Pottbellies a bad thing. Means rumen isn't ready.
So what about all these chap's who tip them out at a week or two old and rear them on grass ? Are you sure the belly doesn't mean that they're eating it and the rumen is developing, whereas with straw they eat as little as possible so rumen doesn't develop, hence no stomach, never heard summut so daft, you'll be telling all these single suckler chap's to take the calves off the cow's next incase they eat some of mummy's foodPottbellies a bad thing. Means rumen isn't ready.
Dlwg doesn't lie. Say all you want.So what about all these chap's who tip them out at a week or two old and rear them on grass ? Are you sure the belly doesn't mean that they're eating it and the rumen is developing, whereas with straw they eat as little as possible so rumen doesn't develop, hence no stomach, never heard summut so daft, you'll be telling all these single suckler chap's to take the calves off the cow's next incase they eat some of mummy's food
Maybe potbellied is the wrong term, these are 5 months old with developed rumens which in a forage based system is the goal. Wouldn’t like to see them potbellied at 2 months old. Heifers hitting all targets here, if anything they’re too heavy at 15 months for the size of cow I’m targeting, there’s certainly room to cut concentrates but I’m always nervous of it!Pottbellies a bad thing. Means rumen isn't ready.
Maybe potbellied is the wrong term, these are 5 months old with developed rumens which in a forage based system is the goal. Wouldn’t like to see them potbellied at 2 months old. Heifers hitting all targets here, if anything they’re calving down too heavy at 15 months for the size of cow I’m targeting, there’s certainly room to cut concentrates but I’m always nervous of it!
bulling at 15 months, it’s been a long year!You’re calving them down at 15 months?
What's mature weight?Kinds figured thats what you meant. We have similar issue. Hitting 500kg-550kg at 16 months, should be doing them at 13 months at 400kg.
We are averaging £1250 on cull if that gives you any idea. Haven't actually weighed one in years. Best cull we've done was North of £1500.What's mature weight?
You’ll get weights back on the statement when you send them to the mart. Weighed our whole herd when we tb tested in November, it was a worthwhile experience and did change what we served to Beef/Dairy.We are averaging £1250 on cull if that gives you any idea. Haven't actually weighed one in years. Best cull we've done was North of £1500.
I'm always too distracted at the £You’ll get weights back on the statement when you send them to the mart. Weighed our whole herd when we tb tested in November, it was a worthwhile experience and did change what we served to Beef/Dairy.
Feeding hay doesn't affect daily live weight gain.Dlwg doesn't lie. Say all you want.
In fact just thinking a bit more about this, didn't the King brothers who won the Gold Cup a few years ago change from feeding straw to feeding hay on the advice of the girl who reared their calves, if I remember correctly they said it was against their better judgement, but found the calves did better and grew faster on hay rather than straw,which makes sense as your replacing a low quality indigestible food with a good quality one.Dlwg doesn't lie. Say all you want.
It doesn't perform the same as wheat straw. And doesn't develop the rumen as well. Ofc providing you are feeding a cake on top.Feeding hay doesn't affect daily live weight gain.
l think the problem is what 'kind' of hay you feed.In fact just thinking a bit more about this, didn't the King brothers who won the Gold Cup a few years ago change from feeding straw to feeding hay on the advice of the girl who reared their calves, if I remember correctly they said it was against their better judgement, but found the calves did better and grew faster on hay rather than straw,which makes sense as your replacing a low quality indigestible food with a good quality one.