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From: Dwayne
Category: Cattle
Date: 29 Jul 2008
Time: 12:37:36 -0500
For feeding stock or calves on summer pasture, would a molasses-based 20% protein liquid supplement be acceptable in a grass-fed program?
From: Anibal J. Pordomingo
Category: Cattle
Date: 04 Mar 2006
Time: 19:37:09 -0800
Low-frame and early maturity are the two main contributions from sires, in a grass-fed finishing systems based on cows that were not conceived to produce offspring for that purpose. Low-lines are not dwarfs and seem to work well. We do not have them in Argentina, but we start with ha different cow size. Do not doubt about trying them. If you are concerned about it, you may want to try a terminal cross also with another breed (South Devon, low-frame Shorthorns or proper Herefords) also. At home, the black boldy cross is the cross, against which we compare other crosses. If your cows are big and come from late maturing breeds, I would not hesitate to try the low-line Angus or Hereford. Always, however, keep a control cross with other beef breed. You need something to compare to and the line breed should not be the only one to have. In my, opinion, we should not need to go to frame 1 cattle, if the cows and bulls stay in frames 3 to 4. I find wide and short legged, deepchested, wide back Herefords really interesting. Shopping out there you may also find very interesting beefy type, deep, wide and short, dense legged Shorthorns. This breed has a reputation of tender beef. In my experience, a terminal cross with these breeds can improve maturity and marbling rates, without giving up size of muscle and carcass yields. These animals are very flexible in being finished at light weights but do not over-fatten at heavier weights (on grass).