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Cattle Boards
Grasses, Pastures & Hay
Late May - June Calving and Grass Fed Operation
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<blockquote data-quote="Rydero" data-source="post: 1670063" data-attributes="member: 38101"><p>I'm not aware of any cow/calf operations around me who implant calves with hormones, it's not as prevalent as you seem to think. I do agree that intact bulls will grow better but the added growth will mostly be post puberty which is obviously going to lead to complications for you. Animals you don't want bred will get bred, castrating late will lead to added stress and losses. It's less complicated to castrate them young. </p><p></p><p>I think natural weaning will also lead to problems mostly with last year's calves continuing to suck and younger calves losing out. With careful observation you might be able to select animals that will successfully self wean but you will have to separate and cull a lot of otherwise good animals. It may be more complicated to accomplish than to wean the calves. </p><p></p><p>Under your current plan you will have to wean the bulls. If they were castrated young you could wean all calves at the same time together no? If you're moving daily now I'm guessing you're using electric fences - you could fence line wean the calves which is fairly simple and low stress. </p><p></p><p>You mentioned you don't want to run separate herds and that you're just starting out. I'm wondering why you are trying to manage so many new enterprises at once? Cow calf, raising replacements, slaughter animals and also running older stockers? If only running one herd is important is it possible to pick the most profitable enterprise and just do that on a larger scale while you get your feet under you?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Rydero, post: 1670063, member: 38101"] I'm not aware of any cow/calf operations around me who implant calves with hormones, it's not as prevalent as you seem to think. I do agree that intact bulls will grow better but the added growth will mostly be post puberty which is obviously going to lead to complications for you. Animals you don't want bred will get bred, castrating late will lead to added stress and losses. It's less complicated to castrate them young. I think natural weaning will also lead to problems mostly with last year's calves continuing to suck and younger calves losing out. With careful observation you might be able to select animals that will successfully self wean but you will have to separate and cull a lot of otherwise good animals. It may be more complicated to accomplish than to wean the calves. Under your current plan you will have to wean the bulls. If they were castrated young you could wean all calves at the same time together no? If you're moving daily now I'm guessing you're using electric fences - you could fence line wean the calves which is fairly simple and low stress. You mentioned you don't want to run separate herds and that you're just starting out. I'm wondering why you are trying to manage so many new enterprises at once? Cow calf, raising replacements, slaughter animals and also running older stockers? If only running one herd is important is it possible to pick the most profitable enterprise and just do that on a larger scale while you get your feet under you? [/QUOTE]
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