distillers grain to pregeant cows

[ablizzard01]

Has any one fed distillers grain to pregeant cows for a supplement. I can get some the cows are on corn stalks now with about about 20 days of feeed out there depending on weather. we are feeding about a bale of grass hay to the twice a week there is 15 and was just wondering if I would gain anything by doingg this. They also have free choice protein tubs fixin to calve in the next 30 - 45 days?

 

[Till-Hill]

My beef cows and heifers eat these diet's sometimes but it is meant for dairy dry cows.

Our far off group (60 days precalving) get 1lb dist, 10 cornsilage, 45 lbs rye silage, 6lbs crp hay, and .5 lb mineral mix
Close up cows 30-0 days precalving get 6lbs dist, 41 cornsilage, 2.3 haylage, 12 decent hay, 6.75 wheat straw and .5 lb mineral mix

Fed tmr and all silages are 60-70% moistures........

 

[auctioneerajb]

I feed distillers to my cows year round with good results. Seems to help keep them in condition while nursing as well as during gestation. Added bonus of they are more willing to come to the bunk/work area when time for breeding/vet work. Sure beats having a rodeo everytime I want to catch them. That alone is worth the cost! (lol)

 

[firesweepranch]

We feed it to our cows that are just fresh. I really think it helps bring them into milk better, and we always wean big calves. We feed it for about 30 days, or until production is well established. If we are showing a pair, we will keep the cow on the DDG's to help keep her weight up. I think it really helps our first calf heifers breed back quicker; most breed back on the first heat.

 

[kfacres]

we feed the snot out of DDGs and Soybean hull pellets,

A common ration in these parts is a mixture of wheat straw and wet DGs

 

[ablizzard01]

How do you determine the weight seems  like the moisture content varies so much I have eleven first calf hiefers that are due in bout  -30 days if I gave them grass hay in the bunk and poured three buckets on top does that seam about right. Bucket weighing bout 30-40 lbs so that is bout 9 to 11 lbs a day. Is that to much?

 

[kfacres]

you have to figure it on a dry matter basis... 

i feed an already dried product.. 2: reasons: 1- I'm not buying water 2- I don't have that problem-- just feed the poundage I want... 

 

[tryntoinvest]

My beef cows and heifers eat these diet's sometimes but it is meant for dairy dry cows.

Our far off group (60 days precalving) get 1lb dist, 10 cornsilage, 45 lbs rye silage, 6lbs crp hay, and .5 lb mineral mix
Close up cows 30-0 days precalving get 6lbs dist, 41 cornsilage, 2.3 haylage, 12 decent hay, 6.75 wheat straw and .5 lb mineral mix

Fed tmr and all silages are 60-70% moistures........

Cows & Plows: Using distillers' grains in alternative cow-calf production systems

 

[tryntoinvest]

Has any one fed distillers grain to pregeant cows for a supplement. I can get some the cows are on corn stalks now with about about 20 days of feeed out there depending on weather. we are feeding about a bale of grass hay to the twice a week there is 15 and was just wondering if I would gain anything by doingg this. They also have free choice protein tubs fixin to calve in the next 30 - 45 days?

http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/co-product_corn.html

 

[nate53]

How do you determine the weight seems  like the moisture content varies so much I have eleven first calf hiefers that are due in bout  -30 days if I gave them grass hay in the bunk and poured three buckets on top does that seam about right. Bucket weighing bout 30-40 lbs so that is bout 9 to 11 lbs a day. Is that to much?

We've been feeding the wet DDG's since November, been putting a big round bale of straw in a vertical mixer and then dumping the ddg's on top and mixing.  Everything is doing very well on it (maintaining or gaining weight even with calves on them).  They get free choice hay as well but don't eat near as much.  I've been hand feeding 13 head of heifers with calves and have been giving them 12 lbs. of the wet ddg's per day (they love it).  We've been feeding 14lbs per day to the cows mixed with the straw.  A university livestock specialist figured the rate for me, he said free choice grass hay and free choice mineral (very important).  The loads are variable on moisture.  The only reason we are using the wet is so we can mix it with the straw which is reducing our hay consumption dramatically.  The dry ddg's are a lot higher but they are a little more economical (when figuring the nutrient value), and easier to store and handle.  The wet will get mold on it after a short period (so it has limited shelf life).  So 4lbs. of the dry ddg's would probably do the same as 11lbs of the wet?  The ethanol plants can give you a printout of the nutrient value of the wet and dry of their specific plant.  2lbs of the dry per day would probably help alot.  Don't forget the mineral!  Good Luck!

 

[nate53]

I would not give them ddg's and protein tubs.

 

[Freddy]

I agree with NATE 53, there should be enough protein in the two of them in the last thirty days of pregnancy to produce a 160 lb calf at birth ....

 

[kfacres]

I agree with NATE 53, there should be enough protein in the two of them in the last thirty days of pregnancy to produce a 160 lb calf at birth ....

right on.. i'd forget about the protein tubs.. and feed ddgs...  figure the costs per pound of product of each...

 

[Mill Iron A]

Don't fees too much and always use a balancer and or chelated minerals. The sulfur content in distillers is high and the feed is variable. If you feed too much protein through breeding it can lower the ph in the reproductive tract causing negative effects on breeding.

 

[Freddy]

Good advise from Mill Iron A ---------------------