News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Upper Cumberland should not experience a hay shortage this year, thanks to a good rainfall and late frost.
Overton County UT-Ag Extension Agent Jason Garrett said Summer droughts have pushed hay feeding earlier into October the past two years. However, he said things have lined up in 2020 to keep cattle in good shape through the winter.
“I think this year we’re going to be in pretty good shape, we’ve had a good, late grazing, it didn’t frost until real late,” Garrett said. “Maybe grass will start growing again in mid-March and we’ll be off to 2021 in real good shape.”
Garrett said mature cattle will eat about 30 pounds of hay a day. However, Garrett said feeding is dependent on providing a quality hay with enough protein.
“We don’t want a bale of weeds, she’s not going to get anything out of that to supplement her for what her bodies going to need to get through the cold Winter,” Garrett said. “Good quality hay, 30 pounds a day and if you have calves just about 10 to 15 pounds, depending on the size.
Garrett said anyone who does not know exactly what is in their hay can submit it to an Ag Extension office. He said they can have it tested for quality.
“We can mail it to the UT lab and it will tell you your crude protein, your total digestive nutrients, the energy amount,” Garrett said. “That’s the safest way to know what your cows are getting, to get them through the Winter.”
Garrett recommends feeding cattle a Hi-Mag Mineral right now to prevent grass tetany. Grass tetany is a metabolic disease that can kill cattle, stemming from a magnesium deficiency.
