Set goals and review performances of weanlings on grass regularly
How you manage them on grass should be determined by their current weight/sex/ target market.
You should set goals for each group now, and review performance regularly.
In my experience, performance should be achieved in young stock by putting a good plan in place at turn out. Depending on a good year, with good growth, in the hope that animals will do well on grass, is not a plan, however.
Initially, at turn out, the most important things to monitor are grass intake and rumen fill.
Consider future intentions for the animal groups.
¦ Bulls (continental or dairy origin) intended for finish this summer at under 16 months: a critical thing with these animals is to establish what markets are available for them at finish.
Ask your buyer what carcass weight and confirmation they require and also what the maximum age limit is. The answers to these questions will help you to set goals and establish budgets for the stock. These animals are currently 12-14 months old, and if you intend killing them at less than 16 months, then perhaps they should not go to grass at this stage.
For those being killed for the autumn market, quality grass can achieve high gains, and about 100 to 120 days before the target finish, meal will need to be introduced, either on grass or as an indoor diet. ¦ Steers or heifers for finishing at 20-24 months next winter: these cattle need to be given good quality grass throughout the grazing season, to achieve optimum frame growth. This efficient frame growth will allow you to finish them effectively once housed next winter.
¦ Suckler replacements; what do we want from these? Firstly, the breeding season in spring herds has begun, so keep these heifers in positive energy status, to achieve high conception rates. Heifers you intend to calve down next January should currently be 370kg or heavier. They must be 85-90% of mature cow weight and within two inches at the shoulder, at calving. To achieve this heifers must grow 0.75-0.8kg every day of their life, to be 600 kg plus at calving.
¦ Younger or smallermal le r animals: unfortunately, not all animals in your system will be at the desired weight or height.
This may be due to illness as calves, or being born later i n t h e c a l v i n g season. These cattle will respond very well to supple-mentation at grass, which will help them to catch up with the target groups.
Younger animals are more efficient converters of concentrates. If these animals don’t fit in to your target market with their comrades, they will either achieve a disappointing market value, or take up valuable housing space next winter.
Grass being fed to weanlings should be of excellent quality, to achieve target gains. Low quality grass has no role in getting target growths from weanlings. Excellent quality grass can play a major role in reducing overall feed costs.
Mineral Supplementation
Grass is deficient in some mineral elements. Young growing animals require minerals and vitamins to achieve target growth rates and bodily function. Supplementation of minerals to weanlings at grass is highly recommended, either by in concentrates, through mineral blocks, buckets, or a bolus. It amazes me every year how many farmers don’t give minerals to their bulling heifers on grass. This can be done with the aid of a beef mineral lick and provides essential minerals and vitamins to aid frame growth, expression of heat, and maintenance of a pregnancy.
¦ Independent dairy and beef nutrition consultant Brian Reidy, Premier Farm Nutrition, can be contacted at brian@pfn.ie
