As winter approaches, farmers take stock of their feed reserves. When the numbers do not add up, the search begins for alternative cattle feed that can bridge the gap without compromising herd health or performance. The good news is that several options work well. The catch is that each one carries specific nutritional shortfalls and, in some cases, real safety considerations that need managing.
This guide covers the four main winter feed alternatives, what each is good for, and what you need to supplement or watch out for with each.
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Comparing the Main Winter Feed Options
| Feed | Strength | Main Shortfall | Best Suited To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straw | High dry matter, cheap in bulk, easy to store and handle | Very low protein (4 to 5% CP) | Dry cattle with the lowest nutritional demands |
| Whole crop cereals | Good energy and starch, flexible preservation options | Nutritional value varies widely by cereal type and harvest stage | Growing and finishing cattle |
| Forage crops (brassica) | Strong energy and protein, low cost, high yield per hectare | Low fiber, low in several key minerals, needs careful introduction | Beef cattle, dairy cattle, dry cattle (with caveats) |
| Maize silage | Consistently high energy, rich in starch | Low protein (8 to 9% CP), low in several minerals | Early to mid-lactation dairy cows |
Straw
Straw fills the forage gap in winter effectively. It has high dry matter, can be bought in bulk, and is straightforward to store and handle.
The limitation is protein. Straw is consistently low at around 4 to 5% crude protein, which is well below what most cattle need. Supplementation is therefore not optional. Rumen degradable protein in particular must be provided, since rumen microbes need it to digest the fibrous straw in the first place. Without adequate rumen degradable protein, the microbes cannot break the straw down efficiently, and intake and digestibility both fall.
The practical rule is to prioritize straw-based rations for dry cattle, the group with the lowest nutritional requirements in the herd, and to always pair it with additional protein, minerals, and vitamins. As straw makes up a larger share of the daily ration, the supplementation requirement rises accordingly.
Whole Crop Cereals
The feed value of whole crop cereals depends on the cereal species, the harvest stage, and how it was preserved. Wheat generally offers higher value than barley or oats.
Preservation method makes a substantial difference to composition:
- Fermented whole crop: roughly 35 to 40% dry matter, 7 to 9% crude protein, 15 to 25% starch.
- Urea-treated whole crop: roughly 50 to 65% dry matter, 14 to 20% crude protein, 25 to 30% starch.
The higher protein figure for urea-treated crop comes from the urea itself, which supplies non-protein nitrogen that rumen microbes convert into microbial protein. This is genuinely useful, but it means the protein is available to the animal only via the rumen, and urea must be applied at the correct rate. Excessive urea is toxic.
Forage Crops: High Value, But Introduce Them Carefully
Brassica forage crops, including kale, forage and stubble radish, and fodder beet, offer good energy and protein at a low cost per unit of feed, and can supply up to 70% of daily dry matter intake. They are an excellent winter option for beef cattle, dairy cattle, and dry cattle.
But they come with more caveats than any other feed on this list, and these are worth taking seriously.
Low fiber, so pair with roughage
Brassicas are low in fiber. Feeding them alone disrupts rumen function. Always combine them with a fibrous forage such as hay or straw to maintain healthy rumen activity and prevent digestive upset.
Introduce gradually, never abruptly
This is the point most often overlooked. Cattle moved suddenly onto brassica crops can develop serious rumen disturbance. Transition over a period of one to two weeks, starting with short grazing periods and gradually increasing exposure, and always ensure fibrous forage is available alongside. Never turn hungry cattle straight onto a brassica crop.
Mineral supplementation is essential, not optional
Brassicas are low in phosphorus and magnesium, and in trace minerals including iodine, selenium, and copper. The iodine issue is compounded by the fact that brassicas contain goitrogenic compounds, which actively interfere with the animal’s iodine uptake. Iodine supplementation is therefore particularly important when brassicas form a significant part of the ration.
Do not feed to dry cows in the final three weeks before calving
The reason matters. Brassicas are relatively high in calcium, and feeding a high-calcium diet in the close-up period suppresses the cow’s own calcium mobilization mechanisms. When calving arrives and calcium demand suddenly surges for milk production, the cow cannot respond quickly enough, and milk fever (hypocalcemia) results. Keeping calcium low in that final three-week window keeps the calcium regulation system primed and ready.
“Winter feed planning tends to focus on quantity, on whether there is enough in the shed to last until spring. What gets missed is that the feed has to still be worth eating when you open it. We see farms that harvested well in autumn and lost a serious share of it to spoilage over winter, simply because the wrap failed. The feed you are counting on in February is only as good as the seal that protected it in October.”
— Sue Su, Marketing Director of Silopak
Maize Silage
Maize silage is low in protein at around 8 to 9% crude protein, but it is rich in starch and delivers consistently high energy. That energy density is what makes it so valuable, particularly for dairy cows in early to mid lactation when energy demand peaks.
Supplement it accordingly. Additional protein is needed to balance the ration, and mineral supplementation is required because calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, and copper are all relatively low in maize silage.
Practical Feeding Guidance
Cattle need adequate protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals to support growth, milk production, reproduction, and immune function. Before switching to any alternative feed, consult an animal nutritionist so the ration stays balanced.
Test each alternative feed source before relying on it, since actual nutrient content varies considerably from published averages. Then match the feed to the animal: nutritional requirements differ by age, sex, body condition, and production stage. Straw suits dry cattle. Maize silage suits early-lactation dairy cows. Brassica suits most groups, but not close-up dry cows. A feed that is cheap on paper is not cheap if it needs heavy supplementation to work for the animals you are actually feeding.
Protecting What You Have Stored
Every feed on this list depends on surviving storage with its nutritional value intact. Maize silage in particular needs a genuine airtight seal, protected from sun exposure and mold, or the energy you harvested in autumn will not be there in February.
Silopak has manufactured silage film, bale net wrap, and round bale film since 2011, producing to international specifications in a range of sizes. Good storage is not a detail at the end of the feed plan. It is what determines whether the feed plan works at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why does straw need protein supplementation?
Straw contains only about 4 to 5% crude protein, far below cattle requirements. More importantly, rumen microbes need rumen degradable protein in order to break down the fibrous material in straw. Without it, digestion of the straw itself becomes inefficient, so intake and feed value both drop. Supplementing protein is not just about meeting the animal’s protein needs; it is what allows the animal to extract energy from the straw in the first place.
Q: How should brassica crops be introduced to cattle?
Gradually, over one to two weeks. Start with short grazing periods and increase exposure progressively, and always provide fibrous forage such as hay or straw alongside. Never turn hungry cattle straight onto a brassica crop, as sudden access can cause serious rumen disturbance. Brassicas are low in fiber, so the accompanying roughage is essential for maintaining normal rumen function throughout the feeding period.
Q: Why can’t dry cows eat brassica in the last three weeks before calving?
Because of milk fever risk. Brassicas are relatively high in calcium, and a high-calcium diet in the close-up period suppresses the cow’s natural calcium mobilization system. At calving, demand for calcium surges sharply for milk production, and a cow whose regulation system has been suppressed cannot respond fast enough, resulting in hypocalcemia, commonly called milk fever. Keeping calcium low during those final three weeks keeps the system primed to respond when it is needed.
Q: Which winter feed is best for dairy cows in early lactation?
Maize silage is generally the strongest option for early to mid lactation, because its high starch content delivers the energy density that peak milk production demands. It needs balancing, however. Maize silage is low in protein at 8 to 9% crude protein and low in calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, and copper, so protein and mineral supplementation are both necessary to keep the ration complete.
Reviewed by Sue Su, Marketing Director of Silopak, on 25 July 2026. Guidance on brassica introduction and dry cow feeding has been expanded to reflect current animal health recommendations.
