CALF_News_August_September_2021

19 CALF News • August | September 2021 • www.calfnews.net feed. Outside of salt and mineral, cows need no additional supplementation while winter grazing kochia. It grows to about 18 inches and is available in most snow conditions. Common kochia, which we spend our time cussing, spraying and cutting out of fences, can also be hayed at 20 to 26 inches in height. It can yield up to 1.8 tons of hay per acre, although it is a mystery to me who gathered that kind of information. Potatoes Ohio State University’s (OSU) Ste- phen Boyles reported on various ways to feed spuds. Excess potatoes, culls and waste products from potato processing create disposal problems for farmers and processors. They also create great oppor- tunity for cattle feeders. Potatoes are an excellent source of palatable energy for cattle, but must be supplemented with protein, minerals, vitamins and fiber. A good potato will run 82 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN), 20 percent dry matter (DM) and 10 percent protein. The risk of choking is reasonable if potatoes are not fed properly. They should never be fed frozen solid, and always handled in such a manner that cattle keep their heads down. Feeding on the ground or in a bunk with a hot wire running 24 to 32 inches above the bunk is effective. Potatoes provide a very laxa- tive effect, so roughage needs to be abun- dant in the ration. They also stimulate a great deal of urine production. Fresh potatoes can substitute for half the grain in a finishing ration. A steer can eat up to 60 pounds of potatoes per day, or dried potato meal can make up 20 to 30 percent of a total mixed ration. Fresh potatoes can be ensiled with roughage. Beware of the culled French fry. They may contain up to 30 percent fat, caus- ing rumen digestion problems; fresh spuds are a better bet. Onions Oregon State University says cull onions can be fed to ruminants and contain 90 percent water. High TDN and adequate protein are a plus, but a diet of more than 25 percent in a cattle ration can cause anemia due to a high content of sulfur. Oregonians have good access to onions and have made inroads as to how they should be fed. According to Oregon State University Extension, “Beef cattle have an affinity for onions and can acquire acute and potentially lethal disease if it becomes a large por- tion of their diet.” Dairy cattle may produce off-tasting milk, but sheep are outstanding onion The Sky is the Limit The future is a connected market. An installed base of Allflex panel readers, handheld devices and paired visual and EID tags is an ecosystem of opportunity for you. Our Digital ID products connect thousands of ranches, feed yards and beef processors. Save time and money in feedlot operations. Gain on opportunities in your supply chains. Deliver data on program cattle. Verify specifications and prove the value of load lots. At Allflex® we help you bring it all together. www.allflexusa.com eaters, with highly tolerant rumen flora and a taste for the gourmet. Almond Hulls An interesting and surprising feed source in California is almond hulls. Tens of thousands of tons are produced each year, which are primarily fed to dairy cattle and sheep. Sugars and starches run 55 to 60 percent, and are highly palatable. They can make up to 50 percent of a high-concentrate sheep ration. Continued on page 37 