Calves on calf-nuts

lanod2407

I've 6 fresian & fr-cross bull calves, around 7 months old. They're on after-grass and I'm giving them a bucket of calf nuts every day - they were getting 3/4 of a bucket twice a day before I put them on the after-grass.
Any advice on when I'd take them off the calf-nuts, and if I should put them on something else over the winter?
Planning to over-winter them and feed them with wrapped bales.

poor farmer

Depends on a lot of things ,how well have the done so far , are the strong /healthy/dosed ,availabity and type of grass e.t.c.
I would keep giving some nuts 1kg/head/day
You could feed beef nuts at this stage (a bit cheaper)

bbam

poor farmer wrote: »

You could feed beef nuts at this stage (a bit cheaper)

Can I ask in general what stage folks would change from calf nuts to beef nuts?

lanod2407

poor farmer wrote: »

Depends on a lot of things ,how well have the done so far , are the strong /healthy/dosed ,availabity and type of grass e.t.c.
I would keep giving some nuts 1kg/head/day
You could feed beef nuts at this stage (a bit cheaper)

Thanks poorfarmer .....
They're doing OK - got them in June, and they weren't the strongest animals. They're dosed and healthy - 2 of them throwing off the last marks of ringworm. My land isn't great, and the after grass wouldn't be top class. They've done well since they arrived and are starting to put on a few kgs.
I'll go with the beef nuts when the current delivery of calfnuts is finished.

Good loser

bbam wrote: »

Can I ask in general what stage folks would change from calf nuts to beef nuts?

On grass three months should be okay.

whelan1

bbam wrote: »

Can I ask in general what stage folks would change from calf nuts to beef nuts?

if you go to your local co-op and read the labels on the bags it will tell you what age the meals are suitable for, well our local co-op does

bbam

Reason I ask is we start all calves on calf nuts from the day they arrive, by 8 weeks we're mixing them 50:50 beef and calf and by 12 weeks they're on beef nuts...

Was just wondering is there any reason to keep them on calf nuts longer considering there is a price difference?
Margins are small and every € is a prisoner unless I see a major return on spending it..

whelan1

bbam wrote: »

Reason I ask is we start all calves on calf nuts from the day they arrive, by 8 weeks we're mixing them 50:50 beef and calf and by 12 weeks they're on beef nuts...

Was just wondering is there any reason to keep them on calf nuts longer considering there is a price difference?
Margins are small and every € is a prisoner unless I see a major return on spending it..

my reasoning on the whole thing is get the calf right from the start and you have a happy and healthy calf- had a neighbour used to feed calves dairy nuts:rolleyes: - we give young calves from 1 week til about 3 weeks calf crunch , to get the rumen going, then on to calf grower also coarse, for another 6 weeks and then on to weaner meal. Only use nuts in june/july when the crows are around as they love the coarse ration... thats what i do , others probably do different

flatout11

at 7 months old can you not find a cheaper ration to feed them,
calf rations are generally higher protein hence exrtra cost also they often include toasted ingredients (for the farmers benifit!!!) at this stage of the year energy in the ration is more important as in general protein is not limiting - coarse ration will also work out a bit cheaper

bbam

My personal opinion on the cheaper rations is they are only fillers..
I think bucket reared weaned calves need a decent protein supply all the time to continue their growth.. We've had the best results from beef nuts..

case 956

i have 10 mid april to may born friesian heifer calves. they are on good grass, dosed reguraly, out 13 wks and on 1.5kg of gain calve nuts(18% protein), i wonder should i keep them on this high protein feed or could i introduce them yo say a 14% protein feed like bull nuts?? want to keep them growing for bulling next may

flatout11

bbam wrote: »

My personal opinion on the cheaper rations is they are only fillers..
I think bucket reared weaned calves need a decent protein supply all the time to continue their growth.. We've had the best results from beef nuts..

its the ingredients that count, the name on the bag beef nuts store nuts is just labeling ......
regardless the calves are only going to gain 0.7 to 0.8 kg a day,
feeding at 1.5 kg a day will a/c for about 20% of the diet so its impact overall will be limited

dar31

what spec meal would you / are ye feeding spring born replacement heifers.
ordering some in the morning for calves on grass, no meal up till now, and will be going on to kale mid november

more than likely off the shelf from glanbia gain

dar31

dar31 wrote: »

what spec meal would you / are ye feeding spring born replacement heifers.
ordering some in the morning for calves on grass, no meal up till now, and will be going on to kale mid november

more than likely off the shelf from glanbia gain

16% weanling crunch, inc mz meal, minerals and yeast
€270 bagged and delivered
how would this compare with any one else.
glanbia were way off, although marginally better spec product

whelan1

dar31 wrote: »

16% weanling crunch, inc mz meal, minerals and yeast
€270 bagged and delivered
how would this compare with any one else.
glanbia were way off, although marginally better spec product

will let ya know monday , meal group meeting then

dar31

price was out side of purchasing group, as tender is in the process of renewal.
so was curious how it stood