Beef Cattle Feed Alternatives

A Few Beef Cattle Feed Alternatives are Hay and Forage, Straw and Chaff, Protein Supplements, Screenings, Other Feedstuffs and Ammonization

Hay and Forage
     Dehydrated alfalfa pellets consist of finely ground artificially dried alfalfa forage in 1/4 inch diameter pellets. They can replace up to 14 pounds of forage in dairy rations. In beef cows rations of about 5 pounds daily can be  used to supplement cereal straw. Alfalfa cubes can be used as the only forage for dairy cattle but fewer problems are encountered when at least 5 pounds of long hay are also fed. Dehydrated alfalfa pellets may also be used in sheep and swine rations. Dehydrated pellets can also be used as a protein supplement when fed with low quality roughage. ~

     Slough hay can provide the forage requirements of beef cattle, sheep, and dairy replacement animals, if adequately supplemented. The feed value for slough hay is usually higher than cereal straw and can approach that of brome grass hay. Slough hay is more variable in quality than tame grasses. Generally, fine grasses are higher in value. The coarse material is less digestible and will need supplementation with grain to meet the energy and protein requirements of wintering beef cows. Harvest should occur before killing frost as frozen slough hay will deteriorate quickly and is only about equivalent to cereal straw in value.

     Cereal hay is suitable to provide the forage component of rations for all classes of beef cattle, sheep and dairy cattle and should be equal in value to good quality brome grass hay. Wheat, oats, barley, rye, rapeseed and mustard crops can be used for livestock feed. Harvesting should occur between heading and the soft dough stage and should be timed to retain as much leafy material as possible. Rye hay loses palatability and protein content rapidly after flowering. Good quality cereal hay or silage is about equivalent to brome grass hay in energy and protein content. Oat, mustard and rapeseed crops which have frozen or which have suffered from severe drought prior to harvest should be checked for nitrate content and the ration adjusted if significant amounts of nitrate are present.

     Native grasses, referred to as "prairie wool", are suitable for use in most beef cattle and sheep rations, can be used for replacement dairy cattle and if necessary for milking dairy cattle. These grasses approach brome grass hay in protein and energy content. Stands which are more than one year old can be utilized if available. Care should be taken to avoid cutting while the spears are present on spear grass, generally during July and August.

     Roadside hay primarily consists of grass hay, (bromes, crested wheat) and some clover or alfalfa. When harvesting and feeding it, avoid glass and other foreign material.

     Russian thistle may be used for hay when other forages are not available. It can make up a significant portion of rations for beef cattle and sheep. Feed it in very limited amounts to dairy cattle. It is usually equal to a fair quality hay in protein content but is lower in Total Digestible Nutrients. It is a surprisingly palatable feed. Because of its high ash content, it may cause cattle to scour if fed at a high level.

     False or wild barley (foxtail) has awns which, if fed in large quantities, can become impacted in the mouths of cattle. Use this forage cautiously. Grinding through a hammer mill may help to break up the awn.

     Kochia weed is harvested before it matures is excellent cattle feed. It is as high or higher in energy and protein as good alfalfa hay. A high mineral content makes it extremely laxative. Kochia weed should not make up more than 25 per cent of the total diet.

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