Feeding a mama cows

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GrowerShower32

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 7, 2016
Messages
121
Ok so we have right at 27 head of commercial mama cows and 1 bull. The bull is super easy keeper. The mama's only one has a calf on her at the moment all the others were weaned about a month ago. We live in Georgia and are going through a drought right now. They have hay in front of them at all times. So my question is to be certain we are feeding them enough how much grain do you guys recommend them getting?. How often, everyday, everyone day, once or twice a week etc etc. I just want to be certain they are getting what they need. Even if we aren't going through a drought how much do you recommend giving them. Or better yet what's a good rule of thumb when feeding pasture cows.
 

KSmithShowCattle

Active member
Joined
Sep 26, 2012
Messages
36
I'm from Texas and we just recently got out of a drought. The biggest thing is to make sure you are not overgrazing your place. We did the same with the hay having for them constantly. With the feed we fed about two bags of feed a week. If it got really bad we fed two bags two times a week. In no way shape was that probably enough but that's what we did. The cows were skinnier than they usually are but we didn't overgraze and we made it through.
 

GrowerShower32

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 7, 2016
Messages
121
Ok that's what we are doing to ours as well. We are feeding 2 bags two times a week I just wanted to make sure I'm not cheating my cows. The good thing is we don't have calves pulling on them right now so that's helping them too.
 

hamburgman

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Joined
Feb 9, 2010
Messages
569
your cows do not need to eat 24/7, I don't know what your pen set up is, but why not have two round bale feeders and only leave cows on for 8 hours a day.  You could pry get some grain corn or wheat decently priced even though you are in a drought since the supply is in the country, I don't know how prohibitive trucking is in your location.  Feed grain once a day to lure cows  away from hay feeders and shut the gate.  Feeding some form of grain can save you a lot of hay, and cost usually.  Luckily dry cows have pretty low maintenance until last trimester.
 
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