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Oats for cows

  • 22-05-2011 05:08PM
    #1
    pmct
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 221 ✭✭


    Hi all I was thinking of feeding oats to cows that are near calving does anybody know where I can get big bags of oats and how much they are also what do ye think of it does it make the calfes strong


Comments

  • #2
    RobinBanks
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 979 ✭✭✭RobinBanks


    pmct wrote: »
    what do ye think of it does it make the calfes strong

    I fed oat last year. I dont think I will feed it again. I dont know if I can say anything posistive about it to be honest. I had a few big pulls and I didnt notice the calves been any stronger. I didnt feed the rest of the cows and they calfed easier!!


  • #3
    KatyMac
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,209 ✭✭✭KatyMac


    Does it not make the calves too big as they put on most of their weight in the last cupla weeks before birth. A neighbour of mine fed his cows up to their calving and he had some awful hard calvings (vet and helpers needed). I would never feed oats within the last two months at least. There are too many disadvantages.


  • #4
    theMountain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 52 ✭✭theMountain


    I feed rolled oats to all my cows prior to calving and hopefully will again next year !


  • #5
    deerejohn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41 ✭deerejohn


    whenever we have embyro calves due(always holsteins) from 1st calvers we feed a restricted forage diet and maybe 1.5 kg oats. We find it a superjob, calves not overfleshed(i know they are holsteins!) but more importantly the fluids are of a much better quality, more slippery and really yellow in colour resulting in a really vibrant calf. In the past have also used it where a diff calving bull was used on the wrong cow with good results also.


  • #6
    Tora Bora
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,258 ✭✭✭Tora Bora


    I also feed rolled oats to first calvers in particular, before calving. With restricted silage, you get handy lively calf, with little or no cover of flesh. Great job.


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  • #7
    Juniorhurler
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,363 ✭✭✭Juniorhurler


    We feed them to heifers we are trying to get into calf at about 3 kilos per day. Don't put on huge condition but they are the picture of health on it and seems to work well for fertility.


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