rkaiser
Well-known member
Yes cow size has a lot to do with this grass feeding thing. The hard part about changing breeds to accommodate the change to smaller sized animals is that it takes time. All breeds can change - few have the advantage of almost always being there. Galloways and Welsh Blacks have been our choice and selection within our breeds is also essential.
We moved down to 4 pounds of barley on our growing yearling bulls last year and have moved away from grain all together on this years calf crop. Only non fertilised mixed grass and legume hay, and a complete natural mineral. Second winter our coming Two year old bulls still receive some grain as it is tough to sell green bulls in the spring.
By the way - calving in Late April - May and selling bulls at about 20 months in February.
Good luck to all of those raising calves that wean heavy but need barley or corn from weaning on to create a carcass that will grade and eat well with a rib eye that will fit on a plate.
The exciting part about downsizing the North American herd is the potential to regain some of the protein market we have lost by trying to fit the hook at Cargill and Tyson's plants and ignoring the consumers palate.
We moved down to 4 pounds of barley on our growing yearling bulls last year and have moved away from grain all together on this years calf crop. Only non fertilised mixed grass and legume hay, and a complete natural mineral. Second winter our coming Two year old bulls still receive some grain as it is tough to sell green bulls in the spring.
By the way - calving in Late April - May and selling bulls at about 20 months in February.
Good luck to all of those raising calves that wean heavy but need barley or corn from weaning on to create a carcass that will grade and eat well with a rib eye that will fit on a plate.
The exciting part about downsizing the North American herd is the potential to regain some of the protein market we have lost by trying to fit the hook at Cargill and Tyson's plants and ignoring the consumers palate.