Red Boots Farm
Well-known member
Looking for the best way to "wean" grain-fed animals off grain and rely mostly on forage, as we grow our own hay and have some pasture.
We just raise a few beef each year for 4-H kids, then around 14 mos. we butcher for sale and personal use. Our open British White x Holstein heifer yearling shared the same trough with the three beef animals that just left, so her share has been about 15–17 lb corn/sweet feed daily. The Charolais x Holstein bottle calf will get grain (separately), plus pasture & hay, 'til county fair time in July, after which we'd like to transition to forage too.
Any ideas on the wisest way to do this?
Also, at 14 mo. the BW/Holstein heifer would make some really nice beef right now, but the original plan was to breed her to a BW and try raising a beef calf on the mama, plus have extra milk for a bottle calf.... But that's a topic for another day... :roll:
Thanks!
We just raise a few beef each year for 4-H kids, then around 14 mos. we butcher for sale and personal use. Our open British White x Holstein heifer yearling shared the same trough with the three beef animals that just left, so her share has been about 15–17 lb corn/sweet feed daily. The Charolais x Holstein bottle calf will get grain (separately), plus pasture & hay, 'til county fair time in July, after which we'd like to transition to forage too.
Any ideas on the wisest way to do this?
Also, at 14 mo. the BW/Holstein heifer would make some really nice beef right now, but the original plan was to breed her to a BW and try raising a beef calf on the mama, plus have extra milk for a bottle calf.... But that's a topic for another day... :roll:
Thanks!