Feeding meal to heifer calves?

[Themilklady]

So I have some calves bought in, all out on the grass and getting plenty of meal too. Thinning of separating the heifers from the bulls and as they the heifers will run two seasons on the grass and some be sold for breeding, am I as wise just pulling the meal from them for now and letting them grow themselves. Mostly Hereford cross or Angus cross our of British freesian. Figured the meal could be put to better use for the bulls. First timer. Used to Suckler Cows. Just wondered what people do. Many thanks

 

[Werzle]

Yes

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

We're doing a similar thing and stopped supplementing them after about a week. It feels so good to not be buying anything for them.

 

[Themilklady]

Is this something you have done before or are you at the same stage as me?

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

Done it off and on and used to rear calves as dairy replacements. Trying a few again as an alternative to sucklers.

I think they're ok on grass through the summer but it's important to start supplementing them in the autumn when grass quality is declining and the weather turning

 

[Samcowman]

We don’t give any to ours, Angus x heifers this year. Would probably depend as well if you set stock them or rotate them keeping good grub in front of them all the time.