SRBeef
Well-known member
Today was the day I moved my weaned steers from being with the weaned heifers on hay only to grazing standing corn with the cows and bull.
I have a short fenceline bunk in the corral which is where I give them some sweet feed as a treat - it gets them coming into the corral on their own when called rather than heading to the back 40 when I drive in. I bang on the 5 gal pail a couple times and they are waiting in line. These calves have not had significant grain other than this treat couple pounds every week or two.
I got all of the calves in the corral, closed the gates and watched them from behind for a few minutes before sorting the heifers back out where they came from.
Watching them from behind I was struck by the difference in calf body type between them. These are all from my T-21 bull but the one (#6209) on the left in this picture is also out of one of my more compact 1200 lb target cows. I was struck by the hind end on this 267 day old calf. Also his width. He has a thick winter coat but most of him is NOT hair!
6209 is the steer calf on the left. Maybe this is one even Knersie would like!
Here are four calves heading into standing corn for the first time. 6209 is the second from the right. He hardly fits down the rows. The steers started eating the stalks and leaves but it didn't take long for them to focus on ears!
Here is a picture of some cows and heifers entering the new corn front today.
And one of my target cows and my T21 bull:
The BWF heifers I was going to sell so put them in with my bull earlier and will be calving around March 1. I sorted them off of the corn today and they are with the weaned heifers on hay only.
My goal is a herd of 1200 lb cows that give me steers like 6209 every year. Looks like he will have a large ribeye area and T21's low backfat. I'm hoping he will be ready to harvest in mid March. I was going to weigh the calves today but just too much snow and ice on and under my scale in the alley. I check it by weighing myself - I'm pretty sure I don't weigh the 110 lb it showed! Especially not after Christmas and NewYears! Probably should tarp the scale section.
FWIW. Jim
I have a short fenceline bunk in the corral which is where I give them some sweet feed as a treat - it gets them coming into the corral on their own when called rather than heading to the back 40 when I drive in. I bang on the 5 gal pail a couple times and they are waiting in line. These calves have not had significant grain other than this treat couple pounds every week or two.
I got all of the calves in the corral, closed the gates and watched them from behind for a few minutes before sorting the heifers back out where they came from.
Watching them from behind I was struck by the difference in calf body type between them. These are all from my T-21 bull but the one (#6209) on the left in this picture is also out of one of my more compact 1200 lb target cows. I was struck by the hind end on this 267 day old calf. Also his width. He has a thick winter coat but most of him is NOT hair!
6209 is the steer calf on the left. Maybe this is one even Knersie would like!
Here are four calves heading into standing corn for the first time. 6209 is the second from the right. He hardly fits down the rows. The steers started eating the stalks and leaves but it didn't take long for them to focus on ears!
Here is a picture of some cows and heifers entering the new corn front today.
And one of my target cows and my T21 bull:
The BWF heifers I was going to sell so put them in with my bull earlier and will be calving around March 1. I sorted them off of the corn today and they are with the weaned heifers on hay only.
My goal is a herd of 1200 lb cows that give me steers like 6209 every year. Looks like he will have a large ribeye area and T21's low backfat. I'm hoping he will be ready to harvest in mid March. I was going to weigh the calves today but just too much snow and ice on and under my scale in the alley. I check it by weighing myself - I'm pretty sure I don't weigh the 110 lb it showed! Especially not after Christmas and NewYears! Probably should tarp the scale section.
FWIW. Jim
