When can my cows meet their maker?

[Farmer Kitty]

I would make it a point to check on them daily or arrange for someone close to them to check on them daily. You never know when they may get out. Get into trouble, lay wrong, injured, etc.

Your not worried about grain for them on a daily basis so I'm assuming these will be grass fed only?

 

[CJHames]

I would make it a point to check on them daily or arrange for someone close to them to check on them daily. You never know when they may get out. Get into trouble, lay wrong, injured, etc.

Your not worried about grain for them on a daily basis so I'm assuming these will be grass fed only?

We will provide some grain for them at the finishing stage, I'm sure, but they will be mostly grass fed. There's so much grass in there now it is almost knee high in some areas.

Thanks for the tip, we planned on having a neighbor check on them from time to time. We'll probably get down there ever 3 days or so.

 

[wynedot55]

3 steers on 14acs they sould never run out of grass.you would need to go check on an feed them grain 2 or 3 times a week.an it would also help if you knew some1 there that would call you if something was wrong.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

It sounds to me like you have thought things through and need just to put up a shelter and figure something out for a corral-another fence could work. I would make it so you can lock them into the shelter-either with doors or gates. So they can be caught or loaded easier. Then you should be set.

Good luck.

 

[CJHames]

It sounds to me like you have thought things through and need just to put up a shelter and figure something out for a corral-another fence could work. I would make it so you can lock them into the shelter-either with doors or gates. So they can be caught or loaded easier. Then you should be set.

Good luck.

That was quick and easy! Thanks very much. We'll look for some black angus or herefords and get going.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Visit back and let us know how things are going. You may also be able to help others now that you know what you're doing.

 

[CJHames]

Grain Feedings

They should be about 1.5% of animals current body fat per day, right?

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Grain Feedings

They should be about 1.5% of animals current body fat per day, right?

1.5% of body fat?? I think since they are steers, that it would be more like 1.5% of body weight, not fat. I kinda agree with the 2 or 3 times daily of giving them a treat of grain, although when we used to have steers a lot of times we never gave them grain because the grass was enough to keep them fat and happy. Though a treat wouldn't hurt. A treat, and of course I forgot to mention that the treat is the best method to quietly and calmly coax them back home if they decide to go on a little trip on you.

Make sure they get their salt and minerals too, a lot of the times the nutrients in the grass don't have enough to give them the minerals they need. Some would advise loose salt is good, but a salt block is alright as well....I would recommend trace mineral salt mix, instead of just salt and cobalt or salt + cobalt + iodine blocks/loose mineral.

As for the breed, crossbred calves are the best way to go....some black baldies or yellow-baldies will give you a bunch of good steaks to eat up. The crossbred stocker steers seem to fatten up on grass better than the straightbred stockers, and I'm saying this from personal experience (although, keep in mind it depends on the individual steer!).

Anyway, good luck!

 

[CJHames]

Grain Feedings

They should be about 1.5% of animals current body fat per day, right?

1.5% of body fat?? I think since they are steers, that it would be more like 1.5% of body weight, not fat.

Yes, I meant BW, sorry. I guess I was thinking of myself. Thank you!

 

[wynedot55]

you can also get a creep feeder an fill it up.so they can eat grain an also graze.that will help with you only being there 3 times a week.