For cows, grass is an integral part of their diet. Not only does it supply them with protein and minerals, but they also require salt and fresh water.
Dairy cows eat more grass than other breeds of cattle, and the type depends on their needs. Some breeds of cows also require supplemental cattle feed or hay during winter months when their forage intake decreases.
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Warm-season grasses
Grass is the primary plant food for pasture-raised cattle. However, the type of grass they consume varies according to region.
For warm climate zones, bermudagrass and bahiagrass are the best choices. These perennial grasses thrive in wet and warm conditions.
Bermudagrass contains high amounts of protein; fresh bermudagrass has 14.1% crude protein and 64% total digestible nutrients.
Other grasses suitable for warm-season areas include orchardgrass and tall fescue. These perennial species boast higher levels of total digestible protein than other grasses, making them more nutritionally dense than hay.
Keyser and colleagues conducted a study to assess the nutritional value and potential impact on dairy production. Results indicated that forage quality was similar between cool-season perennial pasture grasses and the three warm-season grasses evaluated in this research.
Cool-season grasses
If your livestock are kept in cold climates, then it is essential that you choose the correct type of grass for their diet. Doing this can make a major difference in their health and productivity levels.
Cool-season perennials are most productive when grown in cool, moist conditions – which is why they are often utilized during early spring and autumn.
However, cool-season grasses may go dormant in midsummer if temperatures are hot and dry. At this point, warm-season varieties of pasture grasses can fill in this gap for production.
Grazing warm-season grasses during the summer can be highly productive, provided you don’t overgraze them and leave at least 6 to 8 inches of growth after the first killing frost. Regrowth of these species also helps reduce hay consumption during wintertime by providing additional nutrition for livestock.
Hay
In winter months when pastures are scarce, cattle often graze on hay. This forage has been cut, dried and stored in bales so that farmers can provide their animals with a nutritious source of feed during times when pastures may not be plentiful.
When selecting hay for your cows, it is best to opt for the highest quality available. Ideally, the hay should be green and leafy with small fine stems.
Additionally, your property should be free from mold and dust. These contaminants can lead to respiratory problems in pregnant cows as well as abortion.
A quality hay should contain at least 10 percent crude protein. The higher the protein content, the better for cow health and production.
Beef cattle can do well on a combination of grasses and alfalfa. However, they require more protein and energy in their diet than dairy cattle do.
Legumes
Legumes are not only a great source of protein, but they’re also low on the glycemic index – helping you control blood sugar and energy levels. Plus, they contain fiber which binds toxins in the gut for healthy digestion.
Legumes belong to the Fabaceae family and include beans, lentils, peas, pigeon peas and soybeans. Not only are these legumes nutritious sources of vitamins and minerals but they also provide phytochemicals which have health benefits as well.
Legumes are an affordable, low-glycemic-index, environmentally friendly and health-promoting food that can easily fit into many traditional cooking styles. Unfortunately, despite the numerous health benefits of legumes, many Americans don’t consume enough of them.
Add more of these nutritious, high-fiber foods to your meals by adding them to soups and stews or keeping canned legumes on hand. Be sure to soak and rinse dry legumes prior to cooking in order to eliminate some of their gas-producing carbs known as galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS). Furthermore, rinse canned beans thoroughly prior to cooking in order to reduce sodium content.
