feeding diary animals

[Guest guest]

Thought I'd just ask what folks fed their animals. We are not able to get

away from the grain as the girls won't stand still to be milked. Not wanting

to be kicked by a 900 pound animal we give them what they want. Any

suggestions?

Belinda

LaBelle Acres

www.labelleacres.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Belinda

We haven't fed anything in the barn for close to 15 years. You might be amazed

at how relaxed a cow can be if all she has to think about is letting her milk

down. 9 out of 10 of them will just stand there and chew their cud. You will

also find out how much cleaner you barn will be.

Any questions just contact me

bilherbs@... wrote:

> Thought I'd just ask what folks fed their animals. We are not able to get

> away from the grain as the girls won't stand still to be milked. Not wanting

> to be kicked by a 900 pound animal we give them what they want. Any

> suggestions?

>

> Belinda

> LaBelle Acres

> www.labelleacres.com

>

>

[Guest guest]

and Belinda,

I'm a former farm boy. Do you think the number of daily milkings and the

dairy breed have much influence on willingness to be milked? My father used

to milk twice a day, and he used to comment that the cows (especially at

their peak production) were anxious to be milked because their udders would

get sore otherwise. He did, however, feed them while he milked...so he

might have been misinterpreting their enthusiasm. They were Holsteins

though, so their production may have been at a level that produces

discomfort more quickly. On the other hand, it has always been my

understanding that Holsteins, on average, were less docile than most of the

colored breeds.

Just a thought...