Nice problem to have

[betweenthelines]

You feed them while they are grazing?

Yeah, he's organic. That's what happens in nature.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

When did you calve them?

April May

 

[Muddyroads]

Some big bale hay here too if wanted.

 

[Sid]

You feed them while they are grazing?

Dry cows yes, just like you do , but you use standing hay.
Don't get a lot of that in March, April or May.

 

[ollie989898]

Put them out on a bit of rough pasture (if you have any) and put the odd round bale out? Buy horse hay?

 

[Sid]

Why?

To keep their rumens full, not have fat cow or large calves.

 

[Sid]

Put them out on a bit of rough pasture (if you have any) and put the odd round bale out? Buy horse hay?

Rough pasture is 3 miles from dairy. But it could be a possible for far off drys.

 

[ollie989898]

To keep their rumens full, not have fat cow or large calves.

My old boss always said the dry cows were the most important animals on the place to keep fed. Letting them go hungry is a recipe for grief.

 

[Al R]

I’ve got 80-90 bales of haylage spare but haulage will be the killer

 

[ollie989898]

Rough pasture is 3 miles from dairy. But it could be a possible for far off drys.

Fudge, that's a long way for cattle you probably want to keep a close eye on.

 

[Sid]

Fudge, that's a long way for cattle you probably want to keep a close eye on.

We usually rotate fields and paddocks next to the dairy.
Ideally 4 week paddocks to prevent mastitis bugs build up.

 

[Beef farmer]

Dry cows yes, just like you do , but you use standing hay.
Don't get a lot of that in March, April or May.

Sorry, you said heifers

 

[Sid]

Sorry, you said heifers

I can deal with them on away ground , its the drys I am short for.

 

[betweenthelines]

To keep their rumens full, not have fat cow or large calves.

So you under feed them then?

 

[ollie989898]

So you under feed them then?

Of course dry cows are 'under' fed- they are on holiday and doing fudge all but sustaining a pregnancy. If you feed them too much they will get fat or have serious metabolic issues post-partum or in early lactation- best avoided. Dry cows that are not carrying too much body fat have far fewer issues at or around calving.

 

[betweenthelines]

Big difference between under fed and overfat

 

[Derrick Hughes]

A lot of big dairy farms feed high straw diets to dry cows , I'm not going to argue with them if they want the straw. Something to do with priming the rumen

 

[betweenthelines]

It's just a fashion/fad

Cows need to be well flesh (not overfat) when they calve so they can milk off their backs.

Of course cows will calve easier if they are under fed, the developing calves wont grow as well as they should.

Would you put your wife on half rations before she gives birth?

 

[jondear]

My old boss always said the dry cows were the most important animals on the place to keep fed. Letting them go hungry is a recipe for grief.

We keep all cows in one block all having same feed.Never get much trouble with over fat cows.And ours are prodominately MRI X B Freisan .

 

[jondear]

It's just a fashion/fad

For F 1 cows?