Tips for Raising Grass Fed Cattle

Raising cattle for beef is not a simple task and it involves providing safe, healthy, and balanced diet throughout all stages of the life of cattle.  Grass fed beef is recommended for consumption since it does not have negative health effects on humans.  However, certified supplements can be fed to ensure all year round productivity.  The quantity of feed depends on age, weight, prevailing season, and the purpose for which you are raising the cattle.

How to feed calves

A calf should be allowed to suckle four to five times a day for during the first week after birth.  Sufficient colostrum remains an essential health element to help the calf fight common diseases that affect calves during their early days.

When the calves are six weeks old, they can be fed on grass or hay, and they can do without milk.  It is normal that your calf may not touch concentrated feed for the first days of being introduced.  However, over time, they will develop interest and want to be fed more.

Weaning

For calves meant for production of beef, weaning should be done at 6-10 months when they attain the weight of between 400-650 pounds.  At this time, beef calves can be fed grass.  During the initial days after weaning, you may want to introduce small amounts of highly concentrated feeds.  Usually farmers will begin by feeding their calves on 115g of concentrated feed a day and slowly increase it to 1.3-1.5 kg when they are eight weeks old.

When your cattle are mature, you need to move them to feedlots or feed yards where they spend about 6 months.  You should have the right hay feeders to help maximize the use of hay.  Experts recommend round bale feeders that are known to reduce waste and maximize feed use especially during the winter.

Fattening bullocks

You will need to introduce beef finishing pencils when your livestock is twelve weeks of age.  Keeping the feeding normal and balanced can help your calves to fatten very fast until they are 12 months of age.  You can increase the rations steadily to the maximum weight that you want them to achieve. However, ensure that your carcass is well fleshed instead of being over fattened.  Your grass fed beef cattle may be ready at 350-450kg, a weight that can be achieved at 18 months.