Straw
Use of straw for bedding animals
Straw is the bedding of choice for all types of stock that are loose housed for the winter. It provides comfort and soaks up the valuable nutrients of the excreta, resulting in high value farmyard manure (FYM).
Straw use for stock in loose bedding
Stock Type |
Round Bales Required for Winter |
Round Bales Required for Winter |
Number of Weeks |
16 |
18 |
Dairy Cow |
3 |
3.4 |
Suckler Cow |
3 |
3.4 |
Store >2 YO |
3 |
3.4 |
Store 1-2 YO |
2 |
2.25 |
Weanling |
1.5 |
1.7 |
Baby Calf |
1 |
1.1 |
Straw requirements on a suckler farm (Based on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine REPS Data)
Stock Type |
Stock Numbers |
18 Weeks |
Total |
Suckler Cow |
30 |
3.4 |
102 |
Store >2 YO |
2 |
3.4 |
6.8 |
Store 1-2 YO |
5 |
2.25 |
11.25 |
Weanling |
5 |
1.7 |
8.5 |
Baby Calf |
30 |
1.1 |
33 |
Total 4’ x 4’ Round Bales |
162 |
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Feeding straw to stock
Straw is a viable feed option for stock. It not only allows silage supplies to be stretched, but it also helps maintain body condition of the animal.
Baby calves – provides a source of fibre to initiate essential rumen development.
Dairy cows – as a high fibre supplement to the diet at 1 – 2kg/day in a mixed diet or ad lib systems.
Suckler cows – to supplement or replace scarce fodder with suitable concentrates.
Weanlings and store cattle – to supplement or replace scarce fodder with high protein concentrates.
How much straw can I give dry dairy cows?
Teagasc recommend that feeding dry dairy cows 20kg grass silage, 5kg straw and 3-4kg of concentrates will maintain dry dairy cows and put on 0.2-0.3 BCS (S. Kavanagh, 2016).
How much straw can I give dry suckler cows?
Suckler cows in good condition will eat up to 8.5kg of fresh straw and require 2.5kg of concentrates to supplement this. Under nourished cows will require an additional 1kg of concentrates.
What do I need to look out for?
Straw is a viable feed option for stock. It not only allows silage supplies to be stretched, but it also helps maintain body condition of the animal.
Straw is low in protein and minerals; therefore, it must not be fed without supplementation.
Stock must eat a balanced diet with enough energy, protein, fibre, water, minerals and vitamins to cover maintenance and growth.
Ensure that there is adequate space for all animals to eat at the same time.
Straw is best utilised if cows are in good body condition at drying off.
Feeding straw to replace silage in the diet
Stock Type |
Straw kg/head/day |
Meal (kg) for ADG 0.5 – 0.6kg/head/day |
Ration Crude Protein % |
Weanlings |
2 |
4 |
18 |
Stores |
3 |
5 |
18 |
Finishing Cattle |
1.2 |
11 (1.2kg ADG) |
12 |
Suckler Cows |
8.5 |
3 |
20 |
Dry Dairy Cows |
7 |
7 |
20 |