Bowring Ranch Sod House Sunday

[Faster horses]

It might have some protein but it is just so darn unpalatable nothing will eat it.

Have you ever tasted it? Try it sometime~

[Jeannie]

Soapweed, I'm sorry about helping to derail this thread and neglecting to congratulate you on your win. Congratulations! I truly meant to do that, and got sidetracked with grass identification.

[Faster horses]

The real jake... YOU ARE SO RIGHT ON!!

We have taken grass samples as well and in June they came back 18-20% protein, 80% moisture. We have helped many of our customers by recommending that they put some old hay or straw bales out for the cows to use for dry matter. It is suprising how well it works. We have found cows don't 'chase green grass'. What they are chasing is DRY MATTER.

Dry matter is a definite requirement of a cow, is pretty simple to provide. The cows won't eat that hay or straw like when it is being fed in the winter, but they will eventually eat it. Just a mouthful or so at a time and pretty soon it is gone. We were just as skeptical as anyone when we were told about doing this, but we are here to tell ya, IT DOES WORK!

When the grass dries out in the fall it becomes undigestable, therefore the cows can't get enough and that again is when providing dry matter in the form of some other feed is helpful. Do you notice that your cows eat more mineral (and even overeat it) in the fall when the grass is dried up? They are trying to get more dry matter and it is easier to get from the mineral tub than from the grass.