Cows can eat turnips, but there are some things you need to keep in mind before allowing them to eat them. Make sure your cows have access to trace minerals and iodized salt. Turnips can bind up the available minerals in a cow’s diet.
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Raw
Turnips are a very nutritious treat for cows. These roots are also high in vitamin A and C. They can also be used for making pickles. They should be stored in the refrigerator, with their leaves in a separate plastic bag. Turnips will last for about a week or two in the refrigerator.
While turnips are very palatable for cows, too much can cause them to become sick. To avoid this problem, livestock producers should add turnips gradually to the diet. This will help the livestock’s rumen to develop a healthy microbial population that can break down protein. Additionally, turnip feed should be provided with an adequate amount of fiber. The amount of fiber and ADF are linked to the amount of digestible cell walls.
Grazed
Grazed turnips are an excellent source of protein and minerals, but you have to watch for problems when feeding them to cows. The best time to give turnips to cows is after they have been fed spring or winter wheat. Turnips can choke cows. It is also possible to work the root through the cow’s throat. They can also be high in sulfur, but this problem only occurs if the cows have been fed feed with high sulfur content. And they may be high in nitrates, but this is generally not a problem if the cattle are fed turnips slowly.
Because turnips are high in protein, they should be treated just like concentrate feeds. During the transition from a low-protein diet, livestock should be fed a high-quality diet for two to three weeks. This will help the livestock develop the necessary microbial population in the rumen to digest the high protein content of turnips.
Intercropped
Intercropped turnips are not suitable for cattle. Cattle prefer high-fiber roughage, such as cereal grains, and the turnips don’t fit into the traditional Midwest cropping system. In this region, corn and soybeans are planted in early spring and harvested in mid-autumn. Turnips, however, must be planted in early August and are ready for grazing by November.
A good crop of turnips is over a foot in height. Its bulb will be about the size of a tennis ball or a softball. It contains some nutrition and can be a great forage source. In cold-season pastures, turnips can provide the nutrients that cows need.
Grazed with oats
Turnips have excellent nutritional value, including a high energy content and good protein levels. Turnip-oat intercropped forage retains its nutrients well into late fall, making it a good choice for grazing livestock. Livestock eat turnip plants both as forage and as a feed ingredient.
Oats can grow to be about six to eight weeks before they are ready for grazing, while turnips can be ready in late October or November. Turnips should not be grazed in early fall because it can cause digestive and respiratory problems in your cattle. Oats will die once the temperature falls below 20 degrees, but turnips can continue growing into the winter. Because the roots are edible, turnips and oats can be used as a feed source for cattle in late fall and winter.
Photosensitivity
Cows grazing on immature brassica crops may experience photosensitisation (a skin condition caused by the presence of photodynamic agents). The disease usually begins with swelling of the ears, muzzle, and eyelids and may lead to blistering, scabs, and even death. Cattle that are darkly pigmented are less likely to develop photosensitisation.
Cows that are given turnips should be fed at least three-quarters of their diet in turnips. The bulb contains the bulk of the energy, while the leaves are richer in protein and calcium. However, sudden feeding of turnips can lead to milk fever, so providing alternative feed prior to access is recommended.
