Cattle Starter

[georgiarebel]

We just got our first Dexter's (heifers - 5 months old) a few weeks ago. They taken well to our pasture, but as fall fast approaches we went ahead and got a bale of hay to be on the safe side as the grass dies off. In the evenings we give them some sweet feed and calf starter. My question is how much is enough? Am I starting them too early on the starter? What affects does it have on the quality of meat compared to just being grass fed? I've heard of the commerical growers graining out the cattle the last month to add weight and marbleize the meat. I don't plan of slaughtering my heifers, but would want to grow a steer for this purpose.

Any info is appreciated.

GR

[Carol K]

Congrats on your Dexters. Your heifers really don't need any grain at all, but if you are going to give them some to just keep them trained I give only a small scoop (small coffee can) once a day. Dexters can get overweight easily, so don't overdo the grain, especially when they are due to calve. For a steer that you are growing you could give 2-3 % of body weight I believe, but again, they don't need it, Dexters finish well on grass and hay alone, they will need a mineral (loose or block) and salt though, and plenty of fresh water.
http://www.dakodan.net/dexters/forum/
read the beef section at the above site, and browse around at some other sections. Maybe read up on grassfed beef to.
Enjoy your cows,

Carol K

[Carol K]

Forgot to say, increase any grain amount you give very slowly, too much too soon can cause bloat.

Carol K

[buckmaster]

Congratulations on your new calves, how many? Not sure where you live but here in Middle Tennessee my pastures grass growth has slow considerably so it's time to change my calves daily routine. I am raising eight Holstein steers ages from three weeks to three months. The four oldest are given approx. one pound of calf starter (not sweet feed) per animal each morning, one more pound each @ lunch time and another pound again at nightfall. In between grain feedings they continue to graze in the pastures and are penned at night with small pads of hay. There are many different blends of calf starters. I avoid the pellet-processed version which most animals find bland and boring. I only buy a mixed blend similar to sweet feed with rolled corn, oats, molasses, etc. It's a blend recommend for calves ranging from a week old to six months old and boy do they stampede for it’s taste at feeding times. Soon I will be giving them hay in the morning as well when the pastures have little left to offer. You may want to consider shifting entirely to sweet feed soon you calves are reaching the six-month mark, compare ingredients on the labels and identify the differences, your call. For cattle your size cattle I’d spoil them with a half-pound each in the morning, lunchtime and the evening and increase the hay and grain quantity as the pastures die off. Sorry to ramble but I just enjoy talking about calves. If you ever have any questions about new born calves, bottle feeding, sicknesses, and joys of rearing young cattle just write….John

[georgiarebel]

Carol K

Thanks for the information. Guess I was worried they weren't getting fed enough, but it sounds like we've been giving them too much. We've probably spoiled them on the sweet feed. They stand by the fence as soon as we come outside. They've still got green grass to eat for the next couple of weeks. I was suprised at the grass they actually eat. They passed up some of the greener stuff I thought they would want to graze on stuff that doesn't look as heathy. I've read where Dexter can eat pasture that most other type cattle pass up. Is this true? You mentioned bloat. Is there anything we should do for our cows if we notice this? Not being experienced we might mistake bloat for weight gain.

buckmaster

We live in Middle Georgia. Most of the grass we had was dying away due to lack of rain during the month of September. We got a good one last weekend and the grass popped up for one last hurah. Actually had to cut it today. You mentioned penning up your cows at night. We don't have a place to do that, so I quess they are eating all the time. I'm sure they sleep sometime

[Carol K]

Bloat is not a good thing! There are a couple of types, maybe getting Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle would be good to, explains tons of things for a novice, I have it and love it. The new Storey book is Getting Started with Beef and Dairy, that just came out and may be good if you intend to milk to. Infact the Dexter pictured in that book is John Potters bull Cinnabar!!
Google bloat, you'll get a better explanation than I could give for sure! Just remember to change diets slowly with cows, they have to have time for their stomachs to accept the change.
You'll be fine, just cut back on the grain maybe, Dexters are soooo easy to over feed with grain, and they will sucker you into giving them more, lol.

Carol K

[GAchickenguy]

Hey was wondering what part of Georgia you are from? We are on the Spalding/Pike county line which is about 30 min south of Atlanta Motor Speedway. I saw you said that you were in middle GA and had some good rains the other day and I guess we would be close because we have had the same weather.. LoL

[georgiarebel]

Originally Posted by GAchickenguy

Hey was wondering what part of Georgia you are from? We are on the Spalding/Pike county line which is about 30 min south of Atlanta Motor Speedway. I saw you said that you were in middle GA and had some good rains the other day and I guess we would be close because we have had the same weather.. LoL

We're not too far apart. We live in Cochran, Georgia about 30 SE of Macon, Georgia. If your down this way let me know and we'll show you our new dexters.

GR