There are options available for using 2016’s Overwintered Cereal Crops for ruminant cattle feeding.
Ruminants refer to any animal that are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach prior to digestion.
According to an Alberta Agriculture & Forestry (AF) news release, the crops can be used for swath grazing this spring, or baling for use as greenfeed during the fall season.
But beef and forage specialist Barry Yaremcio says there are also a number of concerns involved.
“Crops become weather damaged when left out over winter,” said Yaremcio. “Typically, protein and energy contents are lower in the spring compared to the fall. Digestibility of the feeds can be reduced as well, in the case of greenfeed or swath grazing; digestibility can be up to 10 percent lower.”
Also, animals in the late stages of pregnancy or in lactation could also be affected. They’d need about 25 to 30 percent more nutrients than other animals would.
“Spring swath grazing or cereal greenfeed harvested from overwintered crops need to be tested for quality,” said Yaremcio. “Rations need to be balanced to meet animal requirements.”
– Posted by BET
