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  #1  
Old 08/15/12, 11:29 AM
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 84
First Cows

I just bought 2 Holstein steers that are around 200 pounds each and nursed until recently weaned, they are banded and de-horned. These are our first cows and we plan to raise them for freezer beef, so no experience with cattle before. I will need to house them with either 6 sheep or 2 horses over the winter. The horses are super old (30+), and are very laid back. I have a few questions:

1. Is it advantageous to house with one vs the other or should I rotate between the two?

2. I have hay and mineral, but what else (corn / oats?) and how much should I feed these for optimal growth over the winter?

3. Since I will have 3 species under 1 roof (same pole barn), what vaccinations should I give the calves as a precaution?

Any other words of wisdom are much appreciated!
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  #2  
Old 08/15/12, 10:06 PM
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 433
I have raised bottle calves (Jerseys) with horses, goats and hogs. The chickens & turkeys are allowed to free range through the paddock at their own risk -- the risk of the electric fence, that is

Cattle and horses bond well, especially if you have an odd number of either. Until last week, we had the one horse and one bottle calf in the paddock. They were buddies and about inseperable. We grained the bottle calf, but not the horse, so we used a piece of 1/2" electric ribbon at about 40" to make a small (10x10) paddock beside the larger acre-sized paddock. Every morning, my son would bring the horse out of the paddock to graze the backyard, and the calf to the small paddock for his daily grain. When the calf was done with his grain, he would slip under the hot wire and join his buddy for the day's grazing. In the evening, they would be returned to their paddock and a basket of hay.

Now I don't raise sheep! But I do raise goats. I would wonder if the loose minerals the calf would need might have too much copper for the sheep. The horses should be able to get by on salt blocks. Calves and goats bond well enough if they don't have any other options. The advantage to me is that the goats teach the cows to browse before they graze. My cows eat brush like goats -- the browse (aka "Forbs") is much higher in protein and minerals than even the best grass. Life is wonderful! The calf was also good to pick up and eat the hay that the goats would pull out of their basket or hay net and dump on the ground. With the 2 species together, I had almost no wasted hay.

I suppose you could always allow the calves to access the sheep minerals and give them a copper bolus.

For what its worth . . . the hog(s) didn't always work out well with other species in the paddock. I first tried with a Billy that had some skin issues and the hogs relentlessly nibbled and bit at the sores. I didn't have any trouble between the hogs and 2 large healthy goats, until they relapsed into hoof rot because of the damp soil in the paddock. Once we were down to one hog, he and the calf and the horse were all paddocked together. I didn't observe any major behavioral issues, but the pig did deplete the horse's tail significantly and the horse did her best to kick the pig with her hind feet. In the end, the pig went to the fridge, the horse went to winter pasture, and the calf soon joined the horse when the price of feed went up 33%.

Until the price went beyond my budget, I had good success with Southern States Beef Commodity Pellets for all my animals (except the horse, she was already too fat). The pellets used to be $12 per 100 lbs, last week, they jumped to $16. Pasture got really good looking, really fast.

You always want to give CD&T shots. Blackleg and Tetanus are my biggest concerns. It also wouldn't hurt, nor be too expensive to give the calves a "Basic 5" shot for IBR (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis), BVD 1 and BVD 2 (Bovine Virus Diarrhea), PI3 (ParaInfluenza 3), and BRSV (Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus). The vaccine is cheaper than the antibiotics necessary if the calves contract the viruses.

Personally, I would halter break the calves as soon as possible. 200 lbs is pushing the limit, but I have halter broken a pair of 600lb heifers. You can get a cheap nylon(?) halter/leash combo for a few bucks at Tractor Supply. It is basically a slip knot loop with an additional nose loop built in. Just slip it over their head while they're in a pen and drag them to the nearest tree or post for a few hours. A partner pushing on their hips is invaluable. Keep an eye on them so they don't asphyxiate themselves, but they are usually smarter than that. After they have learned not to buck the halter too hard, you can teach them to follow a lead rope. Again, a partner pushing down on the soft space behind the hip bones is about necessary. The last thing to remember, is that cows like following backsides -- but if you are facing them, you are threatening them -- so always lead, showing the cow your backside, not your front or face.

Best of luck and remember, multi-species grazing is cutting edge technology
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  #3  
Old 08/16/12, 12:20 PM
linn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
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We have never raised sheep, but we have had horses and cattle. Horses will run other animals aways from hay and feed. IMO, I think it best to separate the horses from the other animals.
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Last edited by linn; 08/16/12 at 12:28 PM.
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  #4  
Old 08/16/12, 02:02 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: sw virginia
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Watch out that the horses don't keep the calfs from eating some don't but some are erible biteing and kicking others
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  #5  
Old 08/16/12, 10:28 PM
Awnry Abe's Avatar
My name is not Alice
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: On a dirt road in Missouri
Posts: 4,185
What copperhead said about the copper & sheep...

Is it necessary to put them under a roof? I would think open air/pasture with wind breaks would be better.
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  #6  
Old 08/17/12, 02:19 PM
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 84
Quote:
Originally Posted by CrownRanch View Post
What copperhead said about the copper & sheep...

Is it necessary to put them under a roof? I would think open air/pasture with wind breaks would be better.
I have one pasture that has some trees in it, is that enough cover for cows? I put my sheep there spring/summer/fall just not winter (but probably could).
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