Can I put them in together?

[KnowOneSpecial]

I have a year old Holstein steer and a 4-5 month old Holstein steer. Right now they're in separate pens that have a separate pasture. They can see each other and generally don't interact at all.

My goat is about to kid and 'd like to get the calf out of the goat's pen. They're currently in together and sharing the pasture with the buck. I would move the buck and the calf over with the older Holstein and bring one of the does that are over there in with my doe who is about to kid.

Can I put the two steers in together? Will the older one beat up on the younger one?

Also, how long do you feed your calves? They have a good pasture, so I'm thinking it's about time to wean the calf off the feed. Good idea or no?

[francismilker]

Sure you can put them in together. If they're competing at the feed trough the bigger one will most likely win and the smaller one will suffer weight loss. If you're putting them out on grass they both ought to be fine provided you have enough grass.

As far as how long to keep them on feed, I just wein them off milk/feed at about 300lbs. or 6 months whichever comes first. Then, I kick them out on grass and forget about them until they get to about 7-800lbs. Then, I finish them on grain and send them to the freezer.

[Tad]

As long as there is room that the big one can't corner the little one they will be fine. Penned in the winter time we keep heifers broke up well but in the summer when they are out and can get away from each other we don't worry so much. If the grass is comeing on good they will be too full to fight!

[KnowOneSpecial]

Thank you! I was planning on this bag of feed being the last one I buy for him. It'll work out just right.

They'll have an almost 2 acrepasture to chew in. They shoud be fine.

Thanks!

[Callieslamb]

I have a 3 month old out with a 9 month old. I was leery at first, but they are getting along well. I feed them grain separately. The older steer was alone for a while, so maybe that made the difference for him. The little one follows the big one everywhere. They eat hay next to each other at the feeder and get a drink of water together too.

[tinknal]

Cattle are social creatures and they want to be together. They will establish a pecking order as all social animals do but it is nothing to worry about. I always enjoy watching how big tough old bulls act around young calves, almost paternal.