WINTER 2012

keep going

at this stage i think most people know what feed they are going to have and im just wondering how are people fixed and what you are going to do about it.personally quality is the issue more than quanity so thinking off giving the cows a 3 month break from milking-as 1 fella said the late litre of milk could cost 2 kilos of ration.one to milk it and another to put condition on her when she is dry

Dozer1

same here really, fairly sorted for quantity but quality will be a doubt. Still i've sucklers so they should pull through ok. was planning on keeping or buying extra weanlings but the cost of meal to carry them over the winter will probably put me off

1chippy

We have plenty of feed but like the rest of you. not too sure on quality. We will be wintering 25 light weanling heifers 250-350kg and 20 bulls 300-400kg. this will be the first year keeping them along with the sucklers. Nearly all of the heifers will be kept for replacements and put to the bull nov-dec 2013. Bulls will be hopefully finished. What sort of feeding regime do you reckon? bearing in mind the price of meal i was going to avoid mealing the heifers, would i be right in doing so?

stanflt

fairly sorted for the winter now. got my silage analysis done- first cut 74dmd 29%dm and 14.9prot- this will be fed to milkers only, second cut was 70dmd 23%dm and only 12.5prot. this will be for the replacements.
have 120ton of brewers all ready pitted and paid for mixed 1;5 with citrus
have 200tonne of maize left over from last year so thank god as most of this years crop is a disaster

cows winter diet- 9-10kg dm silage- 4.5kg/dm maize 1.5kg soya 1.5kg citrus 8kg brewers and topped up by feed to yeild in parlour

heifer will get 3kg brewers 1kg ration and silage- lwg checked every month

just do it

stanflt wrote: »

got my silage analysis done

At what stage did you do this i.e. how long was it harvested? What's the best way to sample baled silage?