour cake instead if you do, will be at least 150 a tonne cheaper and will have bonus of being the same as they go on to once calved.

 

[lazy farmer]

would your winter blend be mineralized?

No. We put minerals /mag flakes in the kennen

 

[Wesley]

We pour rape/soya blend on top the forage. Would mix it in but we never have too many dry cows at a time.

 

[More to life]

No. We put minerals /mag flakes in the kennen

does depend on the protein, the simple option is to add that

 

[dinderleat]

Dry cow rolls do work well for us anyway. We feed them twice a day so it makes them get up and come to the feed fence.
soya or rape would be my go to but just depends how easy it is to deal with

 

[TheRanger]

Feeding 2kg dry cow rolls and adlib hay here and getting the best transition results we've had. Not cheap, but probably still cheaper than dealing with problems. 10000L cows mostly though.

 

[frederick]

No point in the cost of dry cow rolls if your running the wagon. First port of call would probably be around 05-0.8kg soya. If buying the soya is a problem I would buy sopralin or soypass. Not cheap but better protein mix for your problem and comes on a pallet of 25kg bags. Probably 0.5kg would make a big difference.
This was our solution to the same problem this year.

 

[More to life]

No point in the cost of dry cow rolls if your running the wagon. First port of call would probably be around 05-0.8kg soya. If buying the soya is a problem I would buy sopralin or soypass. Not cheap but better protein mix for your problem and comes on a pallet of 25kg bags. Probably 0.5kg would make a big difference.
This was our solution to the same problem this year.

There all soya products

 

[ollie989898]

Gotta be a blend based on soya or dry cow rolls.

Make sure the minerals are either in the blend or in the rolls. That way you can be near certain every animal is getting their dose.

For simplicity and smaller numbers, I'd go with dry cow rolls.

If you are running a mixer wagon anyway, use a blend or make your own up from straights.

Minerals must must must be put in.

 

[Martyn]

Hi. Dry cows are short of protein. Had the same issue last yr and had colostrum issues for a while. Feed rep is suggesting we need at least 2 kgs of dry cow rolls &£473 a ton. Is the best solution? Through management calving issues aren’t a big issue here.

Can’t you add some grass to their diet? Couple hours a day soon lift protein intake.
We used to feed rolls/blend/minerals. Now feed nothing than controlled grass and hay, and had no milk fevers for two years and sensible colostrum volumes & quality

 

[lazy farmer]

Can’t you add some grass to their diet? Couple hours a day soon lift protein intake.
We used to feed rolls/blend/minerals. Now feed nothing than controlled grass and hay, and had no milk fevers for two years and sensible colostrum volumes & quality

Sorry farm is heavy clay and I struggled to get home yesterday due to flooding locally.

 

[som farmer]

Can’t you add some grass to their diet? Couple hours a day soon lift protein intake.
We used to feed rolls/blend/minerals. Now feed nothing than controlled grass and hay, and had no milk fevers for two years and sensible colostrum volumes & quality

for years have avoided feeding green grass to transition cows, TMR and standing hay, and the only trouble we get from milk fever, is in the last few to calve, when the grass starts to grow again, in the calving paddock.

this year, standing hay just didn't happen, it stayed green. But TMR based on straw, maize soya, and very limited grass, about a 6in move, milk fevers, are really no different at all. One lives and learns, and in that 6in of grass, was a serious amount of clover.

one thing we have done for years, is put TMR out as late in the day as possible, it can reduce overnight calvings to pretty well zero, which makes life a lot easier, no midnight check.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

OK for next year, try not to leave it till they're in the dry period to think about it.

For now, whichever solution is quickest.
Otherwise you're into a cycle of doing the same thing yet expecting the results to be different.

 

[Headless chicken]

OK for next year, try not to leave it till they're in the dry period to think about it.

For now, whichever solution is quickest.
Otherwise you're into a cycle of doing the same thing yet expecting the results to be different.

how would you feed your dry cows? We have had some ongoing issues with cows this autumn and suspect it down to management of dry period. Would really like to not be in this boat again.