Would weanlings thrive more out or in

cacs

Would weanlings thrive better out on good grass at the minute or would be better in on good silage and nuts.
Definitely cheaper out I know

_Brian

Don’t think grass alone would cut it now, we’re supplementing 2kg of a coarse weanling ration.

wiggy123

depending on quality of grass, also if weather stays as is + good shelter field.. they should do good

cacs

wiggy123 wrote: »

depending on quality of grass, also if weather stays as is + good shelter field.. they should do good

Might be better to let the cows clean it off

Timmaay

If the grass is there and ground conditions OK outside absolutely any day of the year! Shelter of say a good thick ditch about all they would need in the winter. Usually get away with leaving the maiden calves here outside most the winter and they do the finest and are happy out.

charolais0153

cathal irwin wrote: »

Might be better to let the cows clean it off

Leave them out and make the paddocks small and move them often. I wouldnt bother wirh a nut at all, only make them unsettled and poach the hell out of the field. For all the extra thrive from the concentrate it isnt worth it

148multi

cathal irwin wrote: »

Would weanlings thrive better out on good grass at the minute or would be better in on good silage and nuts.
Definitely cheaper out I know

The power will be gone out of the grass now, only fit as a maintenance diet, they will thrive better inside on good silage and nuts, But if you are keeping them until this time next year, have enough land and grass I would leave them out. You will get the benefit of it next grazing season.

Timmaay

148multi wrote: »

The power will be gone out grass now

Where are people forming this conclusion from??? If you still have grass now the odds are it was grown in sept/early Oct when it was the finest of feed, the only difference in it now is it will be lower in DM and slightly lower in sugars, but still will be pushing 80dmd, which is better than almost all silage. The only limit at the minute is how much grass you have (and if it's more economical to keep it till Feb instead), and ground conditions.

Who2

We usually out winter the smallest weanlings with 2kg of meal. They’ll be as big if not bigger in a lot of cases than the ones inside next spring. Most years our silage is 70 plus dmd and they’ll be getting 2 kg inside as well . I often envy lads with a good dry sheltered rock for out wintering.

Donald Trump

Be healthier for them out once they've a bit of shelter and enough to eat.

Unless they are poaching the ground, in which case you'll pay for it next year between lost soil condition and rough fields.

K.G.

better off out but ration will never pay you better than now with those animals.out wintered 30 weanling hiefer last year on 50kg s ration a day and grass.onlyfed 11bales silage and that was dueto snow mainly.had the run of alot of ground alright but not a mark on it.troughs were on a concret slab which helped.id say if you stocked at a weanling to the acre youd do little harm and horse the ration and you d have some yearlings.

cacs

148multi wrote: »

The power will be gone out of the grass now, only fit as a maintenance diet, they will thrive better inside on good silage and nuts, But if you are keeping them until this time next year, have enough land and grass I would leave them out. You will get the benefit of it next grazing season.

Can you explain what you mean by
“But if you are keeping them until this time next year, have enough land and grass I would You will get the benefit of it next grazing season“

cacs

cathal irwin wrote: »

Can you explain what you mean by
“But if you are keeping them until this time next year, have enough land and grass I would You will get the benefit of it next grazing season“

All I read on FJ and Teagasc is close in October for early spring grass. But when I talk to farmers they are saying graze it or it will be mostly tatch by spring which makes sense. So basically back to post I put up last week save grass now for spring or graze it. Because it might be gone to tatch with frost and snow

148multi

cathal irwin wrote: »

Can you explain what you mean by
“But if you are keeping them until this time next year, have enough land and grass I would You will get the benefit of it next grazing season“

Outwintered cattle will be heavier this time next year all other things being equal, if closing in early October for early bite, grass needs to be grazed tight.

mahoney_j

In or out don’t make any odds unless there in a cramped pen with poor ventilation etc ,weight gain and thrive is mostly about quality grub ,grass at this stage of year is worth a fraction of what it is in may/June .

_Brian

cathal irwin wrote: »

All I read on FJ and Teagasc is close in October for early spring grass. But when I talk to farmers they are saying graze it or it will be mostly tatch by spring which makes sense. So basically back to post I put up last week save grass now for spring or graze it. Because it might be gone to tatch with frost and snow

We get allot of icy wind here, high enough and exposed, 220m above sea level. We find if we try and leave grass for spring grazing it’s burned into a tatch and useless or worse it surpresses spring growth.

I says

_Brian wrote: »

We get allot of icy wind here, high enough and exposed, 220m above sea level. We find if we try and leave grass for spring grazing it’s burned into a tatch and useless or worse it surpresses spring growth.

Will get cattle here to skin the place while the weather holds,although I’ve lighter stock around the place this backend so I reckon I can get away with a months grazing yet.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Timmaay wrote: »

Where are people forming this conclusion from??? If you still have grass now the odds are it was grown in sept/early Oct when it was the finest of feed, the only difference in it now is it will be lower in DM and slightly lower in sugars, but still will be pushing 80dmd, which is better than almost all silage. The only limit at the minute is how much grass you have (and if it's more economical to keep it till Feb instead), and ground conditions.

I'd agree, Timmay, but when it's wet and cold, cattle are better off inside. When the DM of the grass drops, the cattle will have to heat the extra water in the grass up to body temperature before passing it and their energy needs to maintain temperatures rocket as well in the wet and cold before you even think about what they need for growth.


When it's dry or cold, they are probably better off outside for growth and hardiness, wet and cold, better off inside.

Dunedin

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

When it's dry or cold, they are probably better off outside for growth and hardiness, wet and cold, better off inside.

100% agree

Dunedin

mahoney_j wrote: »

In or out don’t make any odds unless there in a cramped pen with poor ventilation etc ,weight gain and thrive is mostly about quality grub ,grass at this stage of year is worth a fraction of what it is in may/June .

Outwintered cattle will thrive much better in the spring and that is where the real benefit is. But you either need a very dry winter or plenty of shelter and preferably both

mahoney_j

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

I'd agree, Timmay, but when it's wet and cold, cattle are better off inside. When the DM of the grass drops, the cattle will have to heat the extra water in the grass up to body temperature before passing it and their energy needs to maintain temperatures rocket as well in the wet and cold before you even think about what they need for growth.


When it's dry or cold, they are probably better off outside for growth and hardiness, wet and cold, better off inside.

Agree and with lower dm grass and colder temps stock will be burning more energy to eat more to compensate and keep warmer .ideally if out ,lots of shelter ,ring feeder for silage and troughs for meal ,and your making ****e of parts of fields in wet weather.

Mooooo

They can do well in a hard dry winter or sheltered dry field, but having spent the last hour chasing calves around the place there's a lot to be said for having the gate closed in the shed and knowing they are where you left em!

Dunedin

Mooooo wrote: »

They can do well in a hard dry winter or sheltered dry field, but having spent the last hour chasing calves around the place there's a lot to be said for having the gate closed in the shed and knowing they are where you left em!

And to be honest, that’s about the size of it. I’ve had a handful out the past couple of winters cos I hadn’t enough room inside and jayus the amount of work they caused. Had them in a small field to save them ploughing the whole place and between bringing out a bale of silage in the muck and scutter and them breaking out cos the ditches get some bare, it was nearly all me Saturday gone with.

Looking forward to all in this winter.......

Timmaay

mahoney_j wrote: »

Agree and with lower dm grass and colder temps stock will be burning more energy to eat more to compensate and keep warmer .ideally if out ,lots of shelter ,ring feeder for silage and troughs for meal ,and your making ****e of parts of fields in wet weather.

I've got on very well with the maidens here last 2 winters, I stop feeding meal in Nov, move them between paddocks every week or so (they are still on the milking block but usually across the road), only had to house for a month each year (all of March this year, which I never expected). I got too many maidens to get away with that this year again, so will house the bigger and leave out the smaller who I want to make the biggest weight gain.