High Grain Rations

Limit-Fed, high grain rations

• Machinery to deliver ration
• Need plenty of bunk space (24”-36”/head)
• If grain is fed on the ground - need to account for losses
• Be consistent with amount delivered daily
• If a supplement is fed, include an ionophore
• Do not finely grind forage or grain

Limit-fed, high grain rations

• Hard to balance with low quality forage
  • for cows in mid to late gestation
• Cows will act hungry and appear gaunt
• In lactation ration assume that the calf will eat 1% of their body weight
• May need to sort young cows from old cows

Salt & Mineral free-choice

• May need more calcium??

Limitations of limit-fed grain rations

• May not fit large cow/calf operations
  • May not have equipment to deliver the grain
  • Cubing the ration is an option - increases costs
• Expensive forage may be the best option for some operations.

Consider by-products feeds

• Distillers grains, corn gluten feeds, wheat mids