Drystock - spread bag or feed meal?

Muckit

The key to success in drystock is running a tight ship and KISS (keeping it simple stupid!)

So with limited funds and keeping an eye on every penny, at this time of the year is it better to spend money on fertiliser to grow extra grass or spend it on meal to fatten a few for factory?

f140

Muckit wrote: »

The key to success in drystock is running a tight ship and KISS (keeping it simple stupid!)

So with limited funds and keeping an eye on every penny, at this time of the year is it better to spend money on fertiliser to grow extra grass or spend it on meal to fatten a few for factory?

I would go with the fert

Dunedin

Muckit wrote: »

The key to success in drystock is running a tight ship and KISS (keeping it simple stupid!)

So with limited funds and keeping an eye on every penny, at this time of the year is it better to spend money on fertiliser to grow extra grass or spend it on meal to fatten a few for factory?

Grass quality from down on will be dropping so you will not ensure a good kill out off grass alone so you will need the nuts.

Ideally, cattle on grass should be fed for 6-8 weeks depending on the grass quality/quantity. Probably don't need much nuts - I normally go with circa 4lbs day for the 6 - 8 weeks - (although my land is pretty good for finishing cattle so some lads may give a lot more than this)

a little over a longer period is better than a short burst when it comes to kill out/grading.

so to answer your question - you will need both!!

bob charles

they need the best of both world, take the handy route and sell the auld cows

F.D

i could do with stretching out things a little as well, i think you get a 16 : 1 response from can so for every kg you spread you get 16 kgs of grass
i think even spreading fert i'm not going to get a quick enough response so

Q: does anyone know if a finishing bullock eats say 13 kg of dm in grass per day how much less will he eat per kg of meal fed
was going to feed a 13 % ration just dont know how many kgs to feed to have an effect without it getting too expensive

bob charles

F.D wrote: »

i could do with stretching out things a little as well, i think you get a 16 : 1 response from can so for every kg you spread you get 16 kgs of grass
i think even spreading fert i'm not going to get a quick enough response so

Q: does anyone know if a finishing bullock eats say 13 kg of dm in grass per day how much less will he eat per kg of meal fed
was going to feed a 13 % ration just dont know how many kgs to feed to have an effect without it getting too expensive

1kg of meal for 1.5kg of DM Grass wouldn't be too far out without getting technical. So for every kilo of meal he would have to eat 1.5kilos of grass to get same thrive.

your bullock will eat 13kilo of Dry matter be it grass or meal. meal will be more potent packing much more energy per kilo

Muckit

Went with a bag of 10-10-20/acre this evening on aftergrass. God only cut a fortnight and regrowth has been excellent. Stuck up some elec fences. Will put in a few heifers with butts of horns that l'll fatten for factory. And yes I'i meal them for a few weeks. Re dosing what's withdrawal period for wormers and fukicides? Need to do them before changing them in