Smyrna Times

Amount of Protein Depends on Roughage

What kind and how much protein do my cows need? This question is one that crops up wherever dairymen meet. George K. Vapaa, Kent county agent says it all depends.

It depends both on the quality and amount of roughage you have available. For example, if you have all the luxuriant pasture cows will eat, a 10 per cent crude protein grain feed is high enough.

This is true, Vapaa points out, because rapidly growing pasture plants contain large amounts of protein.

If your winter roughage is made up of some high quality legume hay and silage, or all excellent hay, and you feed all your cows will eat, then about 12-14 per cent crude protein grain is sufficient.

On the other hand, says Mr. Vapaa, if you are one of the many farmers who doesn't have all the hay, or hay and silage combination your cows will eat (or what you do have is of poor quality), then the protein content of the grain ration will have to be higher. Usually a 16 per cent crude protein feed is enough unless the roughage is "very" poor, or the amount of good roughage is "very" limited. It is usually better to increase to the amount of grain fed than to boost the protein content above 16 per cent.

Cows do not usually need different kinds of protein feed in their diets; but when extremely poor quality roughage is fed, it is possible that a variety of proteins in the grain ration may be beneficial.

"The cheapest source of protein is in roughage," says the county agent. "Always plan to have an adequate supply of high quality roughage on hand to feed."