Northern Rancher
Well-known member
I'm just really really glad that Dave isn't going to prostitute himself lol.
Thoughts on weaning.
- Thread starter tenbach79
- Start date
burnt
Well-known member
:nod: :agree: :lol2:Northern Rancher said:
Justin
Well-known member
Northern Rancher said:
dammit NR...you stole that one from me, i was going to make a comment about that but forgot. your right though, no need for prostitution :lol2:
gcreekrch
Well-known member
Justin said:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
That depends on how tough this racket gets in the next few years. :wink:
Justin
Well-known member
gcreekrch said:
true....a "job" in town may be needed :wink: :lol:
leanin' H
Well-known member
I've tried it but had to give it up............. Nobody would pay! :wink: 
Northern Rancher
Well-known member
You have to cut down on the free samples 'H'.
gcreekrch
Well-known member
leanin' H said:I've tried it but had to give it up............. Nobody would pay! :wink:
Haven't you ever heard of "Going Dutch"? :lol:
I know I baby my cattle and I have the time to do so. I feel my way works for me but would be to time consuming for most. I put a creep gate up when the calves are about three months old allowing the calves to go to the next pasture in rotation prior to the cows. Calves quickly learn where the greenest grass is and spend a lot of time away from mom.
Then when I wean I bring the cows and calves up and feed small amounts of corn so the calves figure out what a bunk is. Put a creep gate there so the calves can get a good amount of feed and the cows just get a taste. After the calves are all going to the bunk quickly ( about 3 days ) I just close the creep gate and they have fence line contact but really don't seem to miss each other.
If you are having success with the way you wean keep up your way. Mine must work as the same feeder has bought my calves for the last 10 years or so and he is always willing to pay top dollar. He has told several people the reason he likes my cattle is the first one off the truck is normally at the bunk befor the last one is off the truck.
Then when I wean I bring the cows and calves up and feed small amounts of corn so the calves figure out what a bunk is. Put a creep gate there so the calves can get a good amount of feed and the cows just get a taste. After the calves are all going to the bunk quickly ( about 3 days ) I just close the creep gate and they have fence line contact but really don't seem to miss each other.
If you are having success with the way you wean keep up your way. Mine must work as the same feeder has bought my calves for the last 10 years or so and he is always willing to pay top dollar. He has told several people the reason he likes my cattle is the first one off the truck is normally at the bunk befor the last one is off the truck.
Northern Rancher
Well-known member
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_189147954429766
Here is the link to Nathan Roy's online benefit-he was in a bad wreck and has a tough row to hoe coming up. There are some real great things up for bid and no better cause. Nathan helped Ty get on his first bull ever at the Outlook rodeo seems like forever ago-some prayers for him and his family would be appreciated.
Here is the link to Nathan Roy's online benefit-he was in a bad wreck and has a tough row to hoe coming up. There are some real great things up for bid and no better cause. Nathan helped Ty get on his first bull ever at the Outlook rodeo seems like forever ago-some prayers for him and his family would be appreciated.
Northern Rancher
Well-known member
There's my benchmark cow on stockpiled grass -then again with her calf at about two months old-her mother was a good red angus cow and her Daddy was a brahma/jersey bucking bull. If she's in decent rig the baldies and blacks had better be too.
littlejoe
Well-known member
You jam them too tight into a corral and you're asking for trouble. Dust can be a real problem. Too close of quarters and one gets sick, they all do.
We use about a 5 acre lot, sodded in. About an 8 wire--barbed---fence around it. Stays between posts, fence is tight and good braces. Cows on the other side in a couple hundred acres for 3 or 4 days---long enuf till you figger you move them, they'll stay gone. NO square corners!
Pre-weaning and ivomec a mo or 6 weeks before. This is a great deal---I'd do it whether I got paid a dime for it or not---owe it to the cattle, always keep something over either heifers and/or cutbacks, I know it works.
Father in law ran yrlgs. Never locked the calves up. They were on meadows, cows were locked up--2 days, weather was nice, maybe 3. Water but no feed.
Cows wintered about 8 miles down the road---when he opened the gate, they'd be about half way there before they slowed down or looked back.
We feed maybe 10 bales in mo or so before we gather cattle--always got something the wrap is screwed up on, baled too wet, etc. Used to take maybe 4 riders to get them outa the brush, etc. You could sit up on the bluff, watch cows slipping away from them. Now, I sit up on the bluff and hit 'ooga' horn on my feedpick. They know it and will come about as far as they can hear it. They're ready for a little something different, protein kick around that time of yr. Calves eat some hay and decide pickup is nothing to be scairt of.
Oat hay, put up right (early and green) is wonderful stuff to wean on, calves love it. Plunk one feeder against board part of fence, 'circlers' hit it and stop.
If we got a couple late calvers, cripples, etc, we put them in with the calves. Calms them down, they got an adult present and somebody with some sense, when you go to move them.
We use about a 5 acre lot, sodded in. About an 8 wire--barbed---fence around it. Stays between posts, fence is tight and good braces. Cows on the other side in a couple hundred acres for 3 or 4 days---long enuf till you figger you move them, they'll stay gone. NO square corners!
Pre-weaning and ivomec a mo or 6 weeks before. This is a great deal---I'd do it whether I got paid a dime for it or not---owe it to the cattle, always keep something over either heifers and/or cutbacks, I know it works.
Father in law ran yrlgs. Never locked the calves up. They were on meadows, cows were locked up--2 days, weather was nice, maybe 3. Water but no feed.
Cows wintered about 8 miles down the road---when he opened the gate, they'd be about half way there before they slowed down or looked back.
We feed maybe 10 bales in mo or so before we gather cattle--always got something the wrap is screwed up on, baled too wet, etc. Used to take maybe 4 riders to get them outa the brush, etc. You could sit up on the bluff, watch cows slipping away from them. Now, I sit up on the bluff and hit 'ooga' horn on my feedpick. They know it and will come about as far as they can hear it. They're ready for a little something different, protein kick around that time of yr. Calves eat some hay and decide pickup is nothing to be scairt of.
Oat hay, put up right (early and green) is wonderful stuff to wean on, calves love it. Plunk one feeder against board part of fence, 'circlers' hit it and stop.
If we got a couple late calvers, cripples, etc, we put them in with the calves. Calms them down, they got an adult present and somebody with some sense, when you go to move them.
Big Swede
Well-known member
I have been considering fence line weaning this fall. Normally I pen the cows up right next to the calves for a few days then take them away. What I am considering is planting a mix of tritacale, oats, turnips, maybe something else and weaning on that. I would lock the cows in the weaning pen and turn the calves on this to graze. Does anyone know a better mix of forage or does this sound alright. I don't have any grass close to the place like some do so this is my best option I think. I have heard the advice about no square corners which makes sense. I was also thinking about putting my bred heifers with the calves for moral support, maybe keep them a little more content. This all depends on if I get enough moisture this summer to get the growth on the pasture, and also if I can keep the grasshoppers from grazing it first.
I have a neighbor who likes to buy small calves every spring and then sell them in the fall. He ends up with a bunch of calves that will jump out of their skins if someone drops a bucket or does anthing out of the ordinary.
I talked him into buying at least one old cow as well to run with them.
Calves are much better to be around and seem to gain better and he has made money by getting an old run down cow and getting her in shape and selling her as well.
It only takes one older animal to calm them all down.
I talked him into buying at least one old cow as well to run with them.
Calves are much better to be around and seem to gain better and he has made money by getting an old run down cow and getting her in shape and selling her as well.
It only takes one older animal to calm them all down.
Northern Rancher
Well-known member
Any mix like that should give them all they need-maybe throw a bit of hay out there too just to be safe if they are going off real dry grass to it. If you can water the cows a fair ways off the fence too it helps-if your sure the calves will find it a person can water them back a bit too-after a day or so the herd goes to drink and doesn't bother coming back. Field peas might work in the mixture also.
littlejoe
Well-known member
Northern Rancher said:
You even notice that no matter how good the regrowth is---alfalfa, orchard grass---whatever--that the cattle clean up any broken bales, missed windows, pretty darn quick? I like feeding a little hay, esp when first turned into fall regrowth---seems to head off bloat and also kinda tighten them up and slow down the squirts.
I got an irrigated field that's got kinda terraces between panels. Hay the field twice, but last thing i do after second cutting is cut the terraces for the first time---mostly grass hay that's rank and overripe---and leave the windrows---they always clean it up.
Speaking of grazing alfalfa---any of you guys use laundry soap instead of bloat guard? 1/2 cup to 50# of salt is recommended--so naturally i use a cup. Never had a problem. All bloat guard does is make little bubbles outa big ones---so does soap. I get the one w/o bleach--and mix it with 'mineral' salt---not cause there's any minerals in it---but it's easy to see if you got a good blend with red salt.
Northern Rancher
Well-known member
I think we've cut down on grass founder cracks by grazing old stockpiled grass instead of feeding longer and switching from dry hay to rapidly growing spring grass. As soon as the snow goes they go out on stockpiled pasture and the transition is more gradual. They seem to clean up that rank grass from bale grazed areas better also first thing in the spring. The yearling heifers will go out then too to run with the cows and learn the ropes.
