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bird dog
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Well don't drown. They are 7 months old, 457 lbs. 12 lbs of hay and 3 lbs of 14% protein feed per day will get you a slaughter ready animal sometime next year.
This is all baloney because we don't have enough info to give you a good answer. Start with your location. Then give us your goals with these animals.
I love Jersey steers for my freezer. Their burger is second to none. Saying that, you have a long road ahead to get them ready.
Do you think they'll stay in that pen? May be more there than we can see...maybe an old goat pen? Back to original question. I'd say feed them free choice hay and start at 3# of 14% feed ramping to 12# until they get bigger.
Thephonyfarm
New member
I live in Michigan. They are not on much grass so they will be supplemented with hay. I was told a few different time frames on getting them to the freezer. I am just looking for some advice on the most economical way to get them there.
farmerjan
Well-known member
Economics is not a word to use to raise jersey steers to beef size in the fall of the year. They should be on free choice GOOD QUALITY hay and the suggestions of 3# 14% feed for starters is good. And to keep increasing so they will keep growing.
Jerseys do good grazing as yearlings and will gain good on GOOD grass then. Until then, they are a dairy animal that needs to be fed like a dairy animal. They have got to have adequate grain or they will get that pot gut look and will actually take longer to feed out.
2-3 % of body weight in grain until they are 8-12 months old... They look to be in the 350-450 wt range in the picture and are in good condition for jerseys. They also do not look "old" so I would say 4-6 months maybe" What is their weight average?
You will be lucky to get them finished out by 18-24 months... Dairy animals put on bone and body before they put on muscle and fat cover. We try to kill ours in the 24-28 month range. We do not push them with grain as much as some do.
Corn silage is a cheaper way to get them to grow and put on body/meat once their bones get grown.
Jerseys make a great beef... I have been eating them for 30 years... but there is no "economical" part of feeding out dairy animal for beef. The best way to do it is for them to stay on a cow until they are 8 months old, getting some "creep grain" along so they know what it is, then on good hay and grain daily. Ours run on pasture and they will weigh in the range of 800-1,000 at 26 months... but we rotate our pastures and they get the best grass we have....
Jerseys do good grazing as yearlings and will gain good on GOOD grass then. Until then, they are a dairy animal that needs to be fed like a dairy animal. They have got to have adequate grain or they will get that pot gut look and will actually take longer to feed out.
2-3 % of body weight in grain until they are 8-12 months old... They look to be in the 350-450 wt range in the picture and are in good condition for jerseys. They also do not look "old" so I would say 4-6 months maybe" What is their weight average?
You will be lucky to get them finished out by 18-24 months... Dairy animals put on bone and body before they put on muscle and fat cover. We try to kill ours in the 24-28 month range. We do not push them with grain as much as some do.
Corn silage is a cheaper way to get them to grow and put on body/meat once their bones get grown.
Jerseys make a great beef... I have been eating them for 30 years... but there is no "economical" part of feeding out dairy animal for beef. The best way to do it is for them to stay on a cow until they are 8 months old, getting some "creep grain" along so they know what it is, then on good hay and grain daily. Ours run on pasture and they will weigh in the range of 800-1,000 at 26 months... but we rotate our pastures and they get the best grass we have....
MurraysMutts
Well-known member
Thephonyfarm
New member
Thank you for all the great information. Exactly what I was looking for. I'm new to this so I don't want to make the wrong move. I would like them to also have a quality life and get what they need. I do have a feed mill near me and these are the options for feed. Which would you suggest?
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BC
Well-known member
You don't need the calf grower at your calves size and age. I would feed GOOD hay free choice start them on the beef grower as Farmerjan suggested. As the calves get to the 750 lb range, substitute some whole shell corn for the beef grower. The grain ration should be 2.75 to 3% of their body weight.
Thephonyfarm
New member
Go back into your profile, and add your location. You will get a lot more, and a lot more accurate responses.
puzzled in oregon
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The "Thephonyfarm" is somewhere in Michigan, I think. 
SBMF 2015
Well-known member
Okay the feed lot guys got to chime in. Lol.
While I agree with @farmerjan "Economics is not a word to use to raise jersey steers"
And I know they're not Holsteins but they are dairy.
Shouldn't they be on NO hay and a self feeder at this weight? Otherwise you may be celebrating their 3rd or 4th birthday.
While I agree with @farmerjan "Economics is not a word to use to raise jersey steers"
And I know they're not Holsteins but they are dairy.
Shouldn't they be on NO hay and a self feeder at this weight? Otherwise you may be celebrating their 3rd or 4th birthday.
kenny thomas
Well-known member
Good grass hay is fine.
farmerjan
Well-known member
A good grass hay like a second cutting... but they need grain... 13% might be okay... I would start with the calf grower for a couple months and mix in the other after a month or so... for about 1 month... WATCH their growth...
So many give calves 1st cutting hay that is more stemmy/stalky and lower protein, and they will eat and eat it to satisfy their need for nutrients that are just not there... Hence the pot gut.... There is nothing wrong with first cutting if is made early and made right.... but I know here, we just do not often get the window to make it as soon as it should be so then it gets "older" and loses nutritional value...
Alfalfa is okay in limited amounts as it will help with the protein.... but they can scour on it easier, for some reason.... until they get up to 6-800 lbs... at least I see it here. I will feed 1 leaf of a small square bale per calf if it is a 2nd/3rd cutting... first cutting is often more stemmy and they often will not like it. Different varieties of alfalfa though... Most dairies around here chop first cutting so they do not lose the leaves to "shattering" when raking and tedding... and because the stems are coarser so chopped and ensiled as haylage, it is much more palatable.
I have seen jerseys get more acidosis if on self feeders... a high grain diet... but some might do fine on it... I want them to have some hay for bulk, for the microbes in the rumen..... along with more grain... A 400 lb jersey can handle 6-8 lbs grain a day if worked up to it... maybe substitute some corn in there to add the carbs for weight gain... remember corn is not a veg but a grain... and it is low protein but adds pounds....
So many give calves 1st cutting hay that is more stemmy/stalky and lower protein, and they will eat and eat it to satisfy their need for nutrients that are just not there... Hence the pot gut.... There is nothing wrong with first cutting if is made early and made right.... but I know here, we just do not often get the window to make it as soon as it should be so then it gets "older" and loses nutritional value...
Alfalfa is okay in limited amounts as it will help with the protein.... but they can scour on it easier, for some reason.... until they get up to 6-800 lbs... at least I see it here. I will feed 1 leaf of a small square bale per calf if it is a 2nd/3rd cutting... first cutting is often more stemmy and they often will not like it. Different varieties of alfalfa though... Most dairies around here chop first cutting so they do not lose the leaves to "shattering" when raking and tedding... and because the stems are coarser so chopped and ensiled as haylage, it is much more palatable.
I have seen jerseys get more acidosis if on self feeders... a high grain diet... but some might do fine on it... I want them to have some hay for bulk, for the microbes in the rumen..... along with more grain... A 400 lb jersey can handle 6-8 lbs grain a day if worked up to it... maybe substitute some corn in there to add the carbs for weight gain... remember corn is not a veg but a grain... and it is low protein but adds pounds....
Protein for frame and growth for a few months, then finish with carbs for fat and marbling.
Little Joe
Well-known member
I don't know what is available in your area as far as bulk feeds but I feed a mixture of 50% whole shell corn/25% DDG and 25% corn gluten feed. I can't remember exactly what the protein is but it makes them grow. I have no experience feeding dairy animals though, only beef type but I'd still think that would make them grow. That mix cost me $300/ ton in my area. I couldn't imagine the cost of feeding sack feed at the rate you need to be feeding.
