shredded beetpulp?

[BeardedChick]

Does anyone feed this to their dairy cow? I wondered if she'd like a nice warm bucket of soaked BP and grain for breakfast.

If I start milking her in the morning, it would be nice to offer her a big bulky, tasty meal and keep her busy eating for a while...

 

[GrassFarmerGalloway]

Beet pulp? You can feed that?

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Yes, you can feed beetpulp to cattle. It needs to be soaked in water first.

I don't know a lot about it as we do not feed it to our dairy cows but, I do know that it's low in protein. It could through her daily protein in take really off.

 

[BeardedChick]

Ok, I did some googling and it is fed to dairy cows - it's a high energy succulent forage, yes it is low on protein. They will eat it before they eat regular forage (it's a YUMMY treat), and it is considered a good feed when offered in moderation.

I have some on hand so I will offer my cow a bucket of it in the morning, along with a scoop of 4-way and BOSS. I thought of using it because I have used it for horses, and it's great when you have to do bandaging or something time consuming - they just stand there and slurp on the BP while you work. My cow shuts off the milk tap when the grain runs out, this might give me more time... A pound of it soaked overnight makes a LOT of it in a bucket.

If SHE'S happy, I'm happy (gah, I sound like my husband talking!).

 

[Imissmygirls]

Make it very soupy.
We used Beet Pulp at fair time to fill up the cattle and make them happycampers. They usually love it once they get used to it.
It was also used to encourage those not drinking enough to drink more-- hence making it soupy. They will slurp it up. More water wil help mama make more milk too.
You're doing fine milking. The more you milk, the more she may produce. Usually they adjust themselves to the amount the calf drinks. By milking her, you are encouraging more production.

 

[BeardedChick]

Make it very soupy.
We used Beet Pulp at fair time to fill up the cattle and make them happycampers. They usually love it once they get used to it.
It was also used to encourage those not drinking enough to drink more-- hence making it soupy. They will slurp it up. More water wil help mama make more milk too.
You're doing fine milking. The more you milk, the more she may produce. Usually they adjust themselves to the amount the calf drinks. By milking her, you are encouraging more production.

Great, I'm glad to hear someone else has used it.

I hope I can still build up her production a little. I don't understand yet what the window of opportunity is for increasing milk production...

I did read that Dexters can usually produce enough milk to easily support two calves.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

The best production time is the first 3 months so that would be when your wanting to build it. The more milk demand placed on her the more she will produce (the more times a day milked the more she will produce). It just depends on the individual cow as to how much is her top end.

 

[BeardedChick]

So does that mean I have three months to build up what I'm taking?

I put the BP & oats out this morning. She was interested & nibbled at it but didn't dive in (yet).

Snickers goat wouldn't touch it. Milky Way (kid goat) went ga-ga for it & licked my hand clean.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

It's the first three months that the calf's demands on mom are the greatest. After that she will start to taper off. So it's these first 3 months that you need to work to build up production.

You said you gave her beet pulp and oats, is that the only grain your giving? She needs protein and energy as well as vitamins and minerals.

 

[BeardedChick]

Thanks for clarifying when I can build up production.

As for feeding:

I am trying to add oats and beetpulp as an *additional* meal. As soon as I've used up the oats (had a bag laying around), I will use 4 way with the BP.

I was recommended a better mineral by the local dairy that I will be picking up.

My dairy cow's ration:

free choice hay - top quality alfalfa hay, and a grass/alfalfa mix
3# of 4 way
1# or so of BOSS
1# Beetpulp
2# oats (this will be replaced with 4 way)
free choice salt
free choice minerals