when to start feeding?

[dfarms11]

what does everyone use as criteria as to when to start feeding? I have 25 prs out on a half section of cropland. Have been out for a month now. There is still tall grass around the fence lines and sloughs. My cows are fatter than a lot of my neighbors who are feeding already and mine still have their calves. Is there still feed value in that fenceline grass or should I consider starting to feed? What do you guys think?

[grassfarmer]

I just watch their condition and how it is changing on a daily basis. I wouldn't be influenced by when the neighbors start to feed, or when your cows turn up at the yard suggesting you had better feed them because they will have you trained pretty quick! At least with your cows on cropland they are not further damaging the pastures - I have never seen so many pastures grazed into the dirt as this fall and that will all come at a cost next spring.
I see quite a lot of crop and hayland that the cows refuse to eat out the fencelines - if the predominant grass is quack it is likely too low in protein for them by now. Work out how much it would cost to supplement them with protein and see if that is a better deal than starting to feed them hay or whatever your winter ration is. As long as they graze you are saving yardage too and that is a big factor.
Any standing grass has a feed value this year and it would probably be wise to harvest it with cows even if it means supplementing it.

[per]

That fence line grass has plenty of energy and not much protein. Have a good look at the manure to determine whether they are still getting enough protein from the residue in the crop land. If the fibers are short and the patty is splatted out it is good to go. Check every day. When the fibers lengthen out then it is time to supplement with some sort of protein. Pellets of all sort, grain, tubs,Alfalfa, do the math on what is cheapest. When there is little protein in the grass, tubs are my Least favorite option for cost and effectiveness.

[smcgrath76]

We use feed tests and watch our cows.
If they are putting on backfat with the
calves off them, then no need to feed.
When we have low quality feed we
sometimes supplement with protein
(usually alfalfa) to boost intakes. I
think DDGs would work pretty well for
this and are way cheaper than tubs.
Also the product is cooked so no weeds.
We were planning to use DDGs this
winter, but found heavy barley for way
less money.

[smcgrath76]

We use feed tests and watch our cows.
If they are putting on backfat with the
calves off them, then no need to feed.
When we have low quality feed we
sometimes supplement with protein
(usually alfalfa) to boost intakes. I
think DDGs would work pretty well for
this and are way cheaper than tubs.
Also the product is cooked so no weeds.
We were planning to use DDGs this
winter, but found heavy barley for way
less money.

[smcgrath76]

We use feed tests and watch our cows.
If they are putting on backfat with the
calves off them, then no need to feed.
When we have low quality feed we
sometimes supplement with protein
(usually alfalfa) to boost intakes. I
think DDGs would work pretty well for
this and are way cheaper than tubs.
Also the product is cooked so no weeds.
We were planning to use DDGs this
winter, but found heavy barley for way
less money.

[smcgrath76]

We use feed tests and watch our cows.
If they are putting on backfat with the
calves off them, then no need to feed.
When we have low quality feed we
sometimes supplement with protein
(usually alfalfa) to boost intakes. I
think DDGs would work pretty well for
this and are way cheaper than tubs.
Also the product is cooked so no weeds.
We were planning to use DDGs this
winter, but found heavy barley for way
less money.

[kato]

You'll see the calves lose condition first. Those are the ones to monitor. If they start to look stale, then they should be weaned. The cows can then usually stay out longer without the calves.

[dfarms11]

thanks guys. I think I will actually bring them home this week now that it is getting colder. Better do it before the calves start to lose to much. They are looking a little rougher today.