Feeding flax

[todd2]

I run a cow calf operation and I was wondering if I roll out flax straw in the low spots of the calving area to avoid water puddles & ice, will I throw the diet off? The cows are probably going to eat some,they are on a hay&straw ration now.

[jmillang]

You're correct if they eat any it will replace better quality feed. But this makes the assumption they are on 'full' feed and getting every pound of feed they require. Many times I have seen producers try and feed flax bales unprocessed and the cows will only nibble at it. Often we see flax straw burned or piled to decompose after decades :-). There was a posting earlier about flax bale shelters, that is definately one use for the bales. The other problem you may have is it is really not that great a bedding, it is not very absorbtive so without creating a great mass you may still have wet spots around. Another choice if they actually eat the flax straw is move them to a full hay ration and the other straw out of the ration we may gain enough nutrition by mere substitution