Finishing Blues at Grass

[Benr]

We normally sell as stores, but this year we have turned out a small bunch of Blues which I think we will try to Finish at grass. They were 500 - 550kg at turnout mid April and 18 months old. I think they look like they are fairly well covered but people tell me we will have to feed them plenty of Barley to get them finished - what do you think?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

They aren't finished yet....they need ad lib barley for 90 days

 

[Bob the beef]

View attachment 523510 We normally sell as stores, but this year we have turned out a small bunch of Blues which I think we will try to Finish at grass. They were 500 - 550kg at turnout mid April and 18 months old. I think they look like they are fairly well covered but people tell me we will have to feed them plenty of Barley to get them finished - what do you think?

Feed them as hard as you can for as long as you can. If you brought them in and stood them for 12 hours just now, they would look pretty Tim

 

[haymaker80]

View attachment 523510 We normally sell as stores, but this year we have turned out a small bunch of Blues which I think we will try to Finish at grass. They were 500 - 550kg at turnout mid April and 18 months old. I think they look like they are fairly well covered but people tell me we will have to feed them plenty of Barley to get them finished - what do you think?

Those people are probably correct. They should put on over 150kg between turnout and the end of september so they will be killable weights but don't expect too many of them to be 4L's

 

[muleman]

sell them now as stores,no point feedin em hard to sell fat in autumn for less

 

[Benr]

What would they make as stores

 

[muleman]

What would they make as stores

1200 I would say,some maybe a bit more

 

[cattleman123]

View attachment 523510 We normally sell as stores, but this year we have turned out a small bunch of Blues which I think we will try to Finish at grass. They were 500 - 550kg at turnout mid April and 18 months old. I think they look like they are fairly well covered but people tell me we will have to feed them plenty of Barley to get them finished - what do you think?

Good cattle....wanna get some troughs on legs....you will lose a lot of cake with them little ones...and a lot easier to feed um...keep feeding

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Definitely want wider troughs on legs....and try and feed them somewhere where you're not going to bare all that grass off

 

[beefandsleep]

What would they make as stores

They would be about 1050-1100 but don't expect them to be any heavier than they were at turnout in the market.

 

[liammogs]

Personally think you should have turned them into the mart april time and not out to the feilds!!! cattle trade was flying

 

[beefandsleep]

The edge has definitely gone off, particularly bigger cattle. Never mind the market, you should have kept them in and fed them if you wanted to finish them yourself. You've probably lost 2 months on them.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

We are still in May...there's no need to start sh!tting it....those big older cattle will finish as easy as pie in August/September

 

[Benr]

I have only been giving them about half a kilo to keep them quiet. I will get some better troughs and then do you think if I gave them 4 or 5 kg each a day they would kill well by august

 

[gone up the hill]

View attachment 523510 We normally sell as stores, but this year we have turned out a small bunch of Blues which I think we will try to Finish at grass. They were 500 - 550kg at turnout mid April and 18 months old. I think they look like they are fairly well covered but people tell me we will have to feed them plenty of Barley to get them finished - what do you think?

Cracking store cattle but 3 months off being fat.

You need to feed 6/8 kilos head a day of a barley/ wheat mix, ie 80/20%

 

[Benr]

Thanks for the advice. Would you suggest a trough like this http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/iae-low-level-beef-trough
How many would feed around it?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Thanks for the advice. Would you suggest a trough like this http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/iae-low-level-beef-trough
How many would feed around it?

You don't want them...get the 8ft Bateman ones...you'll get about 8-10 around

 

[Benr]

Are Bateman better made?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Are Bateman better made?

I think so, and cheaper

 

[kmo]

Cracking store cattle but 3 months off being fat.

You need to feed 6/8 kilos head a day of a barley/ wheat mix, ie 80/20%

Why spend £100 a head, feeding grain to them, while they're outside at grass?
8kg x 90 days = over 700 kg a head x barley /wheat @ over £140 a tonne = over £100 / head.

@gone up the hill
Is grass finished beef not possible for where you are ? Or do you have a system that looks for maximum turnover of cattle?


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