A:   The type of ration that you will feed to cows depends on age (heifers vs mature cows), weight, stage of production (lactating or gestating), body condition, and environment (cold, warm, wet hair coat, etc). The amount fed will be influenced by the quality of the forage or feeds that are available in the area or on your operation. I always recommend that producers sample and test their forages that are to be fed to the herd for qulaity (% crude protein, % TDN, and moisture). With this information, a balanced ration can be developed. A pregnant cow will eat between 2.0% and 2.2% of their body weight of a medium quality hay before calving and 2.3% to 2.5% of her body weight on a dry matter basis after calving. So before calving a 1200 lb cow will eat between 24 to 26 pounds on a dry matter basis and if the hay is 10% moisture and and 90% dry matter, you will need to feed her 27 to 29 pounds. You will need to account for 5 to 15 percent feeding losses. Will this amount of feed met her nutritional need? It all depends on the quality of the hay. If it is above average quality, I think there is a good chance that she will meet her needs. After calving, a combination of hay and alfalfa could meet her needs. If the females are bred to have higher than average lactation ability, then you will need to add 3 to 4 lb/hd/da of grain (corn). If you use corn, you can feed it whole. Free choice salt and a mineral/vitamin mix is usually needed.