Feeding just one?

[angus9259]

Long story short - I don't normally feed cattle. I had two injured heifers this year that I knew wouldn't sell well so I just started them on feed to feed them out myself. One has made a full recovery so I'm thinking of moving her back into the herd. Can you pen and feed just one animal? Buying another animal is not gonna happen - closed herd. Either I pen this one and feed it or I keep these two together. I'm just wondering if anyone has ever fed out a single and how it went. Thanks.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Some of it depends on the animals. I've had a couple that don't mind being alone, I've had others that will do whatever they can NOT to be alone for long.

 

[M.Magis]

Obviously they prefer some company, but they still survive by themselves. We have my sons 4H steer alone for the time being. They’re pretty vocal the first week, but then its back to normal. And like mentioned, some adapt better than others.

 

[SBMF 2015]

Long story short - I don't normally feed cattle. I had two injured heifers this year that I knew wouldn't sell well so I just started them on feed to feed them out myself. One has made a full recovery so I'm thinking of moving her back into the herd. Can you pen and feed just one animal? Buying another animal is not gonna happen - closed herd. Either I pen this one and feed it or I keep these two together. I'm just wondering if anyone has ever fed out a single and how it went. Thanks.

One thing about keeping two together is that it will create competitive eating and cause you to get better gains. The hfr that recovered you can always sell as a fat when ever you butcher the crippled one.

 

[RDFF]

Always better as a pair or more, but absolutely doable as a loner, as long as you've got fence that will contain it (some will be worse than others, as @chevytaHOE5674 stated).

 

[angus9259]

Do to the lame heifer's injury (that I would keep), she doesn't go anywhere with force. Keeping her in wouldn't be the problem. I guess I could also let her out with the herd for now to just eat grass. Lord knows I got enough of that. She just doesn't eat as often as the rest so I was trying to get her feedings more concentrated if that makes sense. But overall simplicity would say, I just let her out with the herd to eat grass for now and let her gain what she can that way for now and just be more patient realizing it will just take longer - after all, patience is my strong suit. I suspect she'd be quite happy to be in the barn by herself in January.

 

[TCRanch]

We kept one to feed out a long time ago. Gave him a Jolly Ball and buckets to knock around and keep himself entertained. But he ended up getting aggressive and I was happy when it was time to send him to the butcher. Now, our neighbor always feeds out at least 4 and we pay him to finish one of ours. If you're not in a hurry, I like your plan of letting her graze for now and pen her in the winter. Assuming she can keep up with the herd and doesn't reinjure herself.

 

[Dave]

I am feeding one now by its self. That is generally what I do. My pens are built to hold range cows. She seems happy enough especially when I feed her grain in the morning. This one came to the sale with a pot load of similar size yearlings so I doubt she has ever been alone.

 

[angus9259]

Separated the pair yesterday and sold the good one. The loner mood twice, looked up and down the pen once, ate her grain for the feeding, laid down and started chewing her cud.

Much ado about nothing it seems.