When you’re buying milk from a farm, you probably wonder what do farm cows eat. Here’s a rundown on what a cow typically consumes. From grass and legumes to clover, the answer varies greatly. The basic foods cows eat come from BC, as does their diet of grain. They’ll also get some minerals and vitamins from supplements added to their feed.
Contents
Grass
Modern dairy cows would be hard-pressed to produce as much milk as they do if they were restricted to a diet of just grass. It’s the equivalent of an Olympic athlete consuming only lettuce and broccoli to perform at their best. But thanks to the help of nutritionists, farmers can provide the cows with the right nutrients to maximize milk production. Here are some things to consider about what a modern cow should eat.
Grass is a natural, nutritious food for farm cows. They consume more grass in the warmer months, and it stays that way through the winter. Grass can remain nutritious during the winter months, but many farmers keep their cows out of their pastures in order to let it grow again in the spring. This process is called grazing, and it is what cattle and other animals in the wild do.
Legumes
Farming cattle on a pasture rich in legumes can boost the animal’s performance, increase feed efficiency, and reduce bloat risk. Legumes help reduce nitrogen loss from forage by absorbing atmospheric nitrogen and using it for the growth of other plants. When the legumes die, the bacteria in the root nodules trigger a chemical reaction that turns atmospheric nitrogen into usable ammonia nitrogen.
As a result, cattle are able to extract protein from various plant materials, including hay and a variety of grasses. However, the majority of protein in cow milk comes from legumes, particularly soybeans, cottonseed meal, and linseed. Some farmers supplement their cows’ diets with mineral blocks that contain extra protein. This is particularly beneficial for young calves.
Alfalfa
You’ve probably heard of alfalfa and wondered what farm cows eat. This nutritious plant is widely used as a forage by dairy and beef cattle. Although the amount of alfalfa being fed to dairy cattle and beef cattle has been reduced in recent years because of the risk of bloat in cows, the plant’s benefits continue to be questioned. Horse owners also have made alfalfa a staple of their diets. While many people question the safety of this forage, those who raise dairy and beef cattle swear by the plant’s nourishing leaves.
The average amount of hay consumed per cow during lactation was 14.352 pounds, or seven tons. The highest individual consumed the most hay, at 17,199 pounds, or eight tons. The lowest cow consumed less than a tenth of that amount. While alfalfa is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, many cows don’t need as much as they would like.
Clover
If you’re a dairy farmer, you’re probably familiar with the term “clover.” But what is it safe for farm cows? In the United States, the answer to that question is yes, but there are risks associated with clover. For starters, excessive amounts of clover can cause bloat, which is a dangerous ailment. This condition results from the buildup of gas in the cow’s rumen. Bloat can lead to a range of symptoms, including belching, burping, and death.
The antimicrobial properties of clover make it a great substitute for synthetic bactericides used in cattle feed. Among these is its ability to reduce the amount of hyper-ammonia-producing bacteria that infect rumens. These bacteria prevent cattle from absorbing dietary protein, which can be harmful to their growth. Clover compounds are highly effective in reducing the amount of bad bacteria that live in the rumen and boost the amount of available protein.
Corn hominy
If you’re not familiar with corn hominy, the byproduct of the processing of coarse grits is what farm cows eat. This starchy, powdery feed is a great source of energy, and cows love it. But if you’re like most of us, hominy can make your stomach ache! Here’s what you need to know about this popular feed.
Unlike many types of feed, corn is an excellent source of energy and is easily digested by farm cows. Whole grain corn is available, but it needs to be crushed or comminuted to make it edible for cows. Corn is a great addition to cow meals, and it has the potential to increase energy levels by up to six percent. A dairy cow’s daily intake of corn can vary from two to six kilograms per day, and it should be ground, cracked, or rolled before feeding it to the herd.
Cottonseed
Farm cows consume cottonseed as a natural source of protein, but they are also subject to gossypol toxin toxicity. While the effects are generally minimal, the level of gossypol in the body is high enough to cause reproductive problems in some cattle. Fortunately, however, the levels of gossypol in cottonseed meal and whole seed are much less harmful than in whole seed. During the breeding season, producers may feed another protein source for the reproductive health of their cattle.
In the early part of lactation, dairy producers are increasingly feeding their cows whole cottonseed, which can improve milk production and increase butterfat. Since cottonseed does not require processing before feeding, producers build their diet around its nutritional value and make a major difference in the milk produced. Larger herds purchase whole cottonseed in bulk from feed dealers, while smaller herd owners can buy it in smaller amounts and ask the feed dealer to include it in the pre-mix. Whole cottonseed weighs 23 tons, which is enough to feed 100 cows for a 100-day period.
