Feeding Bulls

[jd6110]

Ok as I am as cheap to buy ration rather than straights I asked local feed merchant about finishing nut. They have the below at 10€ a ton cheaper than what I posted in first post, but reckon to early to start my cattle on yet? Would ye agree? What weight should I move them on to it. Thanks again.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

I'd have them on that now but feed it adlib. Bulls should be done adlib imo, although I have a cousin who gets on very well with good silage and restricted cereals. Think he's up to 7-8 kgs/day by 12 months however.

 

[aangus]

I would put them on that lower protein feed adlib and some straw straight away.
Plus they will be cleaner when on the straw. But maybe you have them on slats, we find bulls don't do aswell on slats than straw.

 

[jd6110]

Ok thanks for comments. I have them on 2kgs twice a day now. Slats only option as straw bought in too. Average age is 8 months so I will gradually build up to ad lib early new year?

 

[Beef farmer]

I'd have them on that now but feed it adlib. Bulls should be done adlib imo, although I have a cousin who gets on very well with good silage and restricted cereals. Think he's up to 7-8 kgs/day by 12 months however.

That's all but adlib.

 

[Beef farmer]

Ok thanks for comments. I have them on 2kgs twice a day now. Slats only option as straw bought in too. Average age is 8 months so I will gradually build up to ad lib early new year?

 

[gone up the hill]

That's the best of them. Finish the rest ourselves.

View attachment 240862

Those cattle are a massive credit to you @Chae1

Ref the store price, I reckon you will see the price of the cattle with the same breeding as in the pic surge ahead next year, no doubt about it with the new grid coming in the gap between the top grade store cattle and anything else is starting to get quite noticeably !

 

[Poorbuthappy]

That's all but adlib.

I expect them to be eating 10kgs / day by then on adlib. Won't go much over that however.

 

[gone up the hill]

Any tips on getting them to fill out. Our Saler Bulls keep just growing bloody frame. We've upped the starch, getting a mix with 1600kg barley, 300kg Oats, 200kg wheat dark grains, 150kg molasses. Access to fresh straw. At moment would be average 550kg back end calves so about 13 months old. Last time we weighed them they were averaging 1.6kg per day. That was over a 41 day period. Which sounds reasonable enough but looking at them they are all frame. I know they are a maternal breed but think we could do a better job of them. They are eating plenty 54 animals clearing that mix in 3 days.

Do they run out before you re-fill the feeders??

Cut out the oats straight away and replace with Wheat,

What is Wheat dark grains?

 

[Beef farmer]

That's the best of them. Finish the rest ourselves.

View attachment 240862

With cattle like that, you ought to win some sort of award.

 

[Chae1]

Do they run out before you re-fill the feeders??

Yes I let them completely finish before refilling. It's not a hopper feed them on a raised pass so most of them can get to feed at one time.



Cut out the oats straight away and replace with Wheat,

What is Wheat dark grains?

Pelleted by product from distilling formed with mollases.

Using Vivergo dark grains now. First load home and unsure about them.

Use them as a protein source.

 

[gone up the hill]

Pelleted by product from distilling formed with mollases.

Using Vivergo dark grains now. First load home and unsure about them.

Use them as a protein source.

If your problem is that they have too much frame then you need to cut out as much protein as possible, hence I wouldn't be feeding the above but would feed straight rolled Wheat instead.

 

[bluepower]

If your problem is that they have too much frame then you need to cut out as much protein as possible, hence I wouldn't be feeding the above but would feed straight rolled Wheat instead.

I was always told never to feed cattle adlib wheat. I understood that they cannot cope with any more than about 4 kgs of wheat per day in the diet but I may well be wrong. Would hate to find out the hard way as a dead bullock aint worth a lot.

 

[Beef farmer]

I was always told never to feed cattle adlib wheat. I understood that they cannot cope with any more than about 4 kgs of wheat per day in the diet but I may well be wrong. Would hate to find out the hard way as a dead bullock aint worth a lot.

I don't think anyone suggested adlib wheat. But replace the oats with wheat.

 

[gone up the hill]

I was always told never to feed cattle adlib wheat. I understood that they cannot cope with any more than about 4 kgs of wheat per day in the diet but I may well be wrong. Would hate to find out the hard way as a dead bullock aint worth a lot.

See previous posts, im not saying feed ad lib wheat but feed wheat as part of the mix chae is already feeding.

 

[Beef farmer]

See previous posts, im not saying feed ad lib wheat but feed wheat as part of the mix chae is already feeding.

Keep up guth

 

[bluepower]

I don't think anyone suggested adlib wheat. But replace the oats with wheat.

That makes a bit more sense. Just would hate to see someone make an expensive mistake. Oats have a really good energy content and as an old cattleman once told me there is nothing to make cattle flesh better than oats but I am not sure I quite agree with that.

 

[Chae1]

Changed mix today to 1800kg barley, 200 kg dark grains and 150kg molasses.

Don't have access to wheat.

The barley is treated with maxammon so higher protein anyway. Bruising more barley tomorrow so can mix it with maxammon treated stuff to lower protein.

 

[Chae1]

That makes a bit more sense. Just would hate to see someone make an expensive mistake. Oats have a really good energy content and as an old cattleman once told me there is nothing to make cattle flesh better than oats but I am not sure I quite agree with that.

I thought the same. My brother uses them for his show cattle and we've bought and prop corned 50t for including in ration. Will keep heifers and steers on it. The husk has plenty fibre and keeps ration open. Use it to replace beet pulp.

 

[Beef farmer]

Feed up to 5kg of dm of wheat in a cattle diet, after that it start to create a waxy film in the rumen, which fudges up it efficiency.