The Methods for Feeding Cows on Our Wyoming Ranch

Today we bounce back into Our Wyoming Life and on the Project List we take a look at the ways we feed cows on the ranch. The advantages and disadvantages of each.
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Our Wyoming Life
PO Box 667
Gillette WY 82717
Join us on our journey as we leave a life in corporate america to come back to Wyoming and help on the family ranch.
Our Wyoming Life features our Wyoming ranch and our ranch family. Giving you a look into the workings of ranching from raising cattle to raising and harvesting crops. Erin will join you weekly out of the garden, showing you how she helps provide for our family through growing produce and selling at local farmers markets, and Mike will take you along as he tends to the animals and land of ranch, from calving to fencing to planting and harvesting hay.

[@jacobryun870]

Central North Dakota here. We feed about the same number of cows with a deweze bale bed on a F250 with a home made cake feeder. It is absolutely the simplest, quickest way to feed cows. I enjoy your videos, its fun to see others with the same day-to-day challenges. What a life!

[@Zakass73]

You are exactly correct about your current feeding methods. Oklahoma State University did a study on different hay feeding methods and for maintaining native grass pasture its best to either feed only in one place (in order to minimize impact on future grass growth) or to roll out hay. Also, there is a company I’ve seen make a “bull proof” hay feeder. Kinda pricy though, but could outlast you as well. Glad you’re feeling better, I’ve been through braces and wisdom teeth removal so I know your pain.

[@mikenicholson2548]

Glad your better. Great to see another video

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you - Mike

[@jonathanwilhelm2958]

You said it best when you said it’s all a balance. I’m pretty envious of you being able to feed on the ground with little waste. We’ve had near perfect winter weather here for the past week. Highs in the 20s, lows nearing 0, a few inches of snow on the ground and a perfectly clear sky. That sure makes feeding, and pretty much anything, more enjoyable than when we’ve got mud up to our waists. Hope your weather is being good to you too.

[@brianjonker510]

Does it ever.

[@stevenkietzke5582]

Glad to see your up and about

[@SledgeHammer43]

Glad your feeling better.

[@shanelamell2229]

Hope you feel better and thanks again for sharing.

[@colindeakin2113]

Always interesting to hear how farmers from other states manage feeding. Here in Illinois my father and I run 35 head of stock cattle and 75 head of seed stock sheep. A few of the bigger cattle operations around us use a bale roller like you guys. But the rest of us just move the feeders every few weeks and plow then cultimulch the ground in the spring. 👍 always enjoy your videos

[@Morbid.Morality]

true, right down the road from this guy there is a little farm with a ton of sheep

[@dancrafton89]

I seen a place down in Arkansas the guy was putting he bales at the top of a hill an rolling it down the hill. Hope your tooth get better. God bless you'll

[@rrobertomondo5173]

Glad you're getting back on your feet. It's amazing how much you and Erin are missed when we don't hear from you. Your videos are so interesting.

[@sneak6654]

Glad you’re back, you don’t realize how painful toothaches are until you have one. Take care.

[@MrC9Oh3]

What a coincidence Mike.. I just had 10 fillings done 2 days ago.. still recovering. I know the pain, thanks for bouncing back for us Mike!

[@DennysCountryLife]

Looks like you're less than 10% waste. That's a whole lot better than what I'm getting! I hope you heal up quick. Tooth pain is like none other! All the best from the Denny's

[@cowboycody8094]

I know many ranchers use old mine truck tires for water toughs up in those parts. They hold up really well.

[@kevinstrieter4915]

I've been there. It sucks. Glad you took the time to take care of your self.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks Kevin - Mike

[@lindajarrett5078]

Mike your right the cold does bother your tooth and you having your mouth opened doesnt help. My husband would say have a drink and it will feel better and he soon found out that isnt true. Take all your meds and when you dont have anything to do rest, Ok I know your a harder worker and your thinking I never have time to rest. Like I would tell my patients the work will be there when you get well. Good job on the video. Take care. thanks

[@ProfessorKitchen]

The entire county decides to drive by at the moment you want to film. Isn't that the way it always works. LOL! Glad you're starting to feel better.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much. Took a few tries to film my last part. Lots of honkers today. That's why I usually choose to film away from the road lol. -Mike

[@snapstring3134]

Not sure why folks aren’t getting the messages. It was out there . Good to see you are back at it though.

[@christopherhereford1803]

Welcome back Mike. Glad you're feeling better. That was a lovely informative video. Do hope Erin and the kids are fine. Lots of love to all of you!

[@petruzzovichi]

Another excellent video. Many thanks.From a Long-time subscriber in Northern Idaho

[@ptrevino7684]

Good video Mike thanks ..... Those root canals aren't no joke hope u feel better .... Merry Christmas & Happy New year

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much - Mike

[@royramey5659]

Glad ya back.

[@dennisswitzer6378]

just found ya'll's channel don't know how, on some kind of tangent.think it started with bcs equipment, your story sounds like Gabe Brown's in Bismark ND, took over the in-laws land without knowing how to farm or ranch. Spent his first five years trying to stay out of bankruptcy. He learned about rotational grazing and stocking winter grazing land. Gabe is featured in a lot of you tube video's and is responsive to inquiries. Even his contact info at the end of mos,t might worth a call, even a visit. same seasonal problems same rainfall issues. hope this helps if you have not heard of him before. DOC

[@jeremecrane7924]

So glad you’re feeling better Mike glad your video are back on track!!

[@BigRed-ob7do]

Hey Mike with the feeders, If you welded a upper ring on them I believe you could solved part of the issue with them beating them up so bad over time. Just a thought have a good day.

[@bevanmudge867]

Hi .Mike , Welcome back its good to see you up and thankfully the pain is subsiding there is nothing worse then' when you get such acute pain in your teeth that I get teeth pain because of the nerves in my jaws and when they ache it travels into my teeth and its is friggen horrible .. Take care Mike my love to you , Erin. And the kids

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much - Mike

[@jamiem5364]

Sorry to hear about the tooth issues mate, unfortunately I know all too well about that (I was actually in hospital today getting a bunch of them fixed and a couple pulled due to the medication I have to take constantly destroying them) hopefully neither of us have any issues for quite some time now! One good thing is you learnt just how much people enjoy your vids and care about u even tho we personally don't know u guys!

[@OurWyomingLife]

yes it is awesome, thank you Jamie - Mike

[@thomasdesmond2248]

Glad to have you back. God bless hope you feel better.

[@lostnation5348]

Thank you for sharing, Mike. I had a cold shiver watching...... I don't miss the winter work.

[@charmainevandiford6622]

Mike they have done several studies at I think Oklahoma University and they found that round bailers with like a cone shape top don’t waste as much hay. Closed bottom you have and that was better. Some of them lost as much as 25 percent. Hope this helps!

[@chrisschacht9278]

Good too see you back and doing better

[@flysolbjj]

Your material is great. You present your daily life at a ranch and you can see the effort being invested in producing good quality videos/mini-documentaries. I'm a researcher in neuroscience in germany and come from a farmers' family from Costa Rica so my life is very different from yours so thank you for sharing and bringing back really good memories while at the same time showing how wide the perspectives in life can be, Schöne Grüße, Pura Vida! PS: Your Angus cattle is beautiful, what is your opinion on the Aubrac breed?

[@kaleb2053]

Good to see you are doing well

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks Kaleb - Mike

[@littlerougue]

so glad to see you back Mike

[@lifebehindacow5999]

Like you Mike we live in a low rainfall area where it requires acres per cow so there is always a clean spot to feed. Ground feeding works best here as a tool to manage pasture and nutrients. Its very efficient with little waste. Feed racks are great in a confined area but the cows prefer the wide open pasture and its really all about them.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Totally agree, spread that manure around :) - Mike

[@wayneblake1886]

Nice to see you back

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks Wayne - Mike

[@sharonspivey7913]

Glad you're on the mend!

[@alairatlc]

Glad to see you're on the mend Mike!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Getting there, thanks - Mike

[@linleno]

Glad to see you back well, Mike! Thanks for the video.

[@paymaker11]

Glad your back! Thanks Erin for keeping us informed!

[@monarawles5832]

Love the video. Ouch- sorry for the pain! Been there, don't want to go through it ever again. Hope you feel better soon.

[@OurWyomingLife]

I hope so too. Thanks Mona - Mike

[@Cherryfarmboy60]

We started using a farmco feed wagon, seems this winter so far we are feeding less and running the tractors less.... Central Pennsylvania is to wet to ground feed right now. Really enjoy you're thoughts and outlooks on farming, too many people are stuck in old ways of farming

[@nigeljohnson8995]

Excellent vid and very informative. Thank goodness there are families like yours keeping things going. Best of luck to you.

[@patrickburgmeier7902]

Mike have you looked into the cost effectiveness of feeding molasses and urea at the rate of 2lb per day per cow and cornstalks? Or with any other poorer grass hay. We used to have a tank with 4 wheels cut down to an inch and a quarter then fed cornstalks or grass hay free choice. But you could pump it on top as you rolled the bale out as well. To make flow better in the cold we mixed food grade glycol into it

[@davehughesfarm7983]

Greetings from Missouri..I'd say if ya only missed one in 2 years that is a heck of a batting average... We unroll some hay when snowy..Mostly hay rings in the trees where they dont muck up the pasture...When its good and frozen we feed silage right on the ground and they clean 90% of it up because they eat it all in a day and a half...We can run a cow calf pair on 2-4 acres here in Missouri because we get 40 inches of rain.....Can basically run a herd 30-40 cows on 100 acres of grass April to November... Your hay bale weighed out nicely.........

[@mitchellward3181]

Glad to see you back hope your doing better keep something over your face when your outside doing the chores your in my prayers

[@maxinerose2096]

My dad always used bale rings and there was always a mess around them. Many a times we were almost stuck in the mud getting them out. We now feed-in a covered shed. And out on the ground. Seems to be working much better. No mess to clean up in the spring.

[@sunshaker01]

Been there with the toothache, right down to the wanting to pull it out (dentist solved the issue). You could build a scratching post for the bulls, I've seen them made out of push broom heads and old car springs, way cheaper to replace something like that then another feeder.

[@nachom9336]

thank yoy for all of your videos, i just subscribed finally.sorry for my bad english.congrats from spain.

[@sandyoklahomatransient8557]

We keep organic clove oil in my kitchen cabinet for all kind of uses. One specific use tooth pain. I use a Q-Tip, wet it with distilled water or bottled water, and put a couple of drops of clove oil then apply to the painful tooth and gum. It works for me, no pain. I use this until I can see a dentist. Back in the old days dentists used to use clove oil.

[@ALOHAAK]

Aloha from O’ahu, Hawai’i. Awesome video!

[@robert5109]

Mike, Good job of cowboyin' up even when you are in pain. Toothache are the worst, no way to get away from them. We have to use feeders here, the old round type we figured 30% waste. We bought rectangle hay savers from JBM mfg now down to less than 5% . Keep up the good work enjoy your videos.

[@purplerunner1715]

Don't worry about missing out on a video Mike what ever the reason may be. I had a tooth like that years ago, so I feel your pain. Thanks for sharing another good informative video.

[@johnlooser5189]

We always put the plastic takes inside an old still tank it seems to save them and we just started putting in tire tanks have to see how well they hold up

[@ronfontenot4534]

You are guys are awesome.

[@stephanied143]

Need to try rotational grazing supposed to be better for pastures . I watched Greg Judy on KZbin over rotational grazing think I’m gonna try it this year hopefully I can cut hay cost in half

[@OurWyomingLife]

Unfortunately we only get rain during the spring. That's why we only get one cutting off hay. Without rain the grass doesn't grow back and there is nothing to rotate back on to. I'm sure the rain will come lol -Mike

[@rdekort9273]

Good explanation,we can t do that in the netherlands,the ground dosnt freeze like over there we would have to much waste

[@OurWyomingLife]

I hear ya, frozen ground is essential. Thanks - Mike

[@halhayes5534]

We would love to send you some of all the rain we have been getting in Virginia. Wettest year on record. Thanks for publishing your story.

[@fionajane56]

Sure good to see you back👍No need to apologize at all.

[@tonyburelle6633]

Thanks for answering a couple of my questions, they really do a great job cleaning it, hardly any waste, glad you're on the mend

[@timsutherland5089]

Glad to see you doing better

[@WPRJersey]

Thanks that was short but we'll laid out. Lots of informative info on feeding in the cold months. I learned a lot

[@chrisbutler6258]

I find a little whiskey and ginger ale always helps after a visit to the dentist, but thats just my opinion.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Helps for alot more than that :) Thanks Chris - Mike

[@cjacob9875]

Mike glad your feeling better.

[@steveposey5607]

Thank you for taking time to explain everything. It means alot.

[@timengland3649]

How much apple juice boxes and whiskey did you go thru? Tks for the ground feeding vlog. You were true to your word when you said you would make one.

[@ryannpina7634]

Hope your feeling better and great video :)

[@ralphwoodard609]

Thanks for another good Wyoming life report. I feel for your toothache and hope you get better soon. Take care my friend.

[@loriehabel1552]

Glad your feeling a little better.

[@jwjco]

Hi Mike and Erin , looking good over your direction . you guys have about the same amount of snow that we have . hopefully we don't get much this winter its just easier to get around . the bad part is the frost will probably go down 6 feet or so. most of our water lines are down about 6 to 8 feet so hopefully things will not freeze. Take care stay warm , Merry Christmas

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thats about the same we are here for frost line. Most lines are buried at 6 feet. Thanks Jay - Mike

[@Tomhohenadel]

Wow, root canal. Aren’t they those fun. Want to get channel lock pliers or vice grips and yank the damn thing out myself. Maybe Erin could have a hand in this procedure. Bless you guys

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

Toothache! Root canal! Oy! Been there, don't even wanna think about it! Good to see you're hanging in there -- Wishing you a speedy recovery. Feeding! Oy! My horse just got out of the large animal hospital, sand colic from me letting her clean up after the goats on our very dry, sandy ground. $3500 and counting, including incidentals, e.g., paying for her transport to and from, since I don't have a trailer. Must find a new and more efficient way to feed said goats in order to restore health and harmony to the barnyard. (What goats lack in bull-strength they make up for in Machiavellian cunning.) Hope the new feeder survives!

[@stephanieellis7358]

Glad your feeling a little better!!!

[@brianjoyner9149]

Thank you for that explanation. I'd been wondering why you ground fed and wondering about how much waste you lost. Now I understand why. I guess the same reasons for ground feeding hay apply to the cake as well. Keep up the good work on here!

[@MrC9Oh3]

I couldn't imagine paying $150 per bale, it's going for $30-35 here in Texas. God bless you Mike.

[@valleyviewacres9120]

I hate those tombstone type feeders I found a solid ring on the top allows all the force to get transferred into all the up rights a guy could maybe even mount a top ring and weld it on to save the feeders. Soon as spring hits ground feeding stops here too for that very reason they waste too much. But in Canada I’ve been corn grazing it works out very well a fraction of the ground is needed to meet the needs of the herd

[@dbruns9340]

Glad to see you back hope you feel 100% by thursday think your feeding system is great somthing to be said for keeping it simple I love my bale processer but they will never run as cheap as your unroller

[@CowboyDave07]

Well, looks like the old rule of thumb still stands. I was taught that a 1200# round bale feeds 40 head for a day. You're right on the mark. Side note, you should shop around for hay! Just North of ya up here in South Dakota we were moving good Alfalfa for about $110/ton. The market has slumped a bit, now hanging around the $80/ton mark. It's only going to drop further as we were above average on rainfall and everyone that has hay is trying to get rid of it. Oh and we were sending hay trains at $5.50/mile, not too bad when you can get 52 bales on!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much. A majority of the cost comes in with trucking. We are always shopping around :) -Mike

[@CowboyDave07]

@@OurWyomingLife I thought of that after my initial comment. Edited! If you get in a pickle, I know a couple of good hay brokers

[@OurWyomingLife]

Do you ever deal with mighty mouse hay brokers? I know they are up there running around your area

[@johnowen6507]

wow, my cows would waste feed if i put 30 lbs.of hay per cow out. but i run medium to small framed red angus cattle. they get 20 to 22 lbs. of hay per day with no grain and stay fleshy all winter.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Not sure where you get 30lbs. That bale was 1566 between about 150 cows. That's a little over 10 lbs each. They got roughly the same size bale tonight. As they get closer to calving we will up the amount they get though. Thanks -Mike

[@wranther]

Great to see you back up and in the tractor seat again Mike. With that out of the way now, seems like you have gained some snow cover?

[@thr8061]

I have seen plastic (flexible synthetic material) bale feeders. They do not rust or break very easily. I have seen my sister's steer play with an empty one which would have destroyed a metal one. It kept its shape.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Interesting, I'll see what I can find. Thanks - Mike

[@CC-xk6cp]

Hi again! Good to see you back Mike. Hope your misery won't last too long. Nicely done rounds!! Take good care...

[@landrun89]

You might check into liquid feed with enzymes it has cut my hay consumption , also you might search southern states like Oklahoma, Kansas for hay much cheaper even with trucking.

[@wendywhite4537]

Glad you’re better

[@ibmoran]

Sorry about your toothache......a very informative and interesting post!.....thank you!

[@timkamholz1009]

Hope get to feeling better Mike.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Me too, thanks Tim - Mike

[@clayquarles7425]

Ranch down in south Texas if you can figure out how to ship hay up there lol I can get u some hay way less than 150$ a bale that is almost twice than what we pay down here ( quality varies a little of course). Great videos enjoy watching the different ways people ranch thanks!

[@makeaplaytv7034]

Love this show bro I’m new to this channel

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much -Mike

[@makeaplaytv7034]

Our Wyoming Life do you have social media accounts Instagram?

[@OurWyomingLife]

Yup. Search our Wyoming life on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Thanks

[@thomassoifer7412]

Thanks mike take care

[@stenbak88]

Cows are so interested in whatever you are doing

[@bfd1565]

Speedy recovery bro !!!

[@GerraldFarms]

Thanks for sharing. Another great video. Glad your doing better. Have a good one

[@2fast65]

Great video Mike thanks and get well soon have a good day be safe.

[@whatheworld]

Mike I try to watch all your videos from beginning to end. But I guess i missed the story behind the "Forclosure Pending" sign on the barn wall. Is that some kind of motvational tool or what? I know what you mean on the root canal. I had an abcessed tooth one time. But that root canal felt like heaven after going a whole weekend with that tooth. Nice clip. Keep them coming .

[@melissawilliamson7907]

That's so funny John just said ground feeding only works when it's dry and hard, or frozen right before you said. LOL your face still looks a little swollen. Hope you feel better. I can't believe hay is that expensive there, we sell our rounds for $45 each.

[@petermavus4131]

A lot to chew on in this vlog but Mike I think you rooted out all the problems

[@cdawggaming9618]

Hope you feel better mike love the video

[@chasemotherwell1749]

I feel like feeders are such a hassle I'm glad that I dont have to put them all over my farm cant wait to see how your cows are doing on pregchecking

[@Theghostofpeter]

Hope you’re feeling better!

[@wiguy3462]

Mike, have you thought of aerating your fields to see if more water and nutrients can be retained. I have seen some youtube videos and that looks like it might help with the rain you do get. Also have you thought of some wind turbines to make extra money? With all the wind you have it might help. I notice that the one you have always seems to be working.Take care of yourself when you have to. We can wait for your videos.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Kevin - Mike

[@loborobertson9186]

:-) enjoyed it very much mike