Grain makes livestock sick

Offbreed wrote:


>
>> If it's cattle, the grain feeding makes them damned sick. It's
>> horrible for them.
>
>
> Too much at once or too much in a day, yes. Just like humans.

No, the whole "hot ration" bit is terrible for beef
cattle. That's why they have to be pumped full of
antibiotics in order for the grain not to kill them.

>
> Did you know that a spinache only diet can kill you? So can a rice only
> diet, or a water only diet, or soy only diet, or...
>
 >> Stay informed about: Grain makes livestock sick 

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 11:36:13 -0900, Offbreed wrote:
> Jonathan Gonad < wrote:
>> If it's cattle, the grain feeding makes them damned sick.
>> It's horrible for them.
>
> Too much at once or too much in a day, yes. Just like humans.
>
> Did you know that a spinache only diet can kill you? So can a rice
> only diet, or a water only diet, or soy only diet, or...
>

According to Stephenson's 'Cryptonomicon`, so can a all fish one?


--
greymaus
Al Firan RumaiDin
97.025% of statistics are wrong
 >> Stay informed about: Grain makes livestock sick 

In article <3EyXb.4067$tL3.839@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net>, Jonathan Ball <jonball.DeleteThis@whitehouse.not> wrote:
>Offbreed wrote:
>>> If it's cattle, the grain feeding makes them damned sick. It's
>>> horrible for them.

>> Too much at once or too much in a day, yes. Just like humans.
>
>No, the whole "hot ration" bit is terrible for beef
>cattle. That's why they have to be pumped full of
>antibiotics in order for the grain not to kill them.

If they hated it they wouldn't eat it - really :)
The only danger for ruminants generally is the speed of changeover
from high fiber to highly fermentable diets. Rumen pH can drop quickly
and it can kill the animal. If you accustom the animal to the diet
over some time, you won't have a problem :)

Antibiotics is a separate issue. It is often touted as 'disease
prevention' ... it is practically a growth promoter for animals like
chickens. Probably not clever for ruminants ... in the feed anyway :)
I suspect it aint clever at all long term.

Bruce



-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 >> Stay informed about: Grain makes livestock sick 

In article <0CA_b.28159$ws.3172779@news02.tsnz.net>,
bruce.sinclair.RemoveThis@NOSPAMagresearch.NOTco.NOTnz (Bruce Sinclair) wrote:

> In article <3EyXb.4067$tL3.839@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net>, Jonathan
> Ball <jonball.RemoveThis@whitehouse.not> wrote:
> >Offbreed wrote:
> >>> If it's cattle, the grain feeding makes them damned sick. It's
> >>> horrible for them.
>
> >> Too much at once or too much in a day, yes. Just like humans.
> >
> >No, the whole "hot ration" bit is terrible for beef
> >cattle. That's why they have to be pumped full of
> >antibiotics in order for the grain not to kill them.
>
> If they hated it they wouldn't eat it - really :)
> The only danger for ruminants generally is the speed of changeover
> from high fiber to highly fermentable diets. Rumen pH can drop quickly
> and it can kill the animal. If you accustom the animal to the diet
> over some time, you won't have a problem :)
>
> Antibiotics is a separate issue. It is often touted as 'disease
> prevention' ... it is practically a growth promoter for animals like
> chickens. Probably not clever for ruminants ... in the feed anyway :)
> I suspect it aint clever at all long term.
>
> Bruce

Actually, corn really isn't good for cows. Their rumens digest forage
best. That's what the bacteria there is geared for. Then the cows chew
their cuds, and the chewed grass goes into the abomasum and gets
digested.

Corn sets up an acidic environment in the rumen. Too much corn in a cow
that doesn't normally eat it can kill the animal, from acidosis (imagine
having heartburn in a 50 gallon stomach -- the rumen is a 50 gallon
vessel). I've dealt with acidotic cows that got into chicken feed. My
batting average: .500. Lost one, saved one.

Feedlot owners who feed corn use antibiotics to prevent ulceration of the
rumen, from feeding corn.

Jan Flora, cow mom
Rainwater Ranch
natural beef
 >> Stay informed about: Grain makes livestock sick