Bull Not Eating Much

[TxCoUnTrYbOy]

Lately my bull hasnt been eating all of his feed. Normally he would eat everything except for some crumbs, but lately he is leaving sometimes almost half of it. I just started giving him some ProBios in his feed, and Ill find out if that does it tomorrow morning. Someone also brought up the idea that it may be the rats. We have had a severe rat problem lately and I was told that the rats may be urinating in the feed while they are eating it so the bull wont eat anymore. The bull has been acting perfectly fine with no signs of any health problems. Any ideas or anything else I should give him?

 

[dun]

What does his feed ration consist of?

dun

 

[TxCoUnTrYbOy]

I give him 14% Bull & Heifer Developer by Lone Star Feed and hay 2 times a day.

 

[dun]

I give him 14% Bull & Heifer Developer by Lone Star Feed and hay 2 times a day.

Wjat percentage of his weight in grain and how much and what kind of hay?

dun

 

[shorty]

Check your hay , I've had steers go off feed when I fed them some dusty hay, I swicted to better hay and they came back again in a few days

 

[jerry27150]

i'm with dun, how much grain & how big is he. he may have acidosis. does the feed smell alright. tried a new bag?

 

[tapeworm]

Thats the showbull right??? Do you have him out on any pasture at all?? This time of year cattle start chasing green stuff and sometimes cut way back on sack feed

 

[rgv4]

Try giving him the Probios in the gel form in the plunger tube, that way you know that he is getting it down. Give it to him for two or three days straight.

 

[TxCoUnTrYbOy]

Sorry I havent answered, but Ive been busy with Houston Rodeo lately, and its over now, so Ill answer everything.

I am feeding him 15-20 pounds per day. I have not weighed him since he was 600 pounds, but most people seem to think he is around 1200-1300 pounds. He gets a small block of hay (section from small sqaure bale) every night. The hay is not dusty. The feed smells fine, but what he leaves seems a little damp. Lately he hasnt been outside much because of the weather, but when its somewhat dry he stays outside during the day. Will the ProBios do harm if he gets too much, since it is microorganisms? I have both the gel and powder, I give him the gel usually only before taking him to shows. How often should I put the powder in his feed?

 

[Linda]

I've never raised show bulls, but I've seen bulls go off feed when the ratio of grain to hay is off. Cattle need roughage in their diet. To me, two flakes of hay doesn't sound like enough roughage, especially if it's leafy hay. Without roughage, the feed tends to sit in their gut instead of digesting and passing on through. The stem in hay stimulates the gut. That's what our vet has taught us.

Of course, consider other problems, too, like hardware.

No, I don't believe you can give too much probios, but I'd look at his feed first. If you're having to give lots of probios, something isn't right with the type or quality of feed.

 

[Beefy]

i think he needs more hay too. I'm sure he cleans up all the hay he is given. what kind is it? how much feed is he leaving. is it crumbly? is it like a mash? Some animals are or can get finicky. I certainly wouldnt put that possiblity past a brahman. could you maybe try feeding him less at one time (like maybe start feeding him right after school and then again before dark and in the morning?) just a thought. I'd keep him some hay at all times except when hes out on green grass of course.

 

[Beefy]

just reread original post. the rat idea is very possible. try keeping the feed in a trashcan or something with a lid on it and the feeding less at one time but more frequently idea.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

I keep clean fresh grass hay in front of my show cattle at all times. The more hay they eat, the more grain they can digest.
I wouldn't worry about giving too much Probias. We feed a powder form in their feed am & pm. But, if they go off feed, we give the paste so we know they are getting it. Also, if your feed isn't moist (molasses or wet beet pulp) the power just settles to the bottom & they don't eat it.

 

[TheBullLady]

We feed our Brahman and Brahman x show calves all the hay (bermuda or hay grazer) they can eat. Brahmans are especially bad on an all grain diet, and seem to need the hay to be happy.

 

[ollie]

In my opinion a fleak of hay is enough. There is a difference in 15 and 20 pounds of feed. If you are fluctuating around in the 15 to 20 pound area with out any accuracy it is likely that is all he will eat. Over full one feeding and hungry the next isn't good. Take all his feed away and feed him five pounds morning and night with only a fleak of hay till he cleans it up and gradually increase till he is back to eating.

 

[Linda]

Our vet said you can feed all the supplements and probios you want when trying to get a cow's gut working properly again, but roughage is what's going to get the gut motility working properly, which translates back to a cow (bull) that is eating well.

That's not to say probios doesn't have a place - I've used it for ours a time or two - but look at the overall picture and see if you can fix the diet, rather than trying to cure the problem afterwards. It's kind of the difference between acting and reacting, if that makes sense.

When you start getting into these high grain based diets, there's a fine line between having an animal who is feeling good and eating well, and one that goes off his feed. Sometimes it's best to just back up and start with the basics again.