Variable hay supplies across the West may prompt more producers to add straw to cattle rations this winter.
However, this year’s uneven weather resulted in variable straw quality, say forage specialists.
“We find there is quite big regional differences in quality, especially protein,” said Vern Baron, forage specialist at Agriculture Canada’s research centre in Lacombe, Alta.
“If you are going to use straw, you should have a feed analysis done,” he said.
Straw quality is better in the parkland areas than the semi arid regions. Plants take as much as they can from the stems and vegetative parts to produce the grain, so nutrient levels vary, he said.
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Cows need about seven percent protein in the early part of the winter but as the weather gets colder and their pregnancies advance, they need more protein and energy. Supplements should be added then, Baron said.
Protein sources such as lick tanks containing high quantities of non-protein nitrogen are not as good as natural protein.
Plant based supplements like canola meal or alfalfa hay are more effective.
If hay and grain are expensive, farmers could look at refuse feeds like split peas or lentils or dried distillers grains.
Pricing feed this winter is challenging because grain prices are volatile, so the price of residues may fluctuate as well.
“The biggest thing will be the value of all these commodities. It is such an unknown,” he said.
Barry Yaremcio of Alberta Agriculture said hay is ranging from $60 to $80 per tonne and is in short supply in some regions. A cow eats about 35 pounds of hay per day so it is important to find some substitutes. Alfalfa hay can meet and exceed the needs of the herd, but a balanced diet of straw, grain and other supplements like peas achieves the same goal at less cost.
Feeding DDG at no more than 20 percent of the total ration offers up to 45 percent protein and a higher phosphorus level. This needs to be watched so the cows do not overload on phosphorus.
DDG from malt plants in the wet or pellet form is another option. Protein levels are lower at around 17 percent.
“Talk to someone who can help you measure everything out,” Yaremcio said.
A spokesperson for the Wilbur-Ellis Co. feed division said supplies of DDG from Husky Energy’s Lloydminster ethanol plant are in tight supply until November or December, because the plant is not running at full capacity. More is available from the Minnedosa, Man., facility. It is a 50-50 split mix of corn and wheat and is priced comparable to barley.
Yaremcio said more producers are calling for advice on mixing a low cost, yet nutritious ration using forages like straw or chaff. Chaff is best suited to mature cows.
“Calves will not grow on chaff,” said Yaremcio.
Chaff can be fed in round bale feeders or better yet, on the field. Cows working their way through fields spread their own manure and add an extra 20 lb. of nitrogen to the soil, which could save on fertilizer costs next spring.
Supplementation from other forages, grain or alternate feeds cannot be avoided because straw and chaff have lower digestibility and only offer about half what the cow needs.
Straw consists of leaves and stems. The leaves have about five to six percent crude protein while the stems are about 2.5 percent. Agriculture Canada research showed an average size cow will eat 12 to 15 lb. of straw free choice.
Chaff can have as much as eight percent protein but it is also variable in quality.
Harvesting systems affect quality. For example, a less efficient combine may send more cracked grain and unthreshed heads through the sieves and into the chaff. The more grain in the chaff, the better its feed quality.
Cows need to be in good body condition heading into winter. Once it gets cold, cows eat more to stay warm and maintain their weight as well as sustain a growing fetus.
Cows should enter the winter season with a body condition score of three or 3.5. At that level fat can be felt over the ribs and tail head.
“It gets terribly expensive to put condition back on a cow,” Yaremcio said.
