-
COWS-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 13
FEED IN THE WEEKS BEFORE BUTCHERING
Generally, the younger the animal the more tender the meat, so if the animal is finished quickly on grain it will be very tender. The younger the animal the less flavorful meat. Veal is meat from very young calves – only a few weeks old, they are fed milk or milk replacers.
FEEDS BEFORE FINISHING/BUTCHERING
There are many kinds of feed that can be used to prepare a beef animal before butchering, i.e. Field corn, beet bulk, water materials from food processing industry such as potato skins, citrus pulp etc.
Grains include corn, milo (grain sorghum), oats, barley and wheat. If barley is plentiful, it can be used instead of milo or corn. Wheat is often too high priced. Corn is high in energy and commonly used. Oats make good food as do molasses, dried beet pulp. Grains that have been steam rolled are easier to digest than whole grains, and more of the food value is usable by the animal.
If you are finishing the beef animal on grain rather than grass, keep it in a smaller area and feed it a balanced mix of hay and grain. When concentrates such as grains make up most of the ration and forage/roughage, (feeds that are high in fiber and low in energy, for example hay and pasture) is just a small portion, calves gain weight quickly.
For fast gain, feed a small amount of hay 4 -5 lbs per day of good quality hay. And up to 2% of its body weight as grain. For a 700 pound calf that is a maximum of 14 pounds of grain daily. If you feed this much grain, split it in two portions morning and evening.
Start calves on grain gradually until they learn how to eat it and increase amount slowly. The microbes in the calf's rumen (the largest stomach compartment, where roughage is digested with the aid of microorganisms in a fermentation process) that break down feeds have to adjust to new food. Too much grain can upset digestion. The same can be said about rich alfalfa hay. Important: once you start calves on grain do not skip a feeding they may over eat at the next feeding and get indigestion and bloat (which is a full, tight rumen caused by accumulate of gas). Never feed more grain than calves can eat in 30 minutes.
Even when on heavy grain diet, roughage is still important. Cattle need fibrous food to keep digestion working properly. Giving cattle too much grain and not enough roughage can cause serious problems such as bloating and acidosis which is a build up of acids and causes severe digestive upset.
Generally, the younger the animal the more tender the meat, so if the animal is finished quickly on grain it will be very tender. The younger the animal the less flavorful meat. Veal is meat from very young calves – only a few weeks old, they are fed milk or milk replacers.
FEEDS BEFORE FINISHING/BUTCHERING
There are many kinds of feed that can be used to prepare a beef animal before butchering, i.e. Field corn, beet bulk, water materials from food processing industry such as potato skins, citrus pulp etc.
Grains include corn, milo (grain sorghum), oats, barley and wheat. If barley is plentiful, it can be used instead of milo or corn. Wheat is often too high priced. Corn is high in energy and commonly used. Oats make good food as do molasses, dried beet pulp. Grains that have been steam rolled are easier to digest than whole grains, and more of the food value is usable by the animal.
If you are finishing the beef animal on grain rather than grass, keep it in a smaller area and feed it a balanced mix of hay and grain. When concentrates such as grains make up most of the ration and forage/roughage, (feeds that are high in fiber and low in energy, for example hay and pasture) is just a small portion, calves gain weight quickly.
For fast gain, feed a small amount of hay 4 -5 lbs per day of good quality hay. And up to 2% of its body weight as grain. For a 700 pound calf that is a maximum of 14 pounds of grain daily. If you feed this much grain, split it in two portions morning and evening.
Start calves on grain gradually until they learn how to eat it and increase amount slowly. The microbes in the calf's rumen (the largest stomach compartment, where roughage is digested with the aid of microorganisms in a fermentation process) that break down feeds have to adjust to new food. Too much grain can upset digestion. The same can be said about rich alfalfa hay. Important: once you start calves on grain do not skip a feeding they may over eat at the next feeding and get indigestion and bloat (which is a full, tight rumen caused by accumulate of gas). Never feed more grain than calves can eat in 30 minutes.
Even when on heavy grain diet, roughage is still important. Cattle need fibrous food to keep digestion working properly. Giving cattle too much grain and not enough roughage can cause serious problems such as bloating and acidosis which is a build up of acids and causes severe digestive upset.