Calves at grass mealing question

Wessel3

What feed rate are you offering calves 14weeks thereabouts. They're out at grass. Basically stuff that could be baled fairly heavy and they're still looking hungry on it ? They seem t have plenty but in confused to why they are looking skinny on it

Mooooo

Wessel3 wrote: »

What feed rate are you offering calves 14weeks thereabouts. They're out at grass. Basically stuff that could be bales and they're still looking hungry on it ? They seem t have plenty but in confused to why they are looking skinny on it

When you say stuff that should be bales what to you mean? How tall is grass? Ideally calves should be in short leafy grass 8cm. Have one group on about 1.25 kg and another group on two as they have catching up to do.

Wessel3

O can't attach photos on phone for some reason doesn't give me option to. It's rightly tall. Above the knee I'd say. I haven't any short stuff for them unfortunately

Mooooo

That grass is way too strong for calves, tbh if you have nowhere else for them you'd nearly have to give meal to them adlib. The most nutritious grass is short leafy stuff. Where will they be going next? Have you other cattle on farm? It would be better to bale that grass as calves that age wouldn't manage strip grazing it I'd say

theaceofspies

how long would he need to wait before baling it as there must be droppings lying in that grass? Always thought it wasn't right to bale grass with animal droppings in it?

Farmer_3650

Wessel3 wrote: »

O can't attach photos on phone for some reason doesn't give me option to. It's rightly tall. Above the knee I'd say. I haven't any short stuff for them unfortunately

I don't know what I would do in that situation to be honest. I would probably section off a small bit of the field for the calves and feed them meal. I would then bale the rest in two or three weeks.Make sure to keep on top of grass next year and take out any field that gets too heavy. Do you have a topper?

Wessel3

Sorry for confusion. The corner of the field wasnt just ready for cutting silage and I grazed it. Im.not going to bale it after cattle being in it.
The grass would be 2000+ for those who measure. I'd say D-value is getting worse by the week. The calves weren't as hungry looking this morning. 1.5kgs from now on

Mooooo

If you have aftergrass coming put them in there so once it has a cover of 1000. with grass esp for calves if it goes over 1500 it's ready for cutting. I got caught myself not cutting grass in time this year and even cows wouldn't eat it without taking a hit

whelan2

They would be better off inside than on grass thats too strong.

GrasstoMilk

Ours are currently on aftergrass and will be for a good while yet. Fresh grass every second day and back fenced off the previous piece. Works very well. Getting just under 1kg of meal a day

Wessel3

Wessel3

Who2

Wessel3 wrote: »

cut the bit on the right, top the bit on the left and put the calves out on the far bit.