Hi, I could use some help figuring out a meal plan for the steer I brought home a couple days ago.
A little bit of backstory: I've always found cows to be more beautiful than horses, especially cows/oxen that pull carts. So when I saw this little guy for sale I bought him. IF, and I mean IF he can grow strong enough I'm going to train him to pull a little carriage (2 wheel 1 person type).
Here are his stats: 1 yr old, purebred black angus. He does have a underbite. Currently is about 250-300lbs, NOT due to starvation or disease, he's current on vaccines and worming. This steer is just TINY! He is supposed to be standard sized but is currently the size of a great dane. He does not appear to be a dwarf. His size was a huge selling point for me. I basically got a miniature cow for 1/10 the price.
Now that he is the only cow I'd like to get him eating really well and filled out a little better. He was being fed grass hay. I've only had him 3 days and he is currently eating grass hay and 2nd cutting alfalfa. I know he has to get used to me (as of today I can approach him and he no longer moves away and when I kneel next to him he checks me out and I can pet him as much as I want). I went out and bought him some grain today (which he won't eat) and I cut up fruits and vegetables for him (watermelon, apples, potatoes, and carrots), which he also won't eat. The only thing that interests him is the alfalfa and the douglas fir needles on my trees.
And when I say interest him I mean he slowly eats the needles or the alfalfa. I thought he was just shy at first but now I can't tell if there is something else going on with him. He seems to have imprinted on my guard mare and vice versa. But aside from sticking closely to her he really exhibits NO personality. I think one explanation for this is he probably feels pretty crappy and I think a healthy diet would help him feel better. He does have healthy bowel movements and hasn't exhibited any signs of stress with the change of properties. Do steers just have less personality than bulls or heifers???
I grew up with beef and dairy cows but its been almost 20 years since I spent time with cattle and we never owned any working cattle.
I own all sorts of animals now and I've never had a problem getting an animal to eat before. This is very frustrating. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you!
A little bit of backstory: I've always found cows to be more beautiful than horses, especially cows/oxen that pull carts. So when I saw this little guy for sale I bought him. IF, and I mean IF he can grow strong enough I'm going to train him to pull a little carriage (2 wheel 1 person type).
Here are his stats: 1 yr old, purebred black angus. He does have a underbite. Currently is about 250-300lbs, NOT due to starvation or disease, he's current on vaccines and worming. This steer is just TINY! He is supposed to be standard sized but is currently the size of a great dane. He does not appear to be a dwarf. His size was a huge selling point for me. I basically got a miniature cow for 1/10 the price.
Now that he is the only cow I'd like to get him eating really well and filled out a little better. He was being fed grass hay. I've only had him 3 days and he is currently eating grass hay and 2nd cutting alfalfa. I know he has to get used to me (as of today I can approach him and he no longer moves away and when I kneel next to him he checks me out and I can pet him as much as I want). I went out and bought him some grain today (which he won't eat) and I cut up fruits and vegetables for him (watermelon, apples, potatoes, and carrots), which he also won't eat. The only thing that interests him is the alfalfa and the douglas fir needles on my trees.
And when I say interest him I mean he slowly eats the needles or the alfalfa. I thought he was just shy at first but now I can't tell if there is something else going on with him. He seems to have imprinted on my guard mare and vice versa. But aside from sticking closely to her he really exhibits NO personality. I think one explanation for this is he probably feels pretty crappy and I think a healthy diet would help him feel better. He does have healthy bowel movements and hasn't exhibited any signs of stress with the change of properties. Do steers just have less personality than bulls or heifers???
I grew up with beef and dairy cows but its been almost 20 years since I spent time with cattle and we never owned any working cattle.
I own all sorts of animals now and I've never had a problem getting an animal to eat before. This is very frustrating. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you!