Which dairy breed is best for meat ?

sammyd · #21 03/06/08, 02:22 AM

We fed a replacement heifer out the same as the steers. She was extremely lightweight when I bought her. 3 weeks after I bought her she was only up to 75 pounds.
But at about 8-9 months she was over 500 and looking quite good. Sold for around standard price when we shipped her.

Middle River · #22 03/06/08, 07:19 AM

Thanks everybody ! The calves are coming on Sunday - i'm very excited, but sure i'll have more questions too :+) The 3 or 4 heifers will be fed out and sold this fall, i will try selling off farm first, but if that doesn't work we will most likely make a trip to Barron, WI auction, or the Stratford, WI auction - i've never auctioned and animal though, so i'm sure i'll have questions about that too :+)

At what age can i dehorn these guys ? i'd rather do it sooner than i did my last two - the vet sedated them and gave them a pain killer, and the one calfs horns were so delveloped that it left an opening into his head - plus it was fairy pricey, at least it will be to do 6 calves - so i'm hopeing i have a different option, i'll still most likely have my vet do it, but i'm wondering if we do it early if we can burn them like goat kids - or what about paste on calves ? I won't use it on kids, but how well does it work on calves ? I could do that myself.

Also, for you dairy cow people, what shots will appeal to potential buyers of these heifers ? When do i give them ? When should i worm them and with what ?

Another grain question - the starter - i leave that out free choice then right ? then i wean them ( when would you wean them, if fed good hay and grain, is two months too early, or will they be fine ? ) and feed a 16% grower - how much per head ? Then after they are about 400lbs, switch to a 14% grain or dairy ration - how much per head of that ? I'm also going to be moving my two current steers in with these calves once they are weaned - so they will then be eating with cows instead of horses, will it be ok to let my steers eat the same as the calves ?

Thanks !

sammyd · #23 03/06/08, 08:33 AM

I wean at 50 days if they are eating the starter well and have keen interest in the hay. One bag of milk replacer per head will get you 50 days.
Yes the starter should be free choice. You can help them along by putting a little in their mouths after their bottle when they are a week or so along. The amount of grain you feed after weaning will be dependant on the quality of your hay and pasture. I don't know what that would cost, I buy my hay tested and it's too early for anything to do with pasture.

I have never used paste to dehorn. We use a burner as soon as the buttons can be felt. Make sure you burn well enough. Should be a copper colored circle all around the button when you're done.
A dairy heifer should get her Bangs vac. The vet will give the shot, put a metal ear tag on her and tatoo inside an ear.
As for other vacs, talk with your vet about a regimen. You do get a better price I think if they have them.
We don't worm. Another one for your vet.
If you end up shippping or hauling to the sales barn make sure they or the trucker knows to tell them what vacs besides the Bangs and any wormer they have had so you can get a better price. We haul them in ourselves and make a day of it watching the auction and if you go to Barron they have some awsome cheeseburgers...well it's been a few years but they were really good back in 96.
You will not recieve the full price of the bid for the animal as the sales barn will take a cut and if you go yourself you don't get the check that day either. They will mail it out. You can get a printout after yours sell of the bid price and any charges so you'll know how much the check will be.