Fattening beef cattle

[czechmate]

To mix all this feed and introduce it slowly, sounds like the only way is a mixer wagon. How do people go on when they are constantly buying fresh stores each week for fattening.

We are now fattening heifers too, so give them a ration twice per day. Always plenty to do...

 

[beefandsleep]

To mix all this feed and introduce it slowly, sounds like the only way is a mixer wagon. How do people go on when they are constantly buying fresh stores each week for fattening.

4 stage finishing ration. Dilute the final ration with grass silage at different levels over 2-3 weeks. So you put the final ration in the wagon first, feed out then dilute what’s left to 25% silage for example, feed out then dilute the remainder to 50% silage and so on. Takes a bit of working out the quantities of the first mix but it makes it very easy and safe and you don’t have to keep dropping off the shear grab.

 

[holywell farmer]

Barley, oats and potatoes are all high carbohydrate sources - what are you using for protein?
How will you feed the potatoes? Beware of the choking risk.

Will feeding spuds increase fat on the end meat product ?

 

[gone up the hill]

Yes you can, neighbour has 200 sucklers, finishing everything at 2 year old on red clover silage
Never say never!

What breed?

What liveweight is he killing at?

What is the Kill out %?

What fat class are his cattle killing out at?

( averages )

@tinsheet

 

[tinsheet]

What breed?

What liveweight is he killing at?

What is the Kill out %?

What fat class are his cattle killing out at?

( averages )

@tinsheet

Was Chars and lims but moving to stabilizer,
On the weights and grades would be 600kg plus, R4Ls few Us from the lims, that is guess work mind on my part having seen his cattle when helping at tb testing,
Acres and acres of red clover and arable silage.

 

[gone up the hill]

Was Chars and lims but moving to stabilizer,
On the weights and grades would be 600kg plus, R4Ls few Us from the lims, that is guess work mind on my part having seen his cattle when helping at tb testing,
Acres and acres of red clover and arable silage.

I would be very intrested to know actual figures as it would be a cheap way of fhinshing cattle, what mix of red clover and grasses does he grow?

 

[yellowbelly]

Will feeding spuds increase fat on the end meat product ?

Not unless you're frying 'em first

We used to work on about 5lbs of 'tates to replace 1lb of barley.

 

[tr250]

No I meant would that not be good enough as a protein source or would I still need somthing mixed with the barley

Protein is over rated for finishing cattle starch and energy more important

 

[tinsheet]

I would be very intrested to know actual figures as it would be a cheap way of fhinshing cattle, what mix of red clover and grasses does he grow?

You've got me there, will see him tomorrow will inquire! genuinely thinking of doing this my self !

 

[gone up the hill]

You've got me there, will see him tomorrow will inquire! genuinely thinking of doing this my self !

Let me know because if it works then I would be very intrested to know more as its certainly something I would look at doing.

( esp if the new stewardship schemes pay good money for legume grass crops and which high clover based grass leys would qualify for )

 

[ridger]

Protein is over rated for finishing cattle starch and energy more important

I found I had no trouble with feet when feeding 0.5 kg head per day soya bean meal

 

[tr250]

I found I had no trouble with feet when feeding 0.5 kg head per day soya bean meal

I didn't say anything about feet did I?

 

[ridger]

I didn't say anything about feet did I?

No but just saying protein helps the feet I'll say no more sure

 

[tr250]

No but just saying protein helps the feet I'll say no more sure

If that's true I didn't know about it. any reasons why?

 

[ridger]

If that's true I didn't know about it. any reasons why?

I don't know why but I was having trouble with sore feet and was advised by a large finisher to feed more soya bean meal and it seems to have worked.

 

[tr250]

I don't know why but I was having trouble with sore feet and was advised by a large finisher to feed more soya bean meal and it seems to have worked.

Well if it's worked carry on. I thought feet issues were from extra heat from the barley

 

[beefandsleep]

Red clover is an excellent feed for all classes of cattle. I have been getting really good results with finishing cattle this year. Unfortunately I’ve run out and the difference (drop)in feed intakes and performance when I replaced it with grass silage was noticeable. The grass silage actually analysed better in terms of digest ability and energy.

 

[gone up the hill]

Well if it's worked carry on. I thought feet issues were from extra heat from the barley

Nothing to do with heat from the barley!

 

[gone up the hill]

Red clover is an excellent feed for all classes of cattle. I have been getting really good results with finishing cattle this year. Unfortunately I’ve run out and the difference (drop)in feed intakes and performance when I replaced it with grass silage was noticeable. The grass silage actually analysed better in terms of digest ability and energy.

Have you been feeding straight red clover silage or a mix of grass/ red clover?

 

[beefandsleep]

Have you been feeding straight red clover silage or a mix of grass/ red clover?

Straight red cut when in full flower with a 48hr wilt. Baled with no additive at about 45% dm.