acidosis

TUBBY

hi all.

just wanted opinion on something.

feeding 5-6kg of high energy ration to store cattle to finish them out of shed. It is over 70% maize and barley. Can't remember exact figure offhand. On decent silage with 75% dmd and from 40 to 60% dm. Built them up to 6kg in one week.
my prob is that I can only feed them once a day. Whenever I did this before I split feed to morning and evening.

am I risking acidosis do ye reckon. How long before you would start to see the symptoms.

Rho b

You will smell it before seeing any symptoms. A sweet/sour smell.

keep going

Doing it with acouple of bulls and no problem

bob charles

TUBBY wrote: »

hi all.

just wanted opinion on something.

feeding 5-6kg of high energy ration to store cattle to finish them out of shed. It is over 70% maize and barley. Can't remember exact figure offhand. On decent silage with 75% dmd and from 40 to 60% dm. Built them up to 6kg in one week.
my prob is that I can only feed them once a day. Whenever I did this before I split feed to morning and evening.

am I risking acidosis do ye reckon. How long before you would start to see the symptoms.

shoudnt be any problem, especially given the ingredients. If you had wheat instead of barley I would be more worried. If you want piece of mind get some bicarb and give them some, should cost around 5c a head a day. One case of acidosis could result in the whole group becoming unprofitable even if the animal recovers after a few days, such is the importance in keeping the diet constant and rumen friendly

nashmach

bob charles wrote: »

shoudnt be any problem, especially given the ingredients. If you had wheat instead of barley I would be more worried. If you want piece of mind get some bicarb and give them some, should cost around 5c a head a day. One case of acidosis could result in the whole group becoming unprofitable even if the animal recovers after a few days, such is the importance in keeping the diet constant and rumen friendly

Sodium bicarbonate Bob?

Do you think it is well worth while adding it? Takes stock some time to get used to its inclusion.

bob charles

nashmach wrote: »

Sodium bicarbonate Bob?

Do you think it is well worth while adding it? Takes stock some time to get used to its inclusion.

has its place, ie if someone else is feeding the animals while im away, large quantities together as Tubby is doing, feeding high rates of wheat, auld men having senior moments :D. People way under estimate the cost of acidosis, you could lose 2 weeks thrift in an animals with a mild dose. 125gram per head should be adequate as it helps buffer the rumen.

adne

bob charles wrote: »

has its place, ie if someone else is feeding the animals while im away, large quantities together as Tubby is doing, feeding high rates of wheat, auld men having senior moments :D. People way under estimate the cost of acidosis, you could lose 2 weeks thrift in an animals with a mild dose. 125gram per head should be adequate as it helps buffer the rumen.

Whats the treatment for acidosis Bob if it does occur, lay off the meal i guess?

Farmer Pudsey

TUBBY wrote: »

hi all.

just wanted opinion on something.

feeding 5-6kg of high energy ration to store cattle to finish them out of shed. It is over 70% maize and barley. Can't remember exact figure offhand. On decent silage with 75% dmd and from 40 to 60% dm. Built them up to 6kg in one week.
my prob is that I can only feed them once a day. Whenever I did this before I split feed to morning and evening.

am I risking acidosis do ye reckon. How long before you would start to see the symptoms.

I feed one a day have fed up to 12kgs in one go to cattle however 1% calcium in the ration. Usually do not go beyond 10kgs and then only if low on silage or last 3-4weeks. This would mostly be to nearly 2yold bulls. They used to gobble it down in 20ish minutes. They always have access to good silage 70DMD+ and straw. 6kgs would not be heavy feeding for once a day unless cattle were very light.

The most important is the build up not to rush and for all to have access at the same time. The one or two times I had an issue it was a glutton eating too much. I always have about 8-10% soya hulls in ration. The main advantage of split feeding is better thrive it is like feeding 1-2kgs however not always possible.

bob charles

adne wrote: »

Whats the treatment for acidosis Bob if it does occur, lay off the meal i guess?

awhile thankfully since i had a problem. sodium bicarb and water pumped into the stomach ASAP to try and neutralise the situation. Think I have used Magnesium pearls aswell , its so long I forget . drop the meal and get them eating any source of fibre they will eat