Winter feeding

[cowman]

laxdal: It would seem you have a lot better lab than me as I don't get any of the mineral things and still pay a lot more. Thanks for the info. How do you find feeding pellets as compared to hay or silage? What do you see as the advantages and the diadvantages? How about price? Thanks in advance.

[laxdal]

Cowman: We get the pellets and feed tests at Co-op Feeds in Calgary. They send the feed tests to Norwest Labs again in Calgary, and when thetests get back will calc rations, though I like to play with Cow Bytes at home.
The disadvantages of pellets are the pails and spoilage when they get wet. The advantages are:
-the Rumensin added gives us coccidiosis control on the calfing grounds,we start feeding it at the start of calfing.
-vitamins and minerals are control fed.
-the cattle are easier to handle, we feed the cows in a laneway so they will all come in when ever they are called, the close ones can be put in the barn in bad weather with just a tap on the bum or the wild one's calf can be tagged while she's busy eating.
The pellets were $180/tonne ($0.08/lb.)laid in and hay here is $150/ton ($0.07/lb.) so $ wise it seems to make sense. Fed at 4 or 5 lb per day Cow Bytes will cut back the hay portion of the ration by 1 or 2 lb.s so maybe it even saves money.

[cowman]

Laxdal: Is cow bytes worth the money? I'm not a big fan of"computer stuff" but my son is really into it. Sure sounds like you have a good system going for you.

[laxdal]

Cowman: Cow Bytes is $150 or a ton of hay and I'm sure it has saved more then that. It's handy to have all your feeds in front of you and be able to play around with a lb or two here and there and knowing your costs and whats in the yard. I think it may error on the high side a little though so leave out the waste calculation.
The end of my last note was wrong what I was trying to say was if you add 4 lb.s of pellets the program will subtract 5 lb.s of hay.