Do you think he's growing???

TSYORK · #1 04/01/08, 07:38 PM

Blu, short for bleu burger, which is what I'm going to have out of him in a few months doesn't seem to be gaining like I would like him to. The Ms's says he's gotten a whole lot bigger, but maybe it's just because I see him everyday and can't really notice a change..... sort of like watching the grass grow... He was born November 1, 07, so he's five months old today. He's eating lots of grass, hay, grain, etc........ I've posted a few pictures, a shot of when I got him and then two shots from today. Would love to know if you think he is showing signs of gaining adequately. He's not wormy I don't feel. He is a holstein/angus cross. I know the holstein will make him have a slower rate of gain, but he just seems to be lagging to me.
Do you think he's growing??? - Cattle

darbyfamily · #2 04/01/08, 08:05 PM

oh yeah, he definitely seems bigger to me from picture one to picture three!!!

TSYORK · #3 04/01/08, 08:09 PM

I'm wanting to butcher him as semi-baby beef... because really I don't have a tremendous amount of freezer space, but I just didn't know if he would be any size to butcher by june or july.

topside1 · #4 04/01/08, 08:43 PM

TS, buy a weight tape so you can chart the animals growth and rates of growth.

TSYORK · #5 04/01/08, 09:01 PM

Does TSC carry those?

MTplainsman · #6 04/01/08, 11:41 PM

Was he a bottle calf???

topside1 · #7 04/02/08, 06:17 AM

TSC does have weight tapes...I use mine often.

TSYORK · #8 04/02/08, 06:24 AM

Yes he was a bottle baby on organic mr.

MTplainsman · #9 04/02/08, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSYORK

Yes he was a bottle baby on organic mr.

Thats what I thought. Well, bottle calves are generally slower gainers and maturing. If your calf was compared to it's twin who was started and weaned off the mother, you'll see the difference in growth. The lack of Mother's milk in the starting period somewhat stunts the bum calve throughout it's life. That doesn't mean it will be scrawny, it just means that the growing process is expected to be a slower to achieve from a bottle calf. This is the reason, other than high expense and time, that I want to buy a dairy cow to place bums on. They still won't grow like they would on the first milk of a mother, but they will still grow and finish out better later when on a diet of raw cow's milk regardless.

Also, don't expect miricals with the growth of any calf. You are probably correct, that seeing him every day decieves your eye. Heck ya he is growing, but it may be far between times when you actually notice. Don't worry about it, just keep on good grass and supplement him often, also fresh clean water at all times is one of the big secrets for better gains.

wwubben · #10 04/03/08, 08:08 AM

I would not butcher him in July.I would grow him out and just sell the half or whatever you do not have room for.