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Average daily gain?
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<blockquote data-quote="DiamondSCattleCo" data-source="post: 220784" data-attributes="member: 2862"><p>1) Yes, I've definitely noticed with improper feed you can stunt a calf's growth and set them back so they never gain properly. Environmental conditions when they're lighter (under 400 lbs) seem to have an impact as well. On a year when we've been extremely wet during the spring/summer and the calves are young, I have more trouble getting gain out of them after weaning. I suspect that I'm not adjusting my ration properly in cases like this, since environment can't impact genetic makeup (that we know of anyway). The next miserable spring/summer we have, I plan on leaving the calves with the cows a little longer to see if that helps. I've also noticed that leaving the calves on the cows too long will hurt feedlot performance after weaning.</p><p></p><p>2) It hasn't been my experience that cows are cows. Since I've been closely involved with Maines, Simms, Angus and Shorthorns my entire life, I can say with confidence that the exotic breeds can handle a heavier ration before gutting, even if the frame sizes are equal. Just an example, my neighbor is heavily larger framed Simmentals, but he's still got some larger framed Angus animals around there as well. He needs to feed the Angus calves separately because they need a higher percentage of roughage to prevent gutting up. The Simms need a very high energy diet to put finish on them. </p><p></p><p>Back when I was using Simm bulls on my Angus and Baldie cows, I noticed that my grain consumption was considerably higher. I didn't necessarily see any more growth than I do with my Shorthorn sired calves, but I needed more energy to get the same gains.</p><p></p><p>Rod</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DiamondSCattleCo, post: 220784, member: 2862"] 1) Yes, I've definitely noticed with improper feed you can stunt a calf's growth and set them back so they never gain properly. Environmental conditions when they're lighter (under 400 lbs) seem to have an impact as well. On a year when we've been extremely wet during the spring/summer and the calves are young, I have more trouble getting gain out of them after weaning. I suspect that I'm not adjusting my ration properly in cases like this, since environment can't impact genetic makeup (that we know of anyway). The next miserable spring/summer we have, I plan on leaving the calves with the cows a little longer to see if that helps. I've also noticed that leaving the calves on the cows too long will hurt feedlot performance after weaning. 2) It hasn't been my experience that cows are cows. Since I've been closely involved with Maines, Simms, Angus and Shorthorns my entire life, I can say with confidence that the exotic breeds can handle a heavier ration before gutting, even if the frame sizes are equal. Just an example, my neighbor is heavily larger framed Simmentals, but he's still got some larger framed Angus animals around there as well. He needs to feed the Angus calves separately because they need a higher percentage of roughage to prevent gutting up. The Simms need a very high energy diet to put finish on them. Back when I was using Simm bulls on my Angus and Baldie cows, I noticed that my grain consumption was considerably higher. I didn't necessarily see any more growth than I do with my Shorthorn sired calves, but I needed more energy to get the same gains. Rod [/QUOTE]
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