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Judy, We've had good luck grazing alfalfa here over the past 18 years,
but the key is balancing that high protein from the alfalfa with an
adequate energy supplement. And it's simple--when our cows graze
alfalfa, they'll get 6# of corn meal in three two-pound servings, and
access to several mineral blocks. Dick Conklin
----- Original Message -----
From: AJ Salisbury
To: graze-l@witt.ac.nz
Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2003 4:34 AM
Subject: Re: [Graze-l] grazing alfalfa/grass
I would only give them what they can eat in the first hour, so that
the stand is eaten well down (stems and all) then let them rest for an
hour then the days worth of feed. The fresher the stand the more careful
you need to be.
Cheers Tony Salisbury
'Warrileigh'
Running Ck Rd
Rathdowney
Queensland 4287
Australia
----- Original Message -----
From: Bruce R. Gerloff
To: graze-l@witt.ac.nz ; graze-l@taranaki.ac.nz
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 1:06 AM
Subject: Re: [Graze-l] grazing alfalfa/grass
Judy,
I have grazed alfalfa stands off in the fall for several years, &
have never had a single incidence of bloat. The rules I follow are:
never begin grazing until after the alfalfa goes dormant after a hard
frost; I always supplement the cattle with a bit of lower quality hay,
a small amount of grain, or corn stalks (sometimes using all 3 at the
same time) to keep them reasonably full at all times; & I NEVER give
them a fresh break of alfalfa when it's covered with frost -- I always
will wait until the sun &/or wind have evaporated the frost before
turning the cattle in on it. You will also want to watch the amount of
forage you offer them at one time - I always try to give them only what
they can clean up in 24 hrs. or so... that way, I figure they are forced
to eat most of the stems as well as the leaves, too. Having a fair
amount of grass in your stand will also help to dilute the alfalfa, too.
When watching my cattle on a fresh break, I've noticed that they strip
the leaves off the alfalfa 1st, then will eat the grass in the sward, &
then will eat the upper alfalfa stems & remaining leaves. If your daily
allowance is sized right to prevent them from gorging on just leaves,
I'd be very surprised if you have any trouble & you shouldn't need to
feed any surfactants.
Bruce Gerloff
Circle G Grassfed Beef
P.O. Box 105
Marengo, IL , USA 60152
----- Original Message -----
From: Judy Decker
To: graze-l@taranaki.ac.nz
Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2003 8:25 PM
Subject: [Graze-l] grazing alfalfa/grass
