playing with their guts...

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I'm sure you are right - some days I don't think things through thoroughly enough and other days I more than make up for it. LOL. But, better to consider every angle before starting than to deal with the problems later! :)

Both 'calves' are getting comfortable in their new pen... I gave them 5.5lbs this morning and bumped it up a little to 8.25 this evening. Total of 13.75lbs for two of them for today. I think I'll evaluate them in the morning and probably keep it between 6-7lbs/hd/day for a few days, and then up we go.

Probably ought to call the butcher pretty soon as he does get booked quite some time in advance.

Thanks again for the help! :D
 
Well, we're at 16.5lbs/hd today, been going up about 1.5lbs/hd/day. So far so good. :)
 
milkmaid":1ixs4oo0 said:
Well, we're at 16.5lbs/hd today, been going up about 1.5lbs/hd/day. So far so good. :)
Click to expand...
First time reading the thread. We feed whole corn and whole cotton seed which tends to be safer than the cracked or ground stuff, but can still cause bloat. We usually start them at 0.5% of their body wt and increase at at a rate of 1 - 2 lb/day. Breaking the feeding into two feedings/day. If there is ever anything left from the last feeding I clean it out and stop increasing. They should be at full feed by then. I also like to feed mine up in a good grass paddock, they do better and stay healthier on less feed that way.
 
Tod, so do you feel like you can increase at 1-2lbs/hd/day without the bicarb? Maybe I could bump it up a little more. I just figure I'm going up ~10lbs/hd/week which sure sounds like quite a bit to me! :lol:

I feed everything twice a day (except for one pen of almost-yearlings) - just works best for me too.
 
Texas P Some time back I read some NC State research self-feeding free choice hay+corn gluten or hay/soy hulls to 500 lb heifers. If i remember correctly one group gained slightly over 3lb/day & the other slightly less than 3/lb for a 84 day trial. Would expect the adg to be a little less than with corn but this research still showed very respectable gains. Down here corn gluten said:
Malt sprouts are available out of ND, so local ear corn mixed with malt sprouts is the lowest cost per ton here. Any suggestions or concerns with this combination? Any reason you pay $26 per ton more for soy hulls rather than malt sprouts?
Click to expand...
 
milkmaid":hf1z6kyu said:
Tod, so do you feel like you can increase at 1-2lbs/hd/day without the bicarb? Maybe I could bump it up a little more. I just figure I'm going up ~10lbs/hd/week which sure sounds like quite a bit to me! :lol:

I feed everything twice a day (except for one pen of almost-yearlings) - just works best for me too.
Click to expand...
We never used the bicarb, but we are feeding unprocessed grains.
 
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Milkmaid....what is the condition of these animals and what do you want them to be when finished? What am I thinking...a over fat Holstein, yeah right. IMO, higher protein intake while finishing will add to the red meat gain to compliment the fat gain from the grain.
We finish by starting with cracked corn two pounds twice a day for three days then four pounds for four or five days then up to six twice a day by this time they should have developed the rumen to handle the starch then it's eight twice a day till slaughter. We have then on a high quality alfalfa while finishing and it's about a 50/50 hay to grain.
Right now we're grass finishing a couple of little porkers that will probably not get grain...prices have really gone up (ten cents/pound now).
Our customer base has been asking about grass finishing and we're going to have a go at it to see how the numbers work out. May have to spend another month or two, don't know. Let you know this winter after we process.
Just my two bits worth...
DMc
 

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