Countries by Milk Production

Cattle are ruminants and must have roughage in their diets. Cows fed only on corn grain would probably die. Dairy cows in my part of the US are usually fed on hay, silage, and put on pasture part of the year. They are fed supplemental feed to provide extra protein, minerals, and other needs. We have a small cow/calf beef herd, and our mothers are on pasture and given hay in the winter months. Our feeder steers are on pasture and hay until time for finishing them for market, when they start getting supplemental feed, usually a mixture of soy meal and corn chops with minerals added in addition to hay and pasture. We use a ratio of six parts soy to 1.5 parts corn chops. This gives a protein percentage of fifteen percent. Each feeder calf gets three lbs. per day in addition. Our mothers get some supplemental grain as needed, such as when lactating or during times when the pasture is poor quality due to drought. Feeding is a science and recommendations are always changing.