I thought you might enjoy an update on Applejack. (Or as we refer to him Applejerk)
When he arrived on January 28th, he was so thin and weak I was extremely concerned he would not be able to breed. The concern proved true. Not only did he not have the libido he needed he did not have the energy and strength to actually breed the cow.
He would fall if they mounted him and, after the first attempt with Lassie, he went off feed with exhaustion. He was sore and stiff. He had hurt his shoulder and limped. I almost called the vet at one point. Lassie came back in heat on her normal cycle.
Our focus became nutrition and building up this very thin bull. We fed a basic 12% beef ration of non GMO grain. To that we added alfalfa pellets and a energy supplement for horses that our Feed Guy recommended. He had used it on some thin cattle he had bought. We started with 10 pounds (of this custom mix) a day in conjunction with good hay given free choice. We increased the amount to 20 pounds a day which he is eating now.
There seems to be a lot of controversy over feeding grain. A lot of homesteaders do not beleive in using it in any form, we try to feed as little as we can but in this situation it takes a different approach.
For one he is a bull and we are not going to be using him for milk we drink. Second is that a simple roughage ration can build an animal up from moderatly poor condition but it cannot rebuild an emaciated animal without a great deal of time and superior quality fine stemmed hay. We had neither the time or the fine quality hay.
After the wreck with Lassie we did not let him run with the cows and kept him with two of the gentle steers. We know the cows cycles and when they were close to heat we let "Ben" heat detect to standing heat. This allowed Applejack to save energy for just breeding.
It was an adventure. Even with care Applejack got trampled by Mischeif in her "Romantic" exuberance and although he did not go off feed he was very gimpy for several days after his date with her.
He would fall if they mounted him and, after the first attempt with Lassie, he went off feed with exhaustion. He was sore and stiff. He had hurt his shoulder and limped. I almost called the vet at one point. Lassie came back in heat on her normal cycle.
Our focus became nutrition and building up this very thin bull. We fed a basic 12% beef ration of non GMO grain. To that we added alfalfa pellets and a energy supplement for horses that our Feed Guy recommended. He had used it on some thin cattle he had bought. We started with 10 pounds (of this custom mix) a day in conjunction with good hay given free choice. We increased the amount to 20 pounds a day which he is eating now.
There seems to be a lot of controversy over feeding grain. A lot of homesteaders do not beleive in using it in any form, we try to feed as little as we can but in this situation it takes a different approach.
For one he is a bull and we are not going to be using him for milk we drink. Second is that a simple roughage ration can build an animal up from moderatly poor condition but it cannot rebuild an emaciated animal without a great deal of time and superior quality fine stemmed hay. We had neither the time or the fine quality hay.
After the wreck with Lassie we did not let him run with the cows and kept him with two of the gentle steers. We know the cows cycles and when they were close to heat we let "Ben" heat detect to standing heat. This allowed Applejack to save energy for just breeding.
It was an adventure. Even with care Applejack got trampled by Mischeif in her "Romantic" exuberance and although he did not go off feed he was very gimpy for several days after his date with her.
Finally we got his condition up and when I observed him bucking and playing with "Bullwinkle" I had some hope he might settle Lassie on the third try. We kept them apart until midway through her standing heat and let nature take its course.
Then a week later Mischief came into heat. We repeated the process and lo and behold "Applejack" bred her and didn't collapse or wobble away. He kept beside her and was obviously vigorous enough to mount her several times.
Katie follows Mischief, their cycles have been three days apart for ages. By now "Applejack" thinks he's an old pro. He bred Katie and I swear was smug about it.
Lassie and Mischiel have both gone by their heat dates. Katie was due to cycle yesterday or today so we are hopeful.
Lassie is due the 4th of December.
Mischief is due The 12th of December. Katie cow will be calving about the 16th.
It has been an adventure but we should get the best Christmas presents ever.....Applejack genetics from our wonderful cows.
There are still so many things that can go wrong but we are much more hopeful.
As to our genetic opportunity...Applejack....next week he gets to go back to his real home. There are Jersey heifers waiting for him and I am sure he will do them proud.
He has come a long way. It really is amazing what time and good feed can do. He has some fine milk cows in his pedigree and I chuckle as we look to a busy December and way too much milk.
Any bets we get three bull calves?
God bless everyone and enjoy the marvel of spring.
You're right, Fiona, it is amazing what good nutrition can do, for man or beast. I would predict you will have some fine looking calves, heifers or bulls. Is there such thing as too much milk? Yes! Looks like you need to get some pigs. With all that milk, you could produce some fine pork chops.
ReplyDeleteFern
We are in process of designing a pig paddock for just that purpose👍🏼.
DeleteButter and yogurt freeze well and I really want to learn to make hard cheeses. It’s going to be exciting.
Hope, you will have fine looking calves...
ReplyDeletehave a great day
Adventure indeed! It always is with critters and I love hearing your tales. The difference is fantastic! A real credit to you two. Cattle whisperers!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you're familiar with this book, but it's why I backed off on grain for my goats - Alternative Treatments for Ruminant Animals by Dr. Paul Detloff. He mostly works with cattle and does an excellent job of explaining what too much grain can do. He's not anti-grain just limited-grain. Anyway, it contains a lot of good information and is a really good book to have on the homestead library shelves.
I agree about the pigs!
I actually have that book. Its and excellent resource. My experience with feeding show cattle with my purebred shorthorns and working at a feedlot in my mid 20's taught me one big lesson about feeding grain, The modern CAFO system is brutally flawed. Full feed of a high barley and corn ration is destructive on so many levels. Working with Applejack was a challenge of getting him enough nutrition fast enough to get his condition back yet also building strong rumen and gut health. This will sound funny but his burps small good, a sign his system is recovered. :)
DeleteI think it's great to read someone that can detect animal health by their burps, Fiona. I guess that makes both of us weird. 🙂
DeleteFern
Gosh, Fiona, all that experience to draw from. It's such a joy to see it make a difference. I love my books but it's the hands-on where it all begins to fit together.
Delete