Fattening bulls
- Thread starter FarmerDanny1989
- Start date
- Location
- People's Republic of South Yorkshire
Think those two average 1.3 - 1.5 kg over lifetime.
Looking for some thoughts from people who have done this before
We calve our Autumn herd from mid August until October, this year we kept all the males as Bulls!
They are LimX and AngusX calves out of the reverse parentage!
Been on creep feed since a few weeks old and growing like stink, not weighed yet but will be up around 350kg I'd reckon at heaviest if not a bit more
Looking at weaning them on Monday and keeping them on an intensive bull barley ration, what would folk suggest is best way to sell them and at what age and weight!
Currently I was thinking if they would be around 12 month old and around 500kg then killing them
We calve our Autumn herd from mid August until October, this year we kept all the males as Bulls!
They are LimX and AngusX calves out of the reverse parentage!
Been on creep feed since a few weeks old and growing like stink, not weighed yet but will be up around 350kg I'd reckon at heaviest if not a bit more
Looking at weaning them on Monday and keeping them on an intensive bull barley ration, what would folk suggest is best way to sell them and at what age and weight!
Currently I was thinking if they would be around 12 month old and around 500kg then killing them
- Location
- Shropshire
Just keep feeding, sell them at about 670kg on the dead or get them up to 700kg live and you won’t go far wrong this year! They should finish by 14.5 months.
You’ve done the hard work, now reap the rewards.
harperfarmer
Member
Lim steer out of blue x dairy cow at 13 months tomorrow. 640kg
Lim x bull aged 13 months. As you can see not the cover weighs 660kg so a touch heavier and would expect it to die around 2-4% better KO. Wouldn't be the heaviest but one of the more extreme types.
Steers give more flexibility regarding where and what age you sell them etc but nothing can touch a bull for performance. There's an argument for cutting/ringing shapier things to get more cover on them and they'll still perform well. I wouldn't feed anything with any native in them on this system as you'll end up with little fatties at 450kg. If it's 350+kg at weaning just put them straight onto a 14-15% CP finishing mix plus ad lib dry silage or straw and watch them grow. This is a kill sheet from last week for reference. The sim was bought in on a cow so chucked him in with bulls as he was big enough.
Lim x bull aged 13 months. As you can see not the cover weighs 660kg so a touch heavier and would expect it to die around 2-4% better KO. Wouldn't be the heaviest but one of the more extreme types.
Steers give more flexibility regarding where and what age you sell them etc but nothing can touch a bull for performance. There's an argument for cutting/ringing shapier things to get more cover on them and they'll still perform well. I wouldn't feed anything with any native in them on this system as you'll end up with little fatties at 450kg. If it's 350+kg at weaning just put them straight onto a 14-15% CP finishing mix plus ad lib dry silage or straw and watch them grow. This is a kill sheet from last week for reference. The sim was bought in on a cow so chucked him in with bulls as he was big enough.
Attachments
sticky
Member
- Location
- Near Stratford upon Avon
Are you still fetching your feed from John's?
harperfarmer
Member
Yes take barley into Bell's and fetch their bull beef finisher back
harperfarmer
Member
Bull calves born early spring would do 350kg without an ounce of creep so your first problem is your costs are to high. Unless you are set up to feed them i would leave it to the big finishers and sell them now as the trade is so good.
d williams
Member
At what age would you expect that weight without hard food ???
Wersel
Wersel
harperfarmer
Member
Would think a well bred bull calf should be 350kg by 6-7 months quite comfortably without excessive amounts of creep. March born calf at 50kg birthweight should do 1.5kg/day so 300kg gained in 200 days.
harperfarmer
Member
The continentals should be okay but the Angus's would maybe be better suited as steers. Wean then put on a more forage based ration so they grow as well as lay down fat. Obviously they're bulls already so this year can't be helped. You might find they get fat before they get to decent weights but to be fair with the trade where it is they're going to come to a lump of money even if they're lighter!
8mths easy with char x's
d williams
Member
But then you’d need to gain 2 kgs a day
Without the check at weaning
Creep into bulls when still on their mother will be the best money spent on either taking them through or selling at 10/11 mths
Plain steer
Member
Does he still have as many cattle?Yes take barley into Bell's and fetch their bull beef finisher back
I agree thats why i creep from mid/late sept till early nov and sell at 380-420kgs. I just pointed out that 350kg was possible without it. Calves dont get checked at any point, vaccinate for scours, worm, plenty of grass etc etc. Creep feeding any earlier is madness to me and points to having the wrong cows or farm type
Jonny_2
Member
Picked 4 blue x dairy calves up yesterday, first time rearing blues as my others are Angus. Not sure what to do with them yet. Could keep them entire and sell October time when I get my Angus heifers in, or cut them and turn them out when weaned and doing, What are peoples thoughts? Can get some rolled barely to put them onto
Cut them and turn out imo
- Location
- Shropshire
With supplementary corn