Deep Freezer February (Pic)

topside1 · #1 12/31/13, 11:12 AM

This young steer will be exactly 18 months old the day he's unloaded at the slaughterhouse. I'm sending him in earlier than most steers, but when you nearly can see the bottom of your freezer chest, well action must be taken. Forty five more days of fattening to go, he's not my best work, but he'll have to do. If only his body was as big as his head.....Topside

G. Seddon · #2 12/31/13, 01:01 PM

Knowing you, I think he'll be fine. Happy New Year!

CrabbyChicken · #3 12/31/13, 01:06 PM

Thanks for sharing. I have one that will nearly be 21 months in March... I appreciate seeing your pics to see how mine is doing! Finishing on corn?

**gone-a-milkin** · #4 12/31/13, 01:08 PM

He does have a suspicious look on his face though.....

I wonder how much weight *I* could gain in 45 days. Hmm. LOL

Bret · #5 12/31/13, 01:53 PM

Hope you can only see the topside of the freezer soon. What's your feed plan for the next 45 days?

topside1 · #6 12/31/13, 02:11 PM

Nothing special Bret, the usual cracked corn morning and evening. My guess is he'll weigh-in around 850-900 come his special day. I'll post a photo of a one year old beside him....Topside

BobbyB · #7 12/31/13, 06:19 PM

I see nothing wrong with that. We have a Holstein on feed that is a bit over 2 months old, so he has a while. He'll go at 12 months because of that " see the bottom of the freezer" plague. But we'll have a couple more starting January that will be older when they go.

Ive heard that jerseys eat pretty good, but never knowingly ate any. Are they good ?

topside1 · #8 01/01/14, 08:49 AM

Bobby, Jersey meat is all we have eaten for the past ten years. We have tried other brands but Jersey is our families choice. Low in yield, high in flavor....Topside

mulemom · #9 01/07/14, 02:46 PM

Topside i have a question for you-or anyone else here who cares to answer. We're in Ohio and it's the same price to feed sweet stock as it is to feed cracked corn (have to buy either one). The person we bought our cows from fed sweet feed to her steers so that's what we fed ours. Do you feed cracked corn for a particular result or is it economics? Thanks ahead of time.

topside1 · #10 01/07/14, 04:07 PM

Mulemom, I feed cracked corn because I can easily identify what's in it. Sweet feed is a combination of a lot of crude substances (by products) ground up and squished into pellets. The goal right now is meat marbleing and flavor. Cracked corn is more easily digested than whole corn, but not by much. Plus little is wasted, dropped pieces are always eaten by my chickens or winter's birds. Topside

TRAILRIDER · #11 01/09/14, 02:01 PM

Very interesting thread. I have been wondering at what age to butcher my Ayrshire steer. I'm sure he will slow down growing soon. He will be 6 months old January 19th and I haven't weighed him but I'd guess he's a good 500# by now. There's just the two of us at home and we don't need a huge amount of beef. Should I butcher him at 800 pounds? Approximately what age would that be?

And a question. I know I can judge the weight of a pig by a calculation using a tape measure. Can I judge the weight of my steer in a similar way? That would be really helpful.

TRAILRIDER · #12 01/09/14, 02:24 PM

I just found the girth x girth x length and divide by 300 method. Is that pretty accurate? If so he would come in around 480. The question is how long will he take to get to 800 pounds?

mulemom · #13 01/11/14, 03:59 PM

Thanks Topside1 for the answer-I understand what you mean about the pellets consisting of 'unknowns' despite what the label says. First home raised beef since I was a kid 50+ years ago so it was pretty much all new. We did learn that I can't estimate bovine weight AT ALL, horses yes but not cows. I thought our steer went about 1000lbs, 22 months and his hanging weight was 995lbs. Couldn't believe a 13.3hand steer could weigh that much! Took our brand new 21.5 chest freezer and our old upright to fit him in. I don't know if the marbling is what it should be but I do know the meat is way better than store bought. Add to that there is an unexpected sense of satisfaction from knowing 'Spot' lived a good life and from our being able to provide for ourselves in a small way.

CrabbyChicken · #14 01/14/14, 05:01 PM

Topside, can you post a pic of the biggest, heaviest jersey you have ever raised? Thanks!

topside1 · #15 01/14/14, 08:34 PM

Crabby finding the photos will take to long. But, I did find this information: 575# of take home meat a yield percentage of 56%. He was two years old....Topside

CrabbyChicken · #16 01/15/14, 08:16 AM

Thank you Topside! I do appreciate it. It will give me a goal to work for in our feeding.

CrabbyChicken · #17 01/19/14, 03:59 PM

Topside, we have had our cattle on hay only. Now that we are about three month out I am starting grain. But to be careful,,, how much should I start out with? I started with about 10 cups morning and night, between two jerseys. Thanks for the help.

Madsaw · #18 01/23/14, 08:03 AM

Topside hope you don't mind but I will add a pic of 2 big jerseys. The dark faced one was Eugene the other moron. Eugene on good summer grass could reach 2100-2200. He was born the summer of 1990. He was 21 when he got sick. Moron never got much over 1900. Eugene was out of Canadian blood lines. His mother was @ 1800 in her prime.

topside1 · #19 01/23/14, 12:15 PM

Big boys, seeing that green carpeting sure made me smile....Come on Spring

ATPFARM · #20 01/24/14, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topside1

Big boys, seeing that green carpeting sure made me smile....Come on Spring

Come on Spring is Right... good gracious its cold...1f this morning,