Have a question? Try asking one of our Experts
We would recommend to feed the corn whole. This will slow down rumen digestion, which is good. You can feed whole soybeans as the protein source and, because the beans are not processed, they still contain fat, which is high in energy. For cows, we would recommend not feeding more than 3.5 lb per head per day, but it really depends on what other ingredients you have in the ration. If you feed whole beans, you do not need another protein source.
For forage, if you are feeding alfalfa, the soybeans don't fit in the ration because you would be overfeeding protein.
If a free-choice mineral is being fed, it should contain vitamin A, so there should be plenty of vitamin A, but check the tag to be sure.
The need for extra calcium depends on the amount of grain in the ration. You may not need calcium if you are going to feed 3 to 4 lb of corn per head per day. If higher amounts of grain are to be included, a "free-choice" mineral that is higher in calcium than phosphorus would be an option.
You might start out feeding the corn/bean ration twice a day, half in the morning and half in the evening.
Make sure there is plenty of bunk space so that all cows have access to the ration.
Unlike most other resources on the web, we have experts from Universities around the country ready to answer your questions.
This resource area was created by the: community
Enter your zipcode to find your local Extension office:
eXtension provides objective and research-based information and learning opportunities that help people improve their lives. eXtension is an educational partnership of 74 universities in the United States.
© 2008 eXtension. All rights reserved.
Comments
Subscribe to this page's comments
Post a comment about this topic