cattle gone stale

cloudroost

I don't usually finish cattle, but I kept a few this winter. Most went to the factory before Xmas, but I have 6 left that don't seem to be getting any fatter. They are being fed 8Kgs nuts (half morning/half evening), but are never in any rush to eat it (they do eat it, but they don't appear to be that eager for it). They are also getting silage, but again eating only a small amount).
Any suggestions on how to move them along?

Say my name

Are you sure they're not still putting on condition?
It sounds to me like they're eating better quality silage now and so just as not eager for the meal.

If they look to be still improving and putting on weight I wouldn't be worried but you think they're not so ???

Maybe check meal quality?

cloudroost

The silage and meal hasn't changes since they went into the house (they're in since End sept). They may well be putting on condition, but it does seem to have slowed down since Xmas and their appetites don't seem to be great. I've moved them onto straw recently, so maybe they are eating a lot of straw ??

Say my name

cloudroost wrote: »

The silage and meal hasn't changes since they went into the house (they're in since End sept). They may well be putting on condition, but it does seem to have slowed down since Xmas and their appetites don't seem to be great. I've moved them onto straw recently, so maybe they are eating a lot of straw ??

It's not the same batch of meal though since end of September?
If you filled a bin then and are still using the meal from the bin it could be gone off a bit.

cloudroost

No, I'm getting new meal regurarly, so it's not the meal gone off.
I'm thinking that they are on it so long that they are sick of it ..... anything that could be added to make it more tasty for them?

Bass Reeves

cloudroost wrote: »

No, I'm getting new meal regurarly, so it's not the meal gone off.
I'm thinking that they are on it so long that they are sick of it ..... anything that could be added to make it more tasty for them?

How long are they on 8kgs. 8 kg is a lot of ration if cattle are fed that amount after 100+ day they start to go stale

cloudroost

On 8ks since Xmas to try to move them on, although it seems to be having the opposite effect. On 6kgs up to Xmas.

Muckit

Have you been feeding them meal since sept??!!

Cavanjack

cloudroost wrote: »

The silage and meal hasn't changes since they went into the house (they're in since End sept). They may well be putting on condition, but it does seem to have slowed down since Xmas and their appetites don't seem to be great. I've moved them onto straw recently, so maybe they are eating a lot of straw ??

What breed and age are they and what sort of meal are You feeding?

KatyMac

Would a drop of molasses do anything to help? My cows love it when it's spread on the silage.

cloudroost

Breeds are aax and shx - The original plan was to have them gone to factory by xmas, but these last 6 are slower than I expected - My expectations may have been a bit too high - they aren't 2 years until march, so still growing I suppose. Thanks for the feedback ..

Mtx

Possibly the grass is a little bitter? They will eat it eventually . Try molasses watered down (to last longer) and spread once or twice a day. Try to turn over the grass and pour it because they will just lick the surface. Watering can works well for me. 90p a litre so relatively cheap.

Cavanjack

cloudroost wrote: »

Breeds are aax and shx - The original plan was to have them gone to factory by xmas, but these last 6 are slower than I expected - My expectations may have been a bit too high - they aren't 2 years until march, so still growing I suppose. Thanks for the feedback ..

If You are feeding a ration too high in protein they are likely to keep growing up rather than out especially at that age. Feed with 13% or less protein will do finishing animals. The likes of them cattle would be better going back to grass to finish in the summer rather than pour meal into them imo.

kk.man

cloudroost wrote: »

Breeds are aax and shx - The original plan was to have them gone to factory by xmas, but these last 6 are slower than I expected - My expectations may have been a bit too high - they aren't 2 years until march, so still growing I suppose. Thanks for the feedback ..

As and shx are very easy finish/fatten. Are you able to read the fat scores on cattle?...those 6 must have been finished or near finished at Christmas on the information you supplied.
Now I suspect they have gone stale.

Willfarman

If you could locate some washed chopped fodder beet it’d give them a turbo boost.. forward stores are on fire in marts at the minute also so there’s another option.

cloudroost

Thanks for all the comments on this - Just to follow-up ...
I sent them to the factory on March 9th - They killed out between 320 and 370 Kgs and fat scores of 3 and 4 at between 23/24 months, so obvoiusly a lot fatter than I thoought.