Light weanlings

micky mouse

Is a 16% ration enough to grow light weanlings(under 200kg) for the winter or would they need 18% ration. silage is good enough

PatQfarmer

micky mouse wrote: »

Is a 16% ration enough to grow light weanlings(under 200kg) for the winter or would they need 18% ration. silage is good enough

Thought my silage was good enough too, just got test results. it's only 52%DMD and 8% protein:eek:
I'll need 3-4kg of 18%ration per day to balance it up for weanlings.
Have you tested your silage? Worth the €35, imo.

micky mouse

No must do it.35euro.How many samples for that .is that teagasc.Never done before .One sample from each field depending when cut is it

PatQfarmer

micky mouse wrote: »

No must do it.35euro.How many samples for that .is that teagasc.Never done before .One sample from each field depending when cut is it

€35 per sample.
He took samples from 4 bales and put all in one sample bag for cross-section.
Mine from same cut, different fields. Contractor-supplied. Will be having a chat...

bbam

Our silage test results (which was poor) recommended 2.4kg of 18% ration to gain 0.6kg/day.

Without knowing the silage content there is a fair bit of guesswork.

With the 16% ration you'd have to feed a fair bit to bring up the overall diet to ~15% which is recommended to grow weanlings.

It's worth getting right as if they just linger over the winter without decent growth rates it will cost money at sale time, particularly if it's a long winter.

Get the silage tested, the results come with feed recommendations for differing stock types.

I used Oldcastle Labs and it cost €45

PatQfarmer

micky mouse wrote: »

No must do it.35euro.How many samples for that .is that teagasc.Never done before .One sample from each field depending when cut is it

Forgot to say: Yes it was Teagasc test.

nashmach

PatQfarmer wrote: »

Thought my silage was good enough too, just got test results. it's only 52%DMD and 8% protein:eek:
I'll need 3-4kg of 18%ration per day to balance it up for weanlings.
Have you tested your silage? Worth the €35, imo.

That seems shocking low - was it 52 or 62?

micky mouse

Does any of ye know what farm direct charge .I think they sample as well

PatQfarmer

nashmach wrote: »

That seems shocking low - was it 52 or 62?

I asked the Teagasc man the same question as he relayed results over phone. 52%!!!
No mould, as it's 60%DM.
Protein shortfall is big issue.

micky mouse

"no mould as 60% dm".Sorry i dont understand

PatQfarmer

micky mouse wrote: »

"no mould as 60% dm".Sorry i dont understand

It is very dry (60%DM) and double wrapped, so mould unlikely.
If it had been baled wetter, it'd be covered in mould, he says.
Not sure really. Confused, as they are getting it for 6 weeks now, with just one kg 14% nut and all are doing well, by my reckoning.
All are AAX hfrs, so maybe they handle it better?
Will up the meal over time.

bbam

PatQfarmer wrote: »

It is very dry (60%DM) and double wrapped, so mould unlikely.
If it had been baled wetter, it'd be covered in mould, he says.
Not sure really. Confused, as they are getting it for 6 weeks now, with just one kg 14% nut and all are doing well, by my reckoning.
All are AAX hfrs, so maybe they handle it better?
Will up the meal over time.

Make sure you work out the economics of more %16, compared to the same ammount of 18%.
Did you get any recommendation on how much to feed at the 16% for any particular growth rate.

PatQfarmer

bbam wrote: »

Make sure you work out the economics of more %16, compared to the same ammount of 18%.
Did you get any recommendation on how much to feed at the 16% for any particular growth rate.

Recommended 3-3.5kg/head to maintain 0.6kg/day growth rate.
A bit steep, methinks, but don't want stunted animals either!
16% nut available. Only 18% is calf ration in local co-op.
Will rise to 2kg over next week and take it from there...:(

mf240

PatQfarmer wrote: »

Recommended 3-3.5kg/head to maintain 0.6kg/day growth rate.
A bit steep, methinks, but don't want stunted animals either!
16% nut available. Only 18% is calf ration in local co-op.
Will rise to 2kg over next week and take it from there...:(

Id say that high dm is helping intakes and is also helping thrive.

If there not ****ting too solid id say they have enough protien.

Having said that if you want to go to an 18 you can probably get 18% dairy nuts
they would make more sense than calf meal.

But I wouldnt bother for aa heifers we have some late aa calves (april may june) getting hay and straw and 2kg of a 16.5% ration and there flying along)

bbam

mf240 wrote: »

Id say that high dm is helping intakes and is also helping thrive.

If there not ****ting too solid id say they have enough protien.

Having said that if you want to go to an 18 you can probably get 18% dairy nuts
they would make more sense than calf meal.

But I wouldnt bother for aa heifers we have some late aa calves (april may june) getting hay and straw and 2kg of a 16.5% ration and there flying along)

Had this conversation with the brother lately regarding feeding 18% dairy rather than weanling ration... He was saying the econimics of the dairy would be better... I'm presuming the protein source is different given the different requirments of a 4 month old weanling compared to a 3 year old dairy cow...
Has anyone got a definite answer on this ??

PatQfarmer

mf240 wrote: »

Id say that high dm is helping intakes and is also helping thrive.

If there not ****ting too solid id say they have enough protien.

Having said that if you want to go to an 18 you can probably get 18% dairy nuts
they would make more sense than calf meal.

But I wouldnt bother for aa heifers we have some late aa calves (april may june) getting hay and straw and 2kg of a 16.5% ration and there flying along)

Thanks for that. Will look at Dairy ration. Have mineral blocks on wall from Eurobloc.
I feel same re AA hfrs. They are hardy and used to less than the Continentals. Should hit the ground running if I get out late-Feb, early March. Will try at 2kg. Thanks again:)

PatQfarmer

bbam wrote: »

Had this conversation with the brother lately regarding feeding 18% dairy rather than weanling ration... He was saying the econimics of the dairy would be better... I'm presuming the protein source is different given the different requirments of a 4 month old weanling compared to a 3 year old dairy cow...
Has anyone got a definite answer on this ??

No answer, but would love to know!
Wean and Build 16% quoted €388/ton
Dairy Nut 18% quoted €378/ton
Glanbia/Gain bagged nuts.
Anyone any ideas re feeding Dairy ration to weanlings?

massey265

Am feeding weanlings 2kg off weanling beef munchy along with hay, is hay good enough or would silage or barley straw be better? not keen on feeding silage as the bale would go off quicker than they would eat it..

micky mouse

Hay is grand.Straw is not good enough for light weanlings.only alright if your like me neighbour ,doing bull beef,getting loads of meal

massey265

micky mouse wrote: »

Hay is grand.Straw is not good enough for light weanlings.only alright if your like me neighbour ,doing bull beef,getting loads of meal

Well they aint getting loads off meal, :rolleyes: hay is dusty tho wrecks me for a while after even wearing a mask!

micky mouse

.Neighbour is fattening bulls so he different to me or you.But whatever about weanlings or bulls ya want to watch that dusty hay.Thats not good for the ould lungs