Errol Anderson's cattle price bounce???

[grassfarmer]

Allfarmer, do you know the analysis of the alfalfa
pellets or the straw? My guess would be that you are
going to be short of energy for late gestation/post
calving cows. Depending on the straw you could be
anywhere from 42-52 TDN, alfalfa depending if it is
sun cured or dehydrated will be in the 60-66TDN
range. Feeding 2:1 straw to alfalfa pellets would give
you a total ration TDN of 48-56 where you need to be
closer to 60 TDN.

[ALLFARMER]

Dehy alfalfa pellets 3.3 kg tdn for each kg of
protein. Made from fresh cut alfalfa.

The Legal Alfalfa plant has some ration emails
they send out. 1-877-253-2832

I am for certain no expert on ration building. I
should check with AB Ag info centre.


Basic Rations:
• 1500 lb cow
•- 8-9 lbs/head/day with free choice straw •
- 6-7 lbs/head/day with free choice hay •

1200 lb cow
- 7-8 lbs/head/day with free choice straw
- 5-6 lbs/head/day with free choice hay

[grassfarmer]

Something like this for a 1200lb cow at or after
calving:
27 lb DM intake × .59 TDN required = 16 lb/day TDN
required

23 lb straw × .50 TDN = 11.5 lb/day TDN from straw.

7lb alfalfa pellets × 0.649 TDN = 4.54 lb TDN from
alfalfa

11.5 lb/day TDN from straw 4.54 lb/day TDN from
alfalfa pellets = 16.04 lb/day TDN

A cow will struggle to eat that much straw in a day
though. I guess it depends how much hay you are still
feeding and how good the analysis is but I would
guess you are still short on energy.

[ASRG]

If you are paying between 10-11 cents a pound for alfalpha pellets at 8 lbs/day, how would barley compare? It would certainly up your energy and at 13% protein and straw at 4% protein, it would satisfy the protein requirements?
The Alberta Beef Herd Management Binder has a straw/barley ration for an 1100 lb pregnant beef cow as follows:
16.5 lbs straw
3.3 lbs barley
1.32 lbs 32% supp

From my own experience about 20 lbs good 2 row straw and 9-10 lbs whole barley works on a 1400 lb cow (might get a little fat).Rolled barley would increase efficiency about 20% in a mature beef cow.
Of course barley is pretty expensive right now, but barley is rated at 1.7 Mcal.lb while alfalpha is 1.18 Mcal/lb.

[ALLFARMER]

No sure about the barley ASRG and I don't have a
roller mill yet so...

Their are about 4 or 5 guys up here that I know of
feeding alfalfa pellets. One guy was warning me
the cows would get fat feeding much more than 8
lbs.

Grassfarmer. I have been shredding one hay
bale ontop of the straw every other day so not
much. I am glad we have the bunk fence for
feeding because cows get a pretty even
opportunity to get at the pellets. Plus their not
walking & crapping on the pellets.