Page 32 - MWC 02-04-2021s

MAKE SURE PROPER HAY
continued from page 7
lems,” says Larson. “They can’t
be without for very long.” Frost
free, or freeze proof, watering
systems are gaining in popular-
ity. A substantial investment,
they are an attractive alterna-
tive for some producers tired of
chopping ice in early morning
hours.
No matter your system, win-
ter weather will arrive, and it
will test the system’s limits. Be
sure to have a plan in place for
how to get the water flowing
in the most severe of weather
events.
“Water is the most import-
ant nutrient,” says Larson. “It’s
needed the most frequently,
and you can get into all sorts
of trouble if you don’t have it.
We spend a lot of time thinking
about protein and energy, but
water is important, too.”
feedlotmagazine.com
Call, text or email for a catalog.
Marty Loving: 620.786.2018 | Scott Loving: 620.786.1369
scott@lovingfarms.com | www.LovingFarms.com
The Midwest Cattleman · February 4, 2021 · P32
continued from page 17 ones, which results in less hoof PREVENTING CALF
damage from cows competing for
ten more easily and spoil quicker space at the ring. continued from page 31
than properly stored bales, says
Charles Ellis, MU Extension agri- Feed hay in well-drained the health of the cow herd.
cultural engineering specialist. areas. Feed on dry, elevated sur- There will always be exposure
Store bales away from trees. faces or a pad to reduce waste. to infectious agents, despite the
Choose a sunny location with a Feed in small amounts. best farm biosecurity measures.
breeze. Limit access to bales. While more The immune system of cattle is
Store bales end-to-end on el- convenient, feeding less often adds well-designed to intercept infec-
evated ground that drains well. to waste. Limiting access gives tious agents and neutralize their
The round sides of the bale should cows less opportunity to trample effects as long as immune cells
not touch each other. Leave about or soil hay. But do not overfeed, are functioning correctly and the
Ellis says. Make animals clean up
3 feet between rows of bales. This the majority of hay before adding number of infectious organisms
makes them easier to access with
does not become overwhelming
tractors and also makes it easier new bales. in the environment. With new-
to do forage tests. Consider herd dynamics. born calves, survival depends on
Different feeding methods Cull aggressive animals that take colostrum intake, but it is also
reduce waste. Studies from the feed away from ones that are more the development of the immune
MU Forage Systems Research timid. Have enough feeding rings system during gestation or “fetal
to avoid crowding.
Center show that feeding rings re- Feed hay stored outside programming” that plays an im-
portant role in overall calf vitali-
duce waste.
But not all rings are created before hay stored inside. Hay ty. In short, prevention of disease
equal. Studies show that open stored outside usually has more is far more than vaccine and de-
rings have 20% waste, compared spoilage and lower palatability worming protocols; it is largely
to 5% for cone rings. To calculate than hay stored inside. Cattle the result of day-to-day manage-
hay ring waste, Ellis recommends will waste a greater percent- ment practices instituted on the
age of poor-quality hay than of
the Noble Research Institute’s good-quality hay. farm to keep adult cows healthy,
website. Search for “hay ring For more information, see the well-fed, and clean.
waste”. MU Extension publication “Re-
Large, round bales unrolled for ducing Losses When Feeding Hay
feeding have about 43% waste. to Beef Cattle”.
The advantage of unrolling bales
is that aggressive cows can be missouri.edu
spaced away from more timid
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