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Hay vrs straw for calves

  • 05-01-2014 10:56pm
    #1
    dungfly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 349 ✭✭


    I have good quality hay and straw. Which should I feed and why? or should I use a mix?


Comments

  • #2
    Deepsouthwest
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,282 ✭✭✭Deepsouthwest


    dungfly wrote: »
    I have good quality hay and straw. Which should I feed and why? or should I use a mix?

    Straw's fine for calves, roughage is the most important thing


  • #3
    Reggie.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,582 ✭✭✭✭Reggie.


    Deepsouthwest wrote: »
    Straw's fine for calves, roughage is the most important thing

    I'm always told straw but always end up feeding hay. Can't get the head around feeding straw


  • #4
    mahoney_j
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,585 ✭✭✭✭mahoney_j


    Reggie. wrote: »
    I'm always told straw but always end up feeding hay. Can't get the head around feeding straw

    Straw definetly,either patten or wheaten if you have it and don't chop it.gound hay gives calves pot belts.


  • #5
    Reggie.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,582 ✭✭✭✭Reggie.


    mahoney_j wrote: »
    Straw definetly,either patten or wheaten if you have it and don't chop it.gound hay gives calves pot belts.

    I always found that they lost the bellys shortly after going out to grass


  • #6
    biddy2013
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭biddy2013


    straw, my calves would knock you down to get to the straw


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  • #7
    jersey101
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,190 ✭✭✭jersey101


    What about silage? My father loves giving them silage


  • #8
    Reggie.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,582 ✭✭✭✭Reggie.


    jersey101 wrote: »
    What about silage? My father loves giving them silage

    Dairy man up the road gives his calves silage after about 4-5 weeks old, couldn't tell ya if they eat much of it tho


  • #9
    49801
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,844 ✭✭✭49801


    Straw every time!

    See calves nibbling at silage from 6wks plus. No harm in it.


  • #10
    biddy2013
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭biddy2013


    jersey101 wrote: »
    What about silage? My father loves giving them silage

    A small bit of silage. Changed everyday if not eaten


  • #11
    Farmer Pudsey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,326 ✭✭✭Farmer Pudsey


    It would depend which is the better quality you have. Yes hay will give pot bellies and if selling as calves straw will give you a better looking calf. However if keeping it more than likly will not matter. Good dry silage will be grand from 5-6 weeks.

    I say the reason for straw is it is a lesser feed value and better fibre source but you need to feed more milk/ration with it. They may tend to eat more hay there fore more in stomach and a pot belly. However at 5-6 months you may not spot the difference betwen them.


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  • #12
    Reggie.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,582 ✭✭✭✭Reggie.


    Farmer Pudsey wrote: »
    It would depend which is the better quality you have. Yes hay will give pot bellies and if selling as calves straw will give you a better looking calf. However if keeping it more than likly will not matter. Good dry silage will be grand from 5-6 weeks.

    I say the reason for straw is it is a lesser feed value and better fibre source but you need to feed more milk/ration with it. They may tend to eat more hay there fore more in stomach and a pot belly. However at 5-6 months you may not spot the difference betwen them.
    thats what i found, after a while in the fields they stretched out a bit.


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