Feeding straw to help extend rations

By Gary Sliworsky
OMAFRA Rep.

Winter feed supply for the beef cow herd is an issue in many parts of Ontario. A combination of low forage yields and poor harvesting conditions have some farmers digging deep for feeding alternatives. Getting the cows through the remainder of this winter may be tough.
Following is part 1 of a two part article on feeding straw to help extend rations.
One alternative available to many producers is to include straw in the ration. Good quality straw is a surprisingly good energy source for ruminants. With percent Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) values in the mid-40’s, straw can be much more than just a filler, providing a significant proportion of energy needs. However, straw is low in protein (only 4 percent to 5 percent) so the ration must include an adequate source of protein, along with the appropriate mineral mix and salt. Oat straw is more palatable than barley straw, while barley straw is more palatable than wheat straw. Since oat straw is also the highest in energy content, it is the best choice for cow rations, followed by barley straw.
The best candidates for straw feeding are mature dry cows in good body condition, up to six weeks away from calving. These animals have the lowest nutritional requirements of any in the herd. Save your best forages for bred heifers and young cows pregnant with their second calf, as well as for post-calving rations. Thin cows should be grouped with the bred heifer group to enable them to consume enough nutrients for successful calving and re-breeding.
If you have access to some good quality hay (16 percent protein) this can be fed in a 60/40, straw/hay mix to supply adequate energy and protein. With an average quality hay (12 percent protein), go to a 50/50 mix, and with a low quality hay (9 percent protein), cut straw back to 30 percent of the ration.
The above rations work out fine on a calculator, but actually feeding them to the cows can be challenging. Feeding straw and hay in separate feeders at the same time doesn’t work well. Cows will usually prefer the hay and will compete vigorously for the more palatable feed. The dominant cows will get their fill of the good stuff, leaving the sub-dominant animals to make do with the lower quality feed. If a bale processor is available, chopping the higher and lower quality bales together is ideal. Feeding this mixture will prevent most of the sorting by the cows, and even if bunk space is limited, less aggressive animals will be well-fed.

Dates to Remember
Jan. 24 – RRCA AGM, 7:00 pm, Our Lady of the Way, Stratton
Jan 31 – Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Emo. Call 1-800-652-8573 to register.