Weight gain on grass

[jallen]

What can you expect per day on good grass that is clean and fertilized, etc. everything is where it should be on the soil sample. Grass is fescue/coastal Bermuda mix. Any opinions?

 

[dun]

Our yealring heifers average 3 lbs a day, some as high as 3.7 others as low as 2.9

 

[jallen]

Thanks dun, I left out of my post that I was talking calves that are still on mama. All are angus crosses. I'm just trying to get an idea of what I can expect weight wise out of my calves in the 6-7 month age range.

 

[dun]

It varies during that birth to weaning phase. The first month or so it's 6-7 lbs a daythen it slows down (depending on the individual) to 4-5 lbs a day.

 

[jallen]

Wow, I didn't realize they gained that fast while on mama. Thanks for the info.

 

[dun]

Wow, I didn't realize they gained that fast while on mama. Thanks for the info.

I think they slow down closer to weaning because they're eating more grass and getting less milk.

I probably should include "Your mileage may vary" since out cows have been selected through the years to perform on fescue.

 

[Nite Hawk]

There are conditions that can effect your weight gain, such as extreme heat or cold weather etc, but genetics / cow milk production and quality are big factors..

 

[Dega Moo]

Wish I could get some of that grass! I attended the sale of Performance Tested Bulls at SIU Carbondale last week and the average daily gain on test with a high gain ration was 4.9 pounds, one bull came in over 6 pound per day at 6.55. These bulls came into the test having averaged 2.6 pounds gain per day since birth and most of them would have been on a bull development program likely getting creep fed.

 

[WYO CB]

dun you must regulary wean 850lb calves ?

 

[dun]

dun you must regulary wean 850lb calves ?

Some years, usually 750-800

 

[jallen]

Dun, at what age are you weaning calves that heavy?

 

[dun]

Dun, at what age are you weaning calves that heavy?

7 - 7.5 months, last year with the drought they ran closer to 675 but still had on at 800