ot:Holstein

steve_ne · Dec 14, 2009

What is a good weight to butcher at? I have two Holstein heifers that where from twins. I under stand they won"t breed or milk ever just raising them for beef cattle. They"ve been pastured for about a year. What"s a good way of really putting on the weight before taking them in?

Fordfarmer · Dec 14, 2009

If they are twin heifers, they will probably breed and milk OK. If you have a bull and a heifer twin, the heifer has a 90% or higher chance of being infertile (and therefore never milking).
My Dad raises most of my bull calves (holsteins). Most get butchered around 18-20 months. Corn silage and grain will put weight on them quicker than most anything else, but what do you have readily available and reasonably priced?

mike321 · Dec 14, 2009

Holstein steers grow best on a stuffer.

steve_ne · Dec 14, 2009

Both are bull/heifer twins. Crack corn and brome hay and some alfalfa. Thanks for the response.

RodinNS · Dec 14, 2009

If they were twin heifers they'll do just fine. If they were each born as a heifer and bull pair, then they probably won't breed though sometimes they will. Throw a bull with them and find out if you want to keep them.

IF you're just going the beef route, get them on something high in starch. Soon as possible. Barley is a good example. You could also google 'barley beef' and see what that turns up. It was once a fairly common practice with holstein steers to feed them up on a diet consisting of I think as much as 95% barley. Anyhow, the key here is to get starch in them to pour on some fat. Otherwise they'll be 1800 pounds and 3 years old before they finish and by then they won't make exceptionally good beef.

Rod

rrlund · Dec 14, 2009

As far as weight,just from a marketing perspective,if you set there at the sale barn and watch them go through,1450-1475 seems to be the optimum weight that the buyers want. Guess they probably know best. I just know it takes a whole bunch longer to GET them there than it does to finish a beef breed.

Dave from MN · Dec 14, 2009

For my Dairy steers I have been putting them on full feed and pellets at about 3 months of age. When they hit 1000-1100 pounds they go to the locker and are sold to friends that want a part of a beef. Meat is very good and tender. Ussually can get them to that weight by 11-12 months. You want meat on their bones you have to push the grain, thats what I have learned. With out the grain all you will end up is big bony Oxen looking critters that are tough.

ot:Holstein

steve_ne

Member

Fordfarmer

Well-known Member

mike321

Member

steve_ne

Member

RodinNS

Well-known Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

Dave from MN

Well-known Member

Similar threads