Straw use at calving

[Jdunn55]

Quick question, roughly how much straw does a cow use around calving time? Would be in cubicles for the first 50ish days and then I would be pulling out onto loose housing until calving, just ordered a load of gold bricks straw and wondering if I need another, but I'm hoping not and similarly how much straw will a calf use in bedding to get them to 3 months of age?
Was thinking roughly 0.25t for each dry cow and same for each calf?

 

[Manney]

I've got about 25ton of barley straw in the shed and that will do the 200 spring calving cows in a 12 week block and 50 calves to 3 months old. Usually have a bit left over each year. That's not skimping on the straw either, like to keep them all clean and well bedded.

Calving in 9 weeks this year so might use a bit less?

 

[Jdunn55]

I've got about 25ton of barley straw in the shed and that will do the 200 spring calving cows in a 12 week block and 50 calves to 3 months old. Usually have a bit left over each year. That's not skimping on the straw either, like to keep them all clean and well bedded.

Calving in 9 weeks this year so might use a bit less?

Thanks, I should have plenty spare by that then, got roughly 60t here/on the way but that's got to do the suckler calves as well

 

[Cowmansam]

Big difference on use depending upon what you feed and if you have scrape passages and how often you scrape

 

[Jdunn55]

Big difference on use depending upon what you feed and if you have scrape passages and how often you scrape

The would be on 2kgdm wholecrop, 2kg of dry cow rolls and then ad-lib hay when close up, would be scraped daily in front of the feed rail

 

[Cowmansam]

Good dry diet then

 

[Jdunn55]

Good dry diet then

I hope so, haven't tried it yet

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Big difference on use depending upon what you feed and if you have scrape passages and how often you scrape

Also the type of straw , soft spring barley will last twice as long as shiney winter

 

[Cowmansam]

Rape straw is the best stick it under in wads and then bed on top with wheat or barley drains our way better

 

[michael N123]

Also the type of straw , soft spring barley will last twice as long as shiney winter

We are crimping more barly now and I’ve noticed the golden fresher straw is useless as bedding compared to old white September weathered straw

 

[Derrick Hughes]

We are crimping more barly now and I’ve noticed the golden fresher straw is useless as bedding compared to old white September weathered straw

Good feed mind

 

[michael N123]

Good feed mind

Straws to expensive up here for me to be feeding it