Dairy nuts any harm to a bull with sucklers?

Bodacious

Some sheep men used to say never to give ewe and lamb nuts to a ram as it affects his libido.

A man asked would the same be true for a bull running with a few sucklers that he wants to throw some dairy nuts to hopefully bring them on a bit quicker ?

whelan1

cant see it doig any harm tbh, our bulls always get some nuts when they come in to the parlour and they are ok

pakalasa

Isn't there something about the Calcium in Dairy Nuts that can cause Gallstones in young bulls?

Username John

Bodacious wrote: »

Some sheep men used to say never to give ewe and lamb nuts to a ram as it affects his libido.

Hi Bodacious,
For sheep - I think its due to higher calcium (or maybe lower magnesium?) in ewe nuts, which in male lambs / rams causes calcium to build up and leads to stones in the urinary tract.

Not sure of the effect in bulls... I would advise checking tho, be a shame for something to happen, from something so easy to fix (as in using a non-dairy ration)

Bodacious

Username John wrote: »

Bodacious wrote: »

Some sheep men used to say never to give ewe and lamb nuts to a ram as it affects his libido.

Hi Bodacious,
For sheep - I think its due to higher calcium (or maybe lower magnesium?) in ewe nuts, which in male lambs / rams causes calcium to build up and leads to stones in the urinary tract.

Not sure of the effect in bulls... I would advise checking tho, be a shame for something to happen, from something so easy to fix (as in using a non-dairy ration)

Cheers lads/ladies,

I'll pass on info but he was half right to be fair, especially about the ram

simx

pakalasa wrote: »

Isn't there something about the Calcium in Dairy Nuts that can cause Gallstones in young bulls?

my father always told me the same,if we were feeding in field we`d usually mix some beef nuts in them

blue5000

Hi OP I think if there is cal mag in the dairy nuts then you shouldn't feed them to bulls. The calmag crystallises in the urine. If there is no cal mag then I reckon a dairy nut would be ok.

Bodacious

blue5000 wrote: »

Hi OP I think if there is cal mag in the dairy nuts then you shouldn't feed them to bulls. The calmag crystallises in the urine. If there is no cal mag then I reckon a dairy nut would be ok.

we checked the bag and they were high energy 16% dairy nut with cal mag and clear warning on bag not to feed to other category of animal other than dairy cow at grass !!

flyingfarmer

Don't do it over a period of time. The Cal/Mag blocks up the plumbing and the bull will die! It doesn't affect females cos the plumbing is so different.
I know 'cos mine went to the factory in pain where he was condemned.
He was on dairy nuts every day for a couple of years.
My tuppence worth.

snowman707

flyingfarmer wrote: »

Don't do it over a period of time. The Cal/Mag blocks up the plumbing and the bull will die! It doesn't affect females cos the plumbing is so different.
I know 'cos mine went to the factory in pain where he was condemned.
He was on dairy nuts every day for a couple of years.
My tuppence worth.

and I believe the younger the animal the faster the build up, AFAIK there is an additive you can add to the feed to prevent it. used mostly in sheep feed .

Sami23

Just digging up this thread to see what people opinions are.
I like to give the sucklers a sprinkle of dairy nuts after they are turned out both to keep them quiet and easy to handle and to hopefully help getting them back in calf also.

Just wondering is it any harm for the stock bull to be eating them or maby I should ask my vet ?

hopeso

Sami23 wrote: »

Just digging up this thread to see what people opinions are.
I like to give the sucklers a sprinkle of dairy nuts after they are turned out both to keep them quiet and easy to handle and to hopefully help getting them back in calf also.

Just wondering is it any harm for the stock bull to be eating them or maby I should ask my vet ?

It's more or less what's said above. There is a risk feeding dairy nuts to males. I feed beef nuts to the sucklers. Too much milk is the last thing you need. They'll produce enough milk on the beef nuts, and hopefully put a bit of condition on themselves too.....

Hard Knocks

hopeso wrote: »

It's more or less what's said above. There is a risk feeding dairy nuts to males. I feed beef nuts to the sucklers. Too much milk is the last thing you need. They'll produce enough milk on the beef nuts, and hopefully put a bit of condition on themselves too.....

Check the beef nut, some are not recommended for lactating cows

hopeso

Hard Knocks wrote: »

Check the beef nut, some are not recommended for lactating cows

Never noticed that, and I'm feeding them for years! I'm using bulk, so no bags with info. What's the potential risk?

Hard Knocks

hopeso wrote: »

Never noticed that, and I'm feeding them for years! I'm using bulk, so no bags with info. What's the potential risk?

Dry up