Slimming down heifer

[JPB]

Hi,
I have a heifer which is 3 months in calf and is in to good condition. Really needs to slim down. Is there a good way of doing this rather than just letting her go into a field with not much grass and giving her straw? Think I remember hearing a high protein ration can cause weight loss?
Any advice gratefully received
Thankyou.

 

[M-J-G]

If she's in calf to something easy calving she'll likely be fine.
Keeping them too tight in mid pregnancy can cause big calves.

I'd be more prone to upping the fibre in the last month or so, if you're worried.

 

[Whitepeak]

Keeping them tight for grass can actually have the opposite to the desired effect. As the young grass shoots are the most nutritious. You'd be better off putting her on long, rank, overgrown grass that's just belly fill.
I wouldn't really worry too much at this stage though. Slimming her down too quickly will potentially cause more problems than leaving her fit, particularly as the calf will start taking more energy off her as it grows.

 

[michael N123]

Any accidental calfs out of fat pens are normally small and calf easy

 

[Werzle]

Hi,
I have a heifer which is 3 months in calf and is in to good condition. Really needs to slim down. Is there a good way of doing this rather than just letting her go into a field with not much grass and giving her straw? Think I remember hearing a high protein ration can cause weight loss?
Any advice gratefully received
Thankyou.

No point putting her on a restricted diet until she is 7mths incalf ,and as said above unless she has gone to the wrong bull there isnt any point in slimming her down

 

[Agrivator]

Keeping them tight for grass can actually have the opposite to the desired effect. As the young grass shoots are the most nutritious. You'd be better off putting her on long, rank, overgrown grass that's just belly fill.
I wouldn't really worry too much at this stage though. Slimming her down too quickly will potentially cause more problems than leaving her fit, particularly as the calf will start taking more energy off her as it grows.

You have just demolished the case for mob grazing. Fred Dibnah couldn't have done it better.

 

[JPB]

Thanks for the advice. She is fat, not going to lie I actually Aied her to an easy calving angus bull, vet just said maybe bring her inside and put her on straw and a high protein diet for a bit?

 

[JMTHORNLEY]

Any accidental calfs out of fat pens are normally small and calf easy

This ^, big greedy cow usually puts more effort into herself than the calf. Had same this year and cow in question ended up having twins. 8 week out from calving she had good quality belly fill grub and some straw, those twinnies soon sucked the weight off her and once she started bagging hard had some good quality silage for the last few days to make sure she had a good bit of energy for the most important bit

 

[Farmer 83563]

Thanks for the advice. She is fat, not going to lie I actually Aied her to an easy calving angus bull, vet just said maybe bring her inside and put her on straw and a high protein diet for a bit?

Friend of mine calves big Limmy Blue X's in September every year and brings them in at night on straw and minerals from mid August onwards ~ seems to get on ok.

 

[flywheel]

Will feeding hi protein just make the unborn calf bigger.?

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Thanks for the advice. She is fat, not going to lie I actually Aied her to an easy calving angus bull, vet just said maybe bring her inside and put her on straw and a high protein diet for a bit?

Another case for ignoring the vets advice I’m afraid…

 

[Optimus]

Wouldn't worry too much if it's in calf too an angus. I'd a heifer I thought wasn't in calf so stuck her in with the fat cattle.she was easily over 850kg an fat as f**k when she calved.

 

[M-J-G]

You have just demolished the case for mob grazing. Fred Dibnah couldn't have done it better.

Not really

 

[M-J-G]

Friend of mine calves big Limmy Blue X's in September every year and brings them in at night on straw and minerals from mid August onwards ~ seems to get on ok.

What do they get during the day though?

 

[M-J-G]

Any accidental calfs out of fat pens are normally small and calf easy

Due (in part) to them having less need for compensatory placental development.

 

[Agrivator]

Not really

Surely you don't support mob grazing, the ethos of which is to let stock trample and sh!t on rank growth of grass and weeds.

Next you'll be supporting the ridiculous notion of 'pasture for life beef''

 

[Farmer 83563]

What do they get during the day though?

They are set stocked on grass during the day, kept quite tight I think.

 

[M-J-G]

Surely you don't support mob grazing, the ethos of which is to let stock trample and sh!t on rank growth of grass and weeds.

Next you'll be supporting the ridiculous notion of 'pasture for life beef''

I don't support pasture for life or trampling rank grass.
But that's not necessarily all that mob grazing is.

 

[M-J-G]

They are set stocked on grass during the day, kept quite tight I think.

I'd say all he's doing is encouraging his cows to eat more grass during the day due to them fasting whilst in the shed.

 

[Farmer 83563]

I'd say all he's doing is encouraging his cows to eat more grass during the day due to them fasting whilst in the shed.

I guess thats why he keeps them fairly tight at grass. Seems to work. I'll ask when I see him!