What do mini cows eat?

Cows will eat approximately 2% of their body weight in grasses and/or hay each day. They’ll waste half again as much when fed dry rations.  The dry feed should be a good quality grass pasture mix that is free of mold and excessive dust. 1st cut hay is an excellent fiber source. You can replace 20% of this with 2nd cut hay or alfalfa hay for its added protein and minerals, or you can leave a protein / mineral lick out for them to self regulate those needs. 

Cows will still require supplemental minerals and you can get these as tubs, loose minerals or blocks.  We use all three.

Cows can eat a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits from your garden and they have a serious sweet tooth, but I don't recommend going overboard on these options as they can upset your cows digestive system.

Our cows have access to fresh pasture grasses about 6 months out of the year. We augment that seasonally with quality pasture grass hay.   We will often times double feeding amounts during the peak of winter when temps drop below zero for extra energy but as a general rule we always keep hay available for free choice grazing.

If you have young calves, adding a product like calf starter to their daily forage will help develop their rumen and it increases their protein intake.  While grains can be useful as a tool for moving older cattle, too much can lead to obesity, acidosis, bloat or general digestive upset so use sparingly and with caution.