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Western Nebraska | A couple questions. Is the snow crusted? If it is the cows will have a time getting to the feed. When you go drive by your corn stalks, what are you cows doing? Are the grazing every time you go by? Do they bawl at you? If some are grazing and some are setting around chewing their cud, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Our cattle are dealing with about eight inches of snow on stalks right now. We aren't supplementing them yet, but if the snow starts to crust we will probably have to start. As long as you see cattle setting around chewing their cud and not bawling at you, go to bed and don't lose sleep. If every time you drive by they start chasing the pickup and bawling, then it is time to start feeding. Let your cows tell you if they are hungry. If you can get some lower quality grass or sudan grass or something like that, I would do that. Don't let them get skinny, especially going into calving in March. It is real hard to put the condition back on after they calve that time of year. At the same time, you probably don't need to be feeding them straight alfalfa. You will be way overfeeding the protein if you do.
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Need a little advice (small cow herd)....
