I need educated about calves

[DDT]

Hi all, I bought 6 steers of 4+W calves. I was told to feed them calf grower pellets at 2 lbs per day. Over the next two weeks raise pellets to 5 lbs per day (per head). Still a little nibbling in the pasture but they have brome bale to eat as well. 4 head are liking the pellets enough they stay untill its gone, the other two are larger I would guess about closer to 500 lbs compared to the 4 weights that came from sale barn. These 2 eat pellets for a little and decide they rather eat brome. One of the small ones has cough once in a while. Is this some thing that needs dealt with. the 4 smaller sale barn calves were all vacinated before there were delivered to me. 7 way, blackleg, poured for worms ect...
These pellets cost per day, I do know they need some protine, but 5 lbs per day should have a 2.5 lb gain. So if this is correct by April they should be 700+ depending on winter weather conditions....
I do have a large pond and over 60 acres of pasture. as soon as grass starts gowing I am planning on more head, maybe cows/calf operation. I thought these calves would be a nice short term filler. Dont have enough feed for more head this winter.
Any thoughts.....been over 30 years since I have been around raising livestock, I know I have forgot most of it and things change over time..

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

First :welcome: hope some of us can be of help.
When receiving new calves, they should be fed hay first couple days, then they can safely get 1% of their body weight for about 1 week, then can get more each week - up to 3% of their body weight.
I'm not a nutritionalist, but beef cattle generally have about a 6-7# intake for a 1# of gain. So, to gain 2.5# day, they need roughly 15-17# of feed -including GOOD quality hay.
If the one caughing is eating good, I would just observe. If you see any sign of him backing off feed, or has droopy ears, I would get him in & temp him.
You were wise having them vacinated & dewormed. Were the two heavier calves done also?
Also, if the 4 and 2 came from different locations, you might be wise to visit your vet & pick up an antibiotic of his choice & hit all 6 with it.
Healthy cattle from different locations (especially co-mingled at a sale barn) have different immunities from one another & get make each other sick from exposure.
If you plan on putting them out to pasture to finish them next summer, I wouldn't push too much grain to them.
I'm a firm believer of grain fed beef - but some think they want grass fed beef.

 

[DDT]

 

[DDT]

Thanks Jeanne,
The one caughing is eating good, will watch him.
The 2 bigger ones crossed my fence July 4th weekend from the pasture south of me. This rancher let me buy those two since they knew my pasture, I wanted more and he is at sale barn 4 times a week, so he bought me 4 more head, vac them at his place and brought them over. Since I am not experianced enough for quick dissions at the sale barn ( I wanted healthy calves) I have piece of mind getting the right calves.
The Two bigger ones my nieghbor will help me work them soon when he gets his done. He bringing his squeeze chute over and I get to keep it a while. I am planning on building one this winter since I cant afford to buy one.
My plans are to get them 700+ if the market is still good then sell them and get more or bred cows depending on the market prices of which way I go.
I will keep on the calf grower pellets, the 4 small ones will stay there untill there all gone. The 2 bigger will eat some then move to the brome bale.
Thanks for the insite....

 

[greybeard]

I've seen quite a few cows cough when eating pellets--some just seem to get kinda choked on them. Maybe a few 'go down the wrong way"?If that's when your's is coughing..........

 

[Limomike]

:welcome: back to the cattle business.

Jeanne gave you some good advice on what you were asking about. sounds like you got a good start to it.

 

[dun]

Congratulations! Sounds like you have a good neighbor and possibly mentor.

 

[DDT]

Thanks a lot guys. I will be a regular reader here, I should learn more......Thanks Again

 

[DDT]

Update: its been a week plus. I now have 3 head coughing intermentenly now(1 big and 2 small ones), they do cough during the day as well, they all still look good. I am wondering if I sound call a vet and ask about it.
I am still only feeding only 12 lbs for calf starter, still the 2 bigger calves dont eat it much. The 4 smaller follow me to the bunck, they like it. should I increase or do the same lbs. I am a little concerded the 2 big ones dont like it...
My neighbor came down Sat and we poured and vac the 2 bigger ones. He had some left over ear tags so they all match now. He switched to a different tag so I got to keep the gun to, he is a great guy!!
I did post a picture of my starter herd a few post up.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

As long as some of them are eating & cleanning it up - I would increase them.

 

[gonzo]

I had the same coughing deal got worried and called the vet. She basicly temped her and looked at her no snot com'n out of her she's fine 60 doller's later. :welcome:

 

[DDT]

Update: I took a movie with my phone while they were all eating pellets, this included them coughing. showed the vet. He said it was repritory, use newflor would help them or a new one that works very well and lasts a long time in there lung tissue is Draxxin ($5 per cc..OMG). I got the high dollor stuff. Gave all a 5cc dose for 450wt after pellets last night. This AM will eating pellets I nocticed only 2 coughing, these two are the first ones that started coughing first, I will watch all close to see if they get better. One of the big ones had a druppy head so to speak yesterday...I got excited. This am he was not coughing and alert and back to his normal self :)
FYI...no fun working calves in the dark with a phone as a flash light...I only poked my self with the needle once..

 

[DDT]

Weather permiting I am building a corral. Starting with 32' alley with a 16' funnel. I only run a few head so it shoulod work fine. Using utility post and bridge planks.

 

[DDT]

How do they look? Any guesses on weight since I have no idea. All are healthy, they are on 5lbs calf grower pellets per head and brome.

 

[DDT]

I croped picture hoping for a better view.

 

[cross_7]

It's hard to tell in a pictureand I can only get a good look at 2, the others are hard to see and 2 seem smaller than the others.
I'd say some where around 500-500# average but again it's sure hard to tell
What is the protein in the hay and in the pellets ?
What do the pellets cost ?

 

[DDT]

Pellets min 18%, the brome and soon to be parie hay as not been tested. Pellets are 9.69 for 50lbs bag, dont know if its worth it for the expense.. I do have 8 BR of surgum that tested at 1030 nitrogen. a little afraid to feed them this, dont have any cows that would be a better place to use it.
Any thoughts are welcome.

 

[cross_7]

Take this for what it's worth
They look to me like they have grass belly
I question whether they are getting enough protein
To get 2.5#'s of gain they need a ration of 14% protein
Say they eat 12# a day
8# hay @ 8% protein
4# pellets @ 18%
Is 11% protein total
I'd look for a cheaper source of protein
If you ain't making money it ain't worth doing

 

[DDT]

Any ideas what or where to look for in a cheap source of protein?
I was told this am since there 5wts to go 6 lbs pellets and add 2 lbs rolled corn per head.

 

[cross_7]

Any ideas what or where to look for in a cheap source of protein?
I was told this am since there 5wts to go 6 lbs pellets and add 2 lbs rolled corn per head.

Corn is high right now
I won't hardly buy stockers without wheat pasture
But I have got in situations where I've had to buy feed
I like alfalfa hay when I can get for the money
Cottonseed is good if your in southern Kansas where it is a available but you can't
feed a lot of it
Soybeans again depends on where your at and availability
Lots of choices but price and availability is the problem