Dairy steers ration

[TelesnaAg]

When raising dairy steers, if using cake first up (nuts - pellets as we call them) and slowly diluting ration with oats or barley...does the grain need to be cracked? I read on here some say no as it takes longer to get through rumen and less chance of poisoning...some say do crack to reduce wastage...

I am planning to slowly introduce barley from 3 week mark until 8-9 weeks where they are eating grass and hay with grain in a lick feeder (3 in 1 u call them i think)...then slowly swap to silage rolls in summer...

i can get corn cheap so might put a sprinkling in and can grow oats cheap or buy cheap...also can get lupins dirt cheap for protein....

Will also use a liquid supplement when grass / clover goes off a bit in summer...

Ant...

 

[Northeastfarmer]

The barley will need cracking but not milling, the more it's milled the more it damages the rumen

 

[TelesnaAg]

The barley will need cracking but not milling, the more it's milled the more it damages the rumen

Right, so i need a cracker...also 1 tonne lupins with 2 tonne of barley - gives 3 tonne of 18% protein grain...this is the ratio they use for the lamb lot feeding.

Ant...

 

[gone up the hill]

When raising dairy steers, if using cake first up (nuts - pellets as we call them) and slowly diluting ration with oats or barley...does the grain need to be cracked? I read on here some say no as it takes longer to get through rumen and less chance of poisoning...some say do crack to reduce wastage...

I am planning to slowly introduce barley from 3 week mark until 8-9 weeks where they are eating grass and hay with grain in a lick feeder (3 in 1 u call them i think)...then slowly swap to silage rolls in summer...

i can get corn cheap so might put a sprinkling in and can grow oats cheap or buy cheap...also can get lupins dirt cheap for protein....

Will also use a liquid supplement when grass / clover goes off a bit in summer...

Ant...

What age are these cattle?

 

[TelesnaAg]

Get them at 4 days old...on milk for 42-50 days...cake and grain intro in week 3-4...

Ant..

 

[gone up the hill]

Get them at 4 days old...on milk for 42-50 days...cake and grain intro in week 3-4...

Ant..

Forget feeding them grain and switching the diet so much at that age, the rumen will NOT cope with what you are thinking of doing, keep them on proper calf pellets for at least 3 months.

 

[TelesnaAg]

Sorry but thats a mike from the physical evidence they have here...rumen development is best with grain and pellets ...growth over 12 months is best...milk and finely ground pallet contents is the worst.

Ant...

 

[gone up the hill]

Sorry but thats a mike from the physical evidence they have here...rumen development is best with grain and pellets ...growth over 12 months is best...milk and finely ground pallet contents is the worst.

Ant...

I have done both and can tell you without a shadow of a doubt the worst thing you can do is feed such young calves with Barley!

Giving them some oats is fine however and will help with rumen function.

At 12 months old you should be aiming for 400+ kilos

 

[TelesnaAg]

So you killed them at 4 and 8 weeks and inspected the rumen?

Ant...

 

[gone up the hill]

So you killed them at 4 and 8 weeks and inspected the rumen?

Ant...

No, I know by growth rates.

Needless to say the people who's research you quote wont have killed them and inspected the rumen either!!

 

[TelesnaAg]

Dairy australia has mate with the pics of rumen on different rations

Ant...