Feeding angus cross Holstein

[Kyleg2057]

Hi I'm a younger guy Trying to get into the cattle business I just bought a farm with 6 acres 2-3 of which are tillable. Think I'm going to plant some beans this year and then plant alfalfa after that. Anyways what should I feed cattle that are 350lbs and I'm going to raise them until they are about 750lbs and ready for a feedlot. I have a barn which I will keep my cattle in and they won't be grazing at all. I was think about feeding some alfalfa and some corn but I don't know anything about food rations for smaller cattle my grandp has a feedlot for finishing cattle so that's more what I'm used too. Thanks

 

[Jthurler]

You could do free choice alfalfa hay and put corn in a bunk once or twice a day. I find with Holstein x calves they do best when they always have feed in front of them expecially when young

 

[Kyleg2057]

Thanks for the reply. Am I better off. Using a self feeder so they always have feed in front of them? Is it necessary to feed alfalfa over just ditch hay?

 

[Till-Hill]

Our holstein steers and xbreds go to steer stuffer with good soft grassy hay at about 65 days old. They are 200# or little more on the better ones.

We are using Accuration, there are other products to mix with corn also. I put 450# in my 83 bushel mill and fill the rest with corn. Simple and easy.

https://www.purinamills.com/cattle-feed/products/detail/purina-accuration-grower

 

[Kyleg2057]

Isn't accuration pretty expensive? I can't find how much it costs anywhere. You feed accuration mixed with corn and free choice hay? Anything else? Thanks for the reply

 

[Till-Hill]

It is expensive, works good tho. Correct, accuration, corn and some free choice hay. Simple!

 

[Luckiamute]

Not knowing your location, I would suggest a mix of good quality grass hay and alfalfa with a touch of grain/corn/grass screening pellets/distiller's pellets. I would give them mostly free choice on the grass hay. A free choice loose mineral salt might also be beneficial. Monitor the calves to see how they are growing and make adjustments as needed. Good luck!

 

[Kyleg2057]

Thanks for all the reccomendations. I think I'm going to go with free choice alfalfa, about 10-12% accuration grower and then the rest of the grinder mixer filled with corn. Would it be better to try and grind my alfalfa with the feed? If so how should I go about that? Thanks again