Holstein Steers

[TSYORK]

Getting a few baby Holstein bulls that I will band as soon as I get them. We're rasing them for beef, so they'll be at the butchers by a year old. How agressive can I plan on them getting by that age, given that they're banded.

Thanks,

[Ken Scharabok]

I doubt they will be aggressive at all. Just don't play with them, such as pushing back when they push against you. If they do show any signs of aggression start to carry a stick (e.g., cut off broom handle) and wack them on the top of the head.

I don't recommend putting a finite date limit on processing them. A rough rule of thumb will be about 46% of liveweight will be freezer beef. Some may be ready to go to the processor before others.

I understand there are feedlots in CA which feed out nothing but Holstein steers and about 80% of them come out as high graded carcasses.

[topside1]

My bottle baby Holsteins are just annoying not aggressive. Always in the way and just want to see what your doing...I will never trust them though, a person could easily get trampled to death.

[topside1]

They have gotten so big that I rarely let my daughter feed them....I even carry a stick when I walk the fields or feed them grain. They will act stupid and just want to play...Their play could end your life. I have one that's so goofy and loveable that I'm considering buying another deep freezer just to get him off the homestead.

[agmantoo]

There are feedlots that feed nothing but holstein bulls. McDonalds is the buyer. I read an article regarding such a feedlot helping supply the demand for 30,000 head per month.

With your calves do not encourage contact and when these animals weigh in excess of 1000 lbs they will not be attempting head rubbing with yourself. Maintain an arms length association, they are out of range by an arms length and never in your space.

[Jan in CO]

We have two Holstein steers we purchased from a dairy nearby in June of last year, and are raising them with an Angus steer our granddaughter got through the 4H catch a calf program. Those two Holsteins are tiny compared to the Angus! My friend told me in College they learned it takes an average of two years to finish a dairy steer to butchering size....I'm disappointed, as I was hoping to put them in the freezer in the early spring, and have enough meat to share with other family members. For being about the same age as the Angus, they are only about 300 pounds now, I'd guess. Sure hope they start putting on some meat soon! Jan in Co

[mtman]

we have a 15 month angus bull a little to friendly easyday wont feed when he is there

[tyusclan]

Originally Posted by Jan in CO

We have two Holstein steers we purchased from a dairy nearby in June of last year, and are raising them with an Angus steer our granddaughter got through the 4H catch a calf program. Those two Holsteins are tiny compared to the Angus! My friend told me in College they learned it takes an average of two years to finish a dairy steer to butchering size....I'm disappointed, as I was hoping to put them in the freezer in the early spring, and have enough meat to share with other family members. For being about the same age as the Angus, they are only about 300 pounds now, I'd guess. Sure hope they start putting on some meat soon! Jan in Co

If you bought them in June then that means they're only 8 months old or so. This spring is a little early to get a good yield off of them. A Holstein is going to spend most of the first year growing frame, but from that point on he'll put on beef. If you keep them on good feed you'll be pleased with what starts happening around July or August. I keep several Holsteins growing off at different ages all the time. I will usually have a 700-900 pound hanging weight by 16-18 months.

[JulieLou42]

My half Jersey steer at six months weighs in at over 600# according to the weight tape's 59". Still gaining over 3# daily.

When I must go in the pasture near him, I carry a 1.5" wooden rod 2.5' long cuz he wants to play with me. Has cute little horns, NOT going there!!!

He IS gorgeous, and always moos to me when I'm outside...gonna be hard to put that rascal down.

Is it the case that the more difficult they are, the more attached one gets to them, cuz he's been a bit of a challenge because of his spunky nature?

[georgiarebel]

The more time you spend with them the better temperament they will have with you, but never fully trust them as mentioned in other post. Even after banding they are still to be considered wild animals. My Dexter's come up to me and want to be scratched like puppy dogs, but I have to keep in mind that these animals could seriously hurt me. On the other hand I my opinion they can also sense fear, so you must let them know that you are the one in charge. Rather than a stick I take a piece of pcv pipe with me. Being that it is white (they see it better) and being that they are naturally animals of flight I just have to move the pcv pipe in the direction I want them to go. Only time I have seen them get aggressive was when one of my heifers came in heat, or when I put a new roll of peanut hay out. Sounds like an “old west stampede” coming across the pasture. I usually just close off that section until I get everything in place. Speaking of peanut hay being that you are in NC you should try to get a hold of some of it. I find it really packs the pounds on them in the winter time. One of the bulls I’m selling is only a 1 1/2 old and is well over 600-800 lbs. They don't like it when I put them back on regular hay.

GR

[tyusclan]

Originally Posted by Jan in CO

We have two Holstein steers we purchased from a dairy nearby in June of last year, and are raising them with an Angus steer our granddaughter got through the 4H catch a calf program. Those two Holsteins are tiny compared to the Angus! My friend told me in College they learned it takes an average of two years to finish a dairy steer to butchering size....I'm disappointed, as I was hoping to put them in the freezer in the early spring, and have enough meat to share with other family members. For being about the same age as the Angus, they are only about 300 pounds now, I'd guess. Sure hope they start putting on some meat soon! Jan in Co

I was pretty tired when I posted the above post, and a couple of things didn't register with me. You said that they are tiny compared to the Angus. Do you mean that they are thinner or that they are smaller all the way around? At 8 months old an Angus will look "beefier", but a Holstein of the same age should have a lot more frame, and be noticeably taller than the Angus.

You also said that they only weigh 300#. If this is the case then they're not getting enough feed. Eight month old Holsteins should be 600-700 pounds.

Originally Posted by tyusclan

I was pretty tired when I posted the above post, and a couple of things didn't register with me. You said that they are tiny compared to the Angus. Do you mean that they are thinner or that they are smaller all the way around? At 8 months old an Angus will look "beefier", but a Holstein of the same age should have a lot more frame, and be noticeably taller than the Angus.

You also said that they only weigh 300#. If this is the case then they're not getting enough feed. Eight month old Holsteins should be 600-700 pounds.

Yep, in fact they should even weigh within the same range as the angus. We have one here now, he will be a year the end of March. At 6 months he weighed 520 and now I would estimate him around 750-800. He will weigh about the same as our beef heifers, but doesn't look it, he is a lot taller and lankier than they. All the calves were raised by cows, and the holstien had 2 sisters with him on his mama. You need to be feeding them more. Especially the holstiens, the angus can make it on hay alone, but the holstiens will need grain.