Feeding Calves Part 2

[Brute 23]

We weaned another little group of calves a week or so ago. We got them all worked. Pretty much the same recipe. They got their Covexin 8, Virshield, Multi-men, and Cydectin injectable, along with Co-Ral and a pour on fly spray. They were in the pens 2 days. On day 2 they were turned out in a trap as we worked them. The next day they went to a small adjoining field with pretty decent bermuda grass.

For feed they are getting salt, mineral, wcs and grass. Going to try to stay away from ground feed this time. They started off eating about #1 per hd per day. They get fed every other day. About 7 days after being turned out they were cleaning up the wcs by the 2nd day when he went to feed again. They got bumped to #2.5 phpd for days 8,9,10 (10 being today).

All and all they have settled in very good.

Most of the calves are in the 6ish month old range and upper 500s. There are a few late calves a little over 400 that got brought in also because new calves are on the ground and I had to draw the line some where. I wasn't going back in a month or so to catch them.

I have a sell date of March 7 on these. Looking at my projections, if it works, the cost of feed could be as much as 50% less with the wcs over the ground feed, even with the labor of feeding it. One of the big points that came up last time is my feeding efficiency was not very good with the free choice feeder and probably the type of feed.

 

[Brute 23]

Well... they are gone. Guess we will see the damage tomorrow.

 

[Travlr]

Well... they are gone. Guess we will see the damage tomorrow.

Good luck. I think it's a good time to sell...

 

[ClinchValley86]

Good payday for you, I hope.

They sure were high here in TN this week. Highest I've seen yet. Saw some 4 weights over 4.00.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

What were the weights?
I would love to get some whole cotton seed, but none available anymore up here (for years). I like to add it to our show ration for the oils - great for hair & skin - and great filler.

 

[Brute 23]

Across the group they averaged $1784 with an avg weight of around #585.
(That's deceptive because there were calves from the 400s to 700s)

Strs avg 586 @ 311 for $1825
Hfrs avg 582 @ 289 for $1678

Scanning across the big steers over 600 up to a little over 700, they brought 316, 308, etc. They were $1900-2100.

My little steer I didn't want to go back for later weighed 445 @ 4 and brought $1780.

I had one smaller steer that I think the neighbors bull got in on that was was a reddish/brown color. He weighed 500 and only brought 310 for $1550. He was kind of boxy with not much on the rear. He definitely did not match the group and it showed in the prices. Shows what one bull will put in you pocket vs another but I guarantee you won't get him off those bull.

Looking at the market reports for the sale everything was about a nickel to dime off the highs like usual.

I need to sure up the expenses but glancing through we had about $100 a head in them. I'm thinking it will be $125-150 max, all said and done.

On this group I did not push a lot of feed to them. I just tried to maintain them as they grew. They were on so-so grass up until the cold snap hit a week or so ago. They they got some hay up until sale.

They were getting #8-10 of whole cottonseed every other day, each. They also get free choice loose salt an mineral.

All in all I'm very happy. Once again we had prices at our backs. We held in a low and are selling in probably a record high. That was definitely in our favor but I'm also glad to see we were able to continue to cut feed costs.

 

[Silver]

Looks like you did quite well, congrats

 

[kenny thomas]

But did you loose money selling big ones instead of small ones?

 

[Brute 23]

But did you loose money selling big ones instead of small ones?

No sir. It was quite clear more pounds brought more dollars.

 

[Dave]

No sir. It was quite clear more pounds brought more dollars.

But they ate the grass.............

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

I turned my 8 month old 5 weight dairy calves on grass last week. I still feed them 3 lbs 14% stocker grower a day since the grass is green but short and washy. It does not come on strong her until March here I am told. This is the first time I have tried to raise dairy heifers on cool season grasses. I'm selling them for family milk cows as bred heifers to Jersey semen.