I have a Jersey X Shorthorn heifer just past the 3 month mark in her lactation. I have gotten such conflicting advice on how much grain to feed her, anywhere from 2 pounds a day to 15 pounds a milking, all from people who are supposed to know. I just don't know, could sombody help. I'm confused. Thanks, Tana

-- Tana Cothran (tana@getgoin.net), August 07, 2001

Answers

Response to How much to feed?

Tana, I have a Jersey purebred, and she gives 5 gallons a day at present, 4 months into her lactation. I was feeding her 10 to 12 lbs a day, and she was very low body condition. I thought at that amount of feed, she should be putting weight on. But recently I received advice to give her 1 lb of feed for each 2 lbs of milk she was producing, plus all the grass or hay she could put away. She is finally gaining in body condition, slowly. But she of course, had to up her milk production first. These high-bred dairy cows have such a built-in propensity to produce milk, that they will kill themselves doing it. That is one reason I am looking into cross-breeding her with a beef breed, like a Hereford, to lower her offspring's potential milk output, and up their capacity to retain body condition on grass alone.

I think the amount of feed a cow needs is highly variable, and is keyed to her metabolism and her output. Play it by ear. If she seems overly hungry, and is looking skinny, give her more. But grains must always be balanced by all the roughage she can eat.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), August 07, 2001.

Response to How much to feed?

You cannot just take someones elses advice .You need to look at your cow .Is she in good condition ? To thin ? To fat ? How about worming ?

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), August 07, 2001.

Response to How much to feed?

First, you should not feed more than around 16 lbs of concentrates a day for a Jersey sized cow unless you are an experienced dairy person. You can cause rumen acidosis, and would need to feed a buffer to counteract this. There are some variables to adjusting the amount you feed. If you're getting way more milk than you can use, slowly cut down on the feed till the milk comes down to a reasonable amt. If your heifer has all the good quality forage she can eat, and is making enough milk, she will not need as much (or any) concentrate. Basically you will just learn from experience how much to feed based on the condition of the cow, how much milk you need, the quality of the forage or hay available, and stage of lactation. It's really not an absolute thing. Just don't increase the amt. too fast, or feed too much.

-- Paula (chipp89@bellsouth.net), August 07, 2001.

Response to How much to feed?

You should have told us whether she is on lush green pasture, and the quality of her current forage and roughage, also knowing what she is producing, and her weight would help. Not knowing that, here are some very general rules of thumb, assuming she is on good pasture and/or Legume hay, preferably alfalfa. 1. A pound of concentrate mix for each 3 1/2 lbs of milk testing below 4 percent, and a pound for each 3 pounds testing above 4 percent. Or 2. The pounds of butterfat produced monthly divided by four equals the pounds of grain mixture to feed daily. Or 3. A pound of grain for each 2 pounds of milk a Holstein, Brown Swiss, Ayrshire or Shorthorn produces over 20 pounds daily, a Guernsey over 15 pounds daily, and a Jersey, over 12 pounds daily. I hope this isn't too technical for you, just remember that a pound equals a pint, 8 pounds to a gallon. Also, four cups of dairy concentrate is about a pound. Hope this helps. Kathie

-- Kathie in Western Washington (twinrosefarm@centurytel.net), August 07, 2001.

I read that a rule of thumb for jerseys is 3 1/2 pounds of concentrate per gallon. A better guide is how much milk you are getting. it is not only how much concentrate she is getting but what the value of the other feed is.

J

-- Julian Young (julian_young@nl.compuware.com), September 12, 2001.