Interesting. Good looking calves.
We weaned our first bunch last week-end. We have been fenceline weaning for a few years. We re-inforced a stretch of fence between two pastures with a water tank in the fenceline. It isn't the entire fence around the pasture. The rest is a pretty good 4 wire fence. The re-inforced area is near a corner where there will be no cattle on one side, just the cows across the fence from the calves for maybe a half mile stretch. Both pastures are 'fresh' grass, but pretty dry after a couple of months with no rain.
Soon, the cows and calves both will graze further and further from the fence line because the grass will be getting pretty used up along the fence. Doesn't take them long, maybe a day or three before there is almost no bawling. No creep or grain right now. Maybe some hay to the calves before long to get the used to eating it, tho curiousity seems to make that no real problem.
This year we did things a bit differently by putting in about 60 calves whose mama's are some 50 miles away. Not sure, but think I heard there are about 100 cows and their calves across from them, along with the 60 'orphan' calves. One calf went into the vacant pasture and was easily returned the day after they were weaned. No report of any other problem by the guy checking on them since then. Doubt we will be watching them very closely. Will bring them home after the calves here are weaned before long.
Two ranch sites, several miles apart is the reason for two weanings. Same situation here, with re-inforced section of fence and water close by. Not sure how long we will leave them all on pasture. Both pastures for the calves are along creeks with quite a bit of brush and protection from wind in case winter sets in early. They will be fed hay put through the bale processor, and maybe some distillers grain mixed with it.
Then they will be put in our feedlot separated according to what we want them to gain. Different rations will be figured for hiefers we want to grow out to breed next summer, different sizes of steers will be fed to gain differently.....heavier ones pushed a little to sell after the first of the year, maybe some just growing to go onto grass next summer, and some to gain a bit slower to sell later in spring. Kinda depends on prospects for grass next summer, and what the markets look like.
We test our hay and feed distillers, corn, or other grain and minerals in rations to make them gain the way we want. Use a feed mixer/grinder and add some water to the ration to keep the 'fines' from being lost and it seems to make it more palatable. Kind of a learning process for this cowboy outfit that never imagined we would be feeding our calves like this! We have had better health among the calves since we started this, and a better, more regulated vaccination program.
mrj