• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

Ruh Roh

mrj

Well-known member
Thanks for the kind replies. Grass fed is interesting to me, and I know I have many questions. We formerly used only grass, grazing year round, with some supplemental feed for weaned calves on pasture in winter till they could go to green grass to be sold as yearlings (since 1958, as that is the year the last of the two, three, and four year old steers were sold off this ranch).

Now, we still graze the cows all winter unless the grass is covered too deep, more accurately, with snow that is packed too hard by the wind for them to uncover, and some supplement usually in form of 32% +/- depending on market of cake. Calves no go into our feedlot after fenceline weaning and are sorted into various pens and fed a ration of ground hay, distillers grain and minerals designed so they gain specific amounts per day depending on if they are the heaviest calves which we want to sell to feedlot early next year, hiefers on growing ration, or smaller steers to go on gras next summer to sell as yearlings. We started this as a means to spread our income over the year and have advantage of various type markets.

We did winter cows on an appropriate ration in the feedlot a couple of winters in severe drought just to hold together a basic cowherd. They were in excellent condition, but sure were dissatisfied with feedlot life! But it did give us breathing room through that long drought and we felt it was cheaper than moving them out, or selling and buying back when drought ended.

Wintering calves in our lot wouldn't be continued if it wasn't working fairly well, but we always think we could improve.

What about native pastures for grass fed calves? We do not like to plow. The land is just too fragile in our climate and terrain, and much of it actually could not be tilled. Well, it could, but that would be insanity, besides ruining our winter brush shelter!

I've wondered if something could be broadcast to improve the grazing qualities of our varied native grasses. We do get great grazing with even fair rains, but too much 'junk' grows, such as cheat grass and state introduced brome grass, which is endangering some of the native grasses we had in abundance. I'm intrigued with this falcata alfalfa and would sure like to find some seed........and get the 'boys' to experiment with a little of that, or something an improved variety of native grasses.

Thanks for your patience.

mrj
 

andybob

Well-known member
My years of finishing off native pasture was in a very brittle environment, the planned rotation helped improve the grazing and browsing quality and increased the carrying capacity. I didn't have the disadvantage of winter snow as you have, but the Holistic management people have experience and information concerning your environment, why not contact them and see what information is available outside of book sales and costly courses;
http://www.holisticmanagement.org/
 

Dylan Biggs

Well-known member
andybob said:
My years of finishing off native pasture was in a very brittle environment, the planned rotation helped improve the grazing and browsing quality and increased the carrying capacity. I didn't have the disadvantage of winter snow as you have, but the Holistic management people have experience and information concerning your environment, why not contact them and see what information is available outside of book sales and costly courses;
http://www.holisticmanagement.org/

andybob, what degree of finish in terms of back fat were your cattle achieving when being killed off native pasture and at what age were they being killed?
 

andybob

Well-known member
We finished either at 2 1/2 or 3 years, depending on the export market requierments, mostly USA prime and choice, they finished better in early winter when there are acacia pods ripening providing a quality feed, typically acacia tortilis pods 19-20% protien and 10.2% energy (Mj/Kg)
 

andybob

Well-known member
Sorry Dylan, sudden family crisis. The native steers dressed out at about 750 lbs, the Sussex/native crosses 15 lbs heavier.
 

Dylan Biggs

Well-known member
Andy, no problem , sorry to hear about your family crisis.

Are you still breeding Sussex, there are a few Red Sussex in Alberta, have never seen them myself though.

What can you tell me about them, any photos?
 

andybob

Well-known member
I ran mostly Tuli cattle and some Afrikana when I was in Africa, the Sussex proved to be the most heat tolerant of the British breeds, a very good walker for foraging on sparse grazing, good conformation and marbeling,even on our native veld. At the moment I manage an estate in the UK where we keep native Aberdeen Angus and Hereford herds, all grass finished, I am looking for grazing and intend to keep Sussex again.
Here is the link to the Sussex breeders site;
http://www.sussexcattlesociety.org.uk/
Have you seen the Bonsmara herd in Alberta belonging to Dr Gordon Strick?
 

Latest posts

Top