dwbonfire
Loving the herd life
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- Apr 15, 2011
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I have a jersey bull calf that I am planning to make a steer shortly. He is a good size calf so far in difference to the other one I got with him (who recently passed for reasons unknown)
I know jerseys are not primarily a meat breed, but heard the steers are good to raise up for a smaller beef cow. I am limited on pasture, especially this time of year until the summer comes back around, so he will be eating coastal/Bermuda round bales, or sometimes some mix grass hay or fescue. I feed the Producers Pride all-stock pellet to most the animals around here, but for now they are on the Calf Starter. I am trying to find the best feeding guidelines for what I am raising him for. Can I switch him over to the all stock pellet yet? He is 3 months old. How much feed is recommended per calf? I find it hard to measure feed in lbs. I generally go by 'quarts'. What else can I do to keep him steadily gaining weight and get the best possible finishing weight on him? I know we are a long ways from that but I want to be feeding him right so he grows to his best potential. I was told sweet feed is good, but I try to stay away from sweet feeds other than top dressing to get an animal interested in feed. I have read the molasses is really not a natural ingredient in animals diets.
Any tips from people who have raised jerseys for beef would be appreciated! This is my first time! Thanks!
I know jerseys are not primarily a meat breed, but heard the steers are good to raise up for a smaller beef cow. I am limited on pasture, especially this time of year until the summer comes back around, so he will be eating coastal/Bermuda round bales, or sometimes some mix grass hay or fescue. I feed the Producers Pride all-stock pellet to most the animals around here, but for now they are on the Calf Starter. I am trying to find the best feeding guidelines for what I am raising him for. Can I switch him over to the all stock pellet yet? He is 3 months old. How much feed is recommended per calf? I find it hard to measure feed in lbs. I generally go by 'quarts'. What else can I do to keep him steadily gaining weight and get the best possible finishing weight on him? I know we are a long ways from that but I want to be feeding him right so he grows to his best potential. I was told sweet feed is good, but I try to stay away from sweet feeds other than top dressing to get an animal interested in feed. I have read the molasses is really not a natural ingredient in animals diets.
Any tips from people who have raised jerseys for beef would be appreciated! This is my first time! Thanks!