How to Feed Grain to Cattle

Cattle can be free to munch on grass in a pasture, or receive a carefully controlled diet of grain, hay and further supplements. Their exact diet will depend on their purpose and your resources. If you are raising a cow for meat, you will want to bulk it up more but at minimal cost, so grain might not be the best food resource because it is expensive in comparison to hay. Grain can form the majority of the cattle's diet, but it should be mixed with hay.

Things You'll Need

  • Trough
  • Grain
  • Hay
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Instructions

    • 1

      Supply your cattle with a large trough for feeding. Place it in a shaded area, where it is easily accessible.

    • 2

      Allow 4 lbs. of grain mixed with 20 lbs. of hay per cow, to begin introducing grain into their diet. Mix the hay and grain together, and place it in the trough.

    • 3

      Reduce the quantity of hay, and increase the amount of grain you feed the cattle daily. Each day add 1 extra lb. of grain, and decrease the hay by 1 lb.

    • 4

      Continue feeding the cattle using this pattern of measurement until it is being fed 20 to 22 lbs. of grain and 3 lbs. of hay. The exact figure will depend on the cattle's intake of food. Larger cows will eat more than heifers, for example. But do not give the cattle more than 25 lbs. of grain per day. If you are feeding the cattle 22 lbs. of grain per day, add 1 lb. extra per day for three days, then stop. Top up any additional food with hay.

    • 5

      Top up the trough with grain and hay every morning, or when it is running low. Monitor the intake of food by the cattle. Make note of how much you feed them, so you can adjust your supply accordingly. You might find they are eating too much, and need to ration their grain more. Or, they might be using a lot of energy during a winter to keep warm, and need more food.