Opinions Please

[rmw1990]

I would like to hear (read) your opinions on this heifer. She is a bottle-fed Simmepied and my son will be showing her this year. She will be shown as a % Simmental. All opinions and recommendations welcome.
Thank you in advance.
rmw1990

 

[Beefy]

she looks like a piedmontese with a simmental butt. shes pretty. dont know if she will win any shows or not though.
excellent for a bottlefed animal. how old?

 

[rmw1990]

She is a September 05 calf. Dam was Simmental and Sire is JVP Mr. Hugo. His pic is on homepage of http://www.beavercreekpiedmontese.com.
He is showing her kinda as a "prototype", just to see how these calves will do in the showring.

Thank yall for your opinions. Keep 'em coming!!

 

[Beefy]

whats her weight?

 

[Beefy]

she has an excellent topline.

 

[jaydill]

I agree with the others. She's got a top to drool for. She is pretty.. but also lacking in the rear. I would pour the feed to her, as has been suggested, and see how she turns out for ya. Good luck and happy showin!

Jay

 

[rmw1990]

They will be having a pre-show clinic this coming week for the FFA kids and we will be weighing her then. The tape says she weighs about 550. She has been weaned since February. I also would like suggestions on feeding if you would share your experiences. Good and bad. The Pieds are hard to get fat and I am afraid she will just get really tall and lanky. We have a local choice of 2 feeds the formulas being as follows:
#1
Crude Protein--11.5%
Crude Fat--3%
Crude Fiber--9%

#2
Crude Protein--12%
Crude Fat--$2%
Crude Fiber--21%

Suggestions please. She is at this point on a combination of the 2 feeds. 2/3 #2 and 1/3 #1 with 1/4 sc beet pulp.

Thank you so much for your quick responses!!

 

[rmw1990]

She is getting approximately 8 lbs twice per day and grass hay free choice. We were feeding #1 and are slowly switching to #2. I had been told conflicting opinions on these two feeds. #1 has a lot more corn and seems to cause them to become loose and we were switching to #2 to see if it would help. She is one of 5 calves my two sons are showing this year. She is the only one that is this breed combo. The others are Limi/Maine crosses. This is only our second year showing cattle and we have a LOT to learn. I appreciate all the help I can get!!!

 

[milkmaid]

She is getting approximately 8 lbs twice per day and grass hay free choice. We were feeding #1 and are slowly switching to #2. I had been told conflicting opinions on these two feeds. #1 has a lot more corn and seems to cause them to become loose and we were switching to #2 to see if it would help.

I usually figure protein puts on frame, fat puts on, well, fat. Also, the higher the protein the looser the manure (ought to see a dairy cow on their TMR ration - my vet calls it "production manure" :shock, lower the protein the firmer the manure. The only exception is a cow with acidosis - severe, systemic acidosis and everything will be coming out the rear end like water.

I can't quite tell you what's going on with your feed - but - I can make a guess. Feed #1 looks more like a finishing ration, especially so if it has a lot of corn in it. Generally, because corn has a low protein content and high fat content (I don't recall the exact %), a cow's manure IS pretty firm when they're on a lot of corn. However, I've also discovered that moving them from a ration without a lot of corn to one with a lot of corn can make them very loose until they adjust. On further study, feed #1 has only 9% fiber, whereas #2 has 21% -- big difference. That may be another reason for her appearing more "loose" on feed #1 than #2.

Feed #2 looks more like a growing ration, but not much more so; it's only a difference of 1%. What type of hay is she getting in addition to the grain? A good grass or slightly stemmy alfalfa can make up for a low fiber content in feed #1.

When I pull out the calculator, at 8lbs/2x/day, and weighing 550lbs, she's getting 3% of her body weight per day - it's a lot. Be sure to make feed changes very carefully when she's on that much grain. Been there, done that. And she most certainly does NOT need her grain increased - 3% of body weight is the maximum I'd do, and I generally don't go over 2% of body weight.

She looks very good to me - and I won't add "for a bottle calf" - because I believe a bottle calf can look every bit as good as a calf raised on a cow. I don't see a potbelly and she appears to be in good condition for her size. Good luck with her!

 

[memanpa]

ahhhhhhh i neglected to see that it said 8 pounds twice per day which equates to 16. LOL i was like crap 8 pounds of day is just teasing her. Darned dyslexia

just another thing that proves you are
oh did i say full of it

 

[rmw1990]

You guys are a lot of help!! Thank you so much! I will definitely keep the 3% in mind with all our show calves. Does that also apply to steers?

 

[AAOK]

Good top line, good head and neck, but just not near enough power and substance. Way too fine boned to compete with the Maine influenced % Simmentals. But, the correct feed program and ration can make a world of difference. The 3% rule is OK, but a heifer like this one needs to be pushed on a low protein, high corn ration 4, maybe even 5 percent of body weight until she's probably a year to eighteen months old. Plus, she will need to have fantastic hair. Check your PM for a Show Calf Feed Program and ration.