You can replace three pounds of poor-quality hay with one pound of grain. It gets to be an economic decision of which you choose. Another option for economical feeding would be to look at various byproduct feeds that are available. Many times there are byproducts like corn gluten feed, soyhulls or whole cotton seed that provide very economical nutrition. The producer needs to make decisions quickly when prices are attractive and be able to handle trailer-load quantities, he said.
Poultry litter can also provide an economical source of protein and energy for beef cattle.
He recommends deep-stacking the litter in a covered building at a depth of four to five feet. The heating process makes the litter more palatable and kills any pathogens that may exist. The litter should be tested and mixed with grain to provide an economical supplement that will replace a portion of hay in the diet. The ratio of litter to grain will depend on the cow's stage of production and the nutrient content of the litter. It will certainly be a challenge to provide adequate nutrition to beef cows with such a limited amount of hay.