Instructions
Procure a rack or hay ring around which the cattle may feed. These devices confine the bales when the animals are feeding, thereby limiting loss due to trampling. Buy several if your head count is high, since a limited number of cows can feed at a hay ring at any given time.
Place the bales and racks in different locations on the farm each day. A large concentration of feeding livestock are a stress on the pasture. Rotating the feeding spots prevents any one area from being damaged beyond repair.
Introduce the wheat hay into the forage mix so that it comprises 15 percent of the mixture. Microbes in a cow's digestive system are sensitive, thus a wholesale changeover will cause illness and bloating. Use a feed mixer -- purchased or leased -- that is reputed to mix gently. This device works like a cement truck, tumbling the components to ensure nutritional uniformity.
Augment the forage composition of wheat hay to 30 percent after four days, increasing the amount by 15 percent at the same interval until a 60 percent wheat grass mixture is attained. Supplement the mix with soybean meal or cottonseed meal when feeding pregnant cows, which require a higher intake of protein.
Confirm water delivery systems are operating and that the cows are receiving adequate hydration. Without this component of their care, the cows' nutritional intake will be reduced, thereby thwarting optimal growth and marketability. During August, for example, beef cattle will require between 9 and 22 gallons per day per head, depending on their stage of growth.
How to Feed Wheat Hay to Cattle
During cold winters and scorching summers, pastures suffer and make insufficient provision for grazing cattle. One economical alternative is the use of wheat hay as a substitute forage. With its high protein content, wheat hay is nutritious and, for the cows, delicious. While prices for wheat vary depending on weather conditions and international grain demand, it is ordinarily priced competitively against alfalfa and other forage hays. Additionally, the tenderness of the hay at the stems makes it an ideal feed for young calves and full-grown cows alike.