Finishing Cattle/ ad lib feeding

[Timmer]

I was wondering if anyone has experience with feeding cattle ad-lib, especially over the summer months. Currently finishing cattle at 19-22 months on a forage based diet in the autumn but quite keen to see if we can go more intensive. Currently cattle are being grazed during the summer with no extra feed, have tried supplementing it but has been difficult running large groups. I see Portequip make a large trailed ad-lib feeder, and was wondering how this would work out? What age do you start ad-lib feeding steers and heifers? Do they go fat too quickly and not weigh? Margins? We are looking to increase the arable and want to keep our livestock at the same levels so thought this could be a good way to do it as less grazing would be required.

Any info much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Who2]

im fan of meal myself but what you will be doing is basically supplementing a cheap feed with a dear feed to have animals ready for sale when the markets will be flooded with grass cattle.

 

[Chae1]

We just have trailed feeders in field and go out with loader bucket to top them up once a day. If weather is fine just feed them like this feed lot style. After July goodness goes out of grass and they need something more powerful to keep them going.

 

[GTB]

I was wondering if anyone has experience with feeding cattle ad-lib, especially over the summer months. Currently finishing cattle at 19-22 months on a forage based diet in the autumn but quite keen to see if we can go more intensive. Currently cattle are being grazed during the summer with no extra feed, have tried supplementing it but has been difficult running large groups. I see Portequip make a large trailed ad-lib feeder, and was wondering how this would work out? What age do you start ad-lib feeding steers and heifers? Do they go fat too quickly and not weigh? Margins? We are looking to increase the arable and want to keep our livestock at the same levels so thought this could be a good way to do it as less grazing would be required.

Any info much appreciated.

Thanks

We used to find feeding big lots of cattle very easy with a snacker. Has to be some ki d of nut/cake though, wouldn't fancy feeding straights this way.

Ad lib works well as long as the cattle are big enough to finish. You dont want them on ad lib more than two months imo.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Just get an ad lib hopper and keep filling it...don't let it run out

 

[dannewhouse]

I feed suckler limx calves adlib all the way through, spring born and they don't go out a second summer around 12 months old I start killing them out most are U and R grades a range 3 4L and the odd 4H
I do suffer a little with them being too fat but I get them away that much sooner. I try finish them as butcher type cattle at 550kg liveweight ish odd ones go at 500 as they're getting fat.
My cows are a mix some native beef shorthorns some lim char blonde I can tell that the continentals throw a better calf and they do tend to not go just as fat. I'm slowly moving to continental cows but I cant fault the shorthorns I very rarely have to do anything with them. (touch wood!) I am also trying a bb bull to stop the calves being just as fat.

I have upped my protein to 16.5% I think also swapped to a urea soya barley mix instead of barley the protein pellet which I think has stopped them being just as fat.

 

[Bossfarmer]

does anyone feed bruised barley to store cattle with a snacker?

 

[dannewhouse]

I could see the type that tip in piles working a little but not a constant trickle or spreader type.
Personally don't like feeding on floor. But can see the idea Vs troughs in a fixed spot

 

[Samcowman]

How do you graze your cattle at the moment? Is there scope for improving how they do off of grass?

 

[Timbo]

does anyone feed bruised barley to store cattle with a snacker?

Theory is sound, but you'd need to balance the starch with protein else you're wasting your time & ££

 

[HarryB97]

If you have a fairly large arable area then 3-4 year leys and a simple paddock grazing system could be worth looking at. Your arable land would get a rest, extra fertility, extra organic matter and a reduced weed sead bank whilst your cows would benefit from less worm issues, more energy and protein rich grass and better growth rates.

 

[kmo]

Currently trying out a 3 in1 feeder with cattle at grass. Only been out a few weeks, so still on a learning curve.
https://advantagefeeders.co.uk/product/1800hd/

 

[Cmoran]

I’m using the 3in1 feeder at min feeding last few that didn’t finish on grass. Find it great set around 5kg per head per day of beef nut. was thinking of using it next summer set at 2-3 kgs for all finishing cattle

 

[Bossfarmer]

Theory is sound, but you'd need to balance the starch with protein else you're wasting your time & ££

How do you mean? Theres protein in the grass and the barley will give them energy, 450kg already so frames there

 

[Bossfarmer]

If you have a fairly large arable area then 3-4 year leys and a simple paddock grazing system could be worth looking at. Your arable land would get a rest, extra fertility, extra organic matter and a reduced weed sead bank whilst your cows would benefit from less worm issues, more energy and protein rich grass and better growth rates.

Already have about 400 acre of temp grass, 220 acres of which is in silage

 

[Timbo]

How do you mean? Theres protein in the grass and the barley will give them energy, 450kg already so frames there

At this time of yr grass protein levels wont be enough to do much more than maintenance.

 

[andybk]

At this time of yr grass protein levels wont be enough to do much more than maintenance.

would alka grain have enough protein (urea) at grass for growth be about 17% ?

 

[Timbo]

would alka grain have enough protein (urea) at grass for growth be about 17% ?

Now ya talking,,,

 

[Beef farmer]

At this time of yr grass protein levels wont be enough to do much more than maintenance.

What? Protien.will be high.20s this time of year

 

[Bossfarmer]

At this time of yr grass protein levels wont be enough to do much more than maintenance.

hows that? its a clover rich sward theyre on