Hello Cindy, Pat, & David. I finally found the forum here and thought I'd post the message I sent directly to each of you, so any others might join in.(posted 9626 days ago)I don't know anything (yet) about this forum, but the question is very relevant to our situation right now. I would sure appreciate hearing from any of you regarding this issue.
We are novices dealing with our first cow. From the comments I fear we're not feeding our pregnant heifer nearly enough.
Our two-year-old pregnant heifer is due in May. We are not feeding her any grain and are only giving her three flakes of alfalfa a day to supplement what she grazes. We take her out of her pen each day to graze in a grassy area fenced with electric wire. She has been jumping out of her pen (literally). I now wonder if we're starving her (I'm embarrassed at my ignorance). I had no idea she should eat more.
If I understood Pat's comments above a pregnant heifer her age might eat a full bale of hay daily (two feedings of a half bale each). Am I understanding this correctly?
From David's comments I conclude we're possibly doing the right thing in not feeding her grain. Is there a time when we should begin feeding her grain? If so, what type of grain (4-way cob?) and how much?
The heifer is a holstein bred to a jersey. ================
Pat responded to my direct post, including suggestions that I check with folks at a feed store, and that I provide vitamins. I'm just realizing how we have failed to utilize the knowledge of the feed store folks. I'm a slow learner. Thanks for the reminder. Vitamins too? Lots to learn.
Pat also said, "I don't see any cow needing much more than a bail of hay a day. A happy cow will not try to get out of your fence either."
A bale a day? Wow! I still can't get over that. That'll be a major change from one flake in the morning and two in the evening. And this is going to get much more expensive than we anticipated.
God bless you all.