Bulls-record holders: the largest bull in the world. Slaughter yield of cattle meat

By regularly monitoring the weight of cattle and comparing it with the norm, the farmer will be able to adjust the diet of the animal or the conditions of its maintenance in time. In today's article, you will learn how to determine the weight of an animal using measurements.

There are several classifications for the weight of cattle. According to one of the most popular, there are 4 weight categories for cows:

• selective: 450-500 kg;
• I class: from 400 to 450 kg;
• II class: from 380 to 400 kg;
• III class: from 300 to 380 kg.

These figures may vary depending on whether the animal belongs to the meat or dairy type. For example, Hereford beef cows can weigh up to 900 kg, and bulls can weigh up to 1.5 tons.

Tracking the weight gain of an animal, it is better to check it with the development table for a particular breed.

How to determine the weight of a calf

For normal care of young animals, it is important to regularly monitor how much each calf weighs. Lack of weight may indicate the disease of the animal. If the weight gain is too low in all young animals, the cause may be a lack of important micronutrients in the diet, lack of maintenance or stress.

The average weight of newborn calves is 40 kg (7-9% of the mother's weight). Since they grow quickly, it is recommended to take measurements every 10-14 days. At one month, each calf should weigh on average twice as much as at birth. Again, this figure largely depends on the precocity of the breed.

At 6-8 months, young animals are transferred to adult feed. After that, it is advisable to carry out measurements once a month.

The easiest way is to use the Calf Measurement Chart to determine the weight. To get a result with its help, you need to measure the length of the calf's body and the girth of his chest behind the shoulder blades with a tape measure. At the intersection of these indicators in the table, there will be an approximate current mass.

How to determine the weight of a cow

To determine the mass of adults, there are several methods based on body measurements. Please note that chest girth is always measured behind the shoulder blades. When you measure, the animal should stand upright with its limbs parallel.

You can determine how much a bull weighs using a simple formula. With a tape measure, measure the length of the body from the withers to the beginning of the tail and chest girth. Then you need to multiply these numbers and divide the result by 100. The resulting number is multiplied by the correction factor of the breed (for dairy varieties it is 2, for universal and meat varieties - 2.5). Moreover, if the fatness of an individual is higher than usual, another 5-10% is added to the obtained value, if it is lower, the same amount is subtracted.

To find out how much a cow weighs, the Klüver-Strauch method is also used. As with calculating the weight of calves, it will require a special table. In this case, the chest girth and oblique body length are measured, that is, the distance from the shoulder blade to the back of the thigh. At the intersection of the obtained values, the table will indicate approximate weight animal.

A similar table exists specifically for calculating the weight of representatives of black-and-white breeds. To use it, measure the girths of the chest and belly at the widest point.

Finally, a regression equation can be used to calculate the cow's weight. To do this, first measure the circumference of the chest. This number is denoted by X, the desired value of the mass of the animal is Y.

• if X is within 170-180 cm, then Y \u003d X × 5.3 - 507;
• if X is within 181-191 cm, then Y \u003d X × 5.3 - 486;
• if X is 192 cm or more, then Y \u003d X × 5.3 - 465.

Of course, none of these systems can give an accurate result. In some cases, the error may be 10-20 kg. Therefore, if it is not possible to weigh the animal on a real scale, for the accuracy of the calculations it is advisable to use several methods and then compare the results.

Output meat weight

Of course, the live weight of a bull or cow is always much greater than the output of meat and offal suitable for food. This indicator largely depends on the variety - sometimes you can get only 40% of meat after slaughter from dairy breeds, and up to 80% or even more from meat breeds. On average, it is believed that if the cow weighed less than 500 kg, then the meat yield will be 60-65%, if more, then 70-75%.

It is also possible to determine in advance how much this or that organ weighs in each individual.

Of the by-products, the liver is especially valued. Most often, its mass reaches 1-1.5% of total weight, that is, an average of 6 kg for the female and 9 kg for the male. Another delicacy product is tongue. Weight depends on the age and sex of the individual, the maximum weight is 2.5 kg with a length of 35 cm. A popular product is beef heart, its weight ranges from 2-2.5 kg. Stomach - from 15 to 30 kg. The brain - from 350 to 400 g, and the head completely - from 15 to 25 kg. The udder is considered by many to be a rather exotic product, but dishes from it are widespread in a number of areas. In dairy cows, this organ weighs up to 30 kg, in meat and dairy cows - about 20 kg, in meat - 15 kg.

The front leg is usually divided into two parts. The lower one, that is, the shank or shank, on average, tightens by 10-15 kg. Upper (shoulder blade) - 25-40 kg. The shank of the hind leg weighs 15-20 kg, the rump ( top part) - 35-50 kg. The mass of the skin of an adult cow is 40-45 kg, a bull - 70-80 kg. If it is quite thick, you can make shoes or leather goods from it.

It is very important for farmers to know the weight of a cow in different ages. This indicator is of particular importance when fattening animals. The higher it is, the more meat can be sold. The body weight of cattle depends on various factors, including from the breed, its change is also influenced by the conditions of keeping and the diet of animals.

How much does a calf weigh at birth?

Farmers know that newborn calves weigh an average of about 40 kg. This value is indicative, it depends on the sex of the animal, the breed and the state of health of the cow mother. It is considered normal if the weight of the calf at birth is 8-10% of the weight of the cow that gave birth to it.

Attention! Gobies are born larger and weigh 38-42 kg, while females are smaller.

In the first month of life, the body weight of calves increases by 1.5 times. At this time, it is very important to control how young animals develop and grow. Significant downward deviations of indicators may indicate health pathologies.

Average weight of an adult cow

How much a cow weighs on average depends on the breed, conditions of keeping and feeding. The mass of representatives of the same breed line at the same age can vary greatly. For example, cows belonging to the selective weight category weigh 450-500 kg, and individuals of the first class - 400-450.

The average weight of a cow of meat and dairy productivity, receiving good nutrition, is 350-450 kg. The body weight index of two-year-old meat cows often reaches 600 kg. Adult bulls gain from 500 to 800 kg, and some individuals - 1000 or more kilograms.

Dependence of weight on breed and direction of productivity

Belonging to a particular breed plays a decisive role in how much a cow will weigh as an adult. Information about the physique and dimensions of animals is inherited. According to the type of productivity, breeds of cows are divided into 3 groups:

• dairy;
• meat;
• meat and dairy.

Dairy cow

Cows of dairy breeds are characterized by a developed udder. They provide farmers with high milk yield throughout the lactation period. Their diet contains more green fodder and hay.

Potatoes, which contribute to the growth of muscle and fat mass, are excluded from the cows' menu, since starchy substances cause blockage of the milk ducts. Dairy cows are not prone to a rapid increase in body weight, since most of the nutrients are consumed by lactation. The average weight of a dairy cow is 360-500 kg.

Attention! Holstein breed is considered the largest of the dairy. The average body weight of an adult female is 650 kg, and that of a bull is 900-1000 kg.

Beef cows

Animals assigned to this group are distinguished by the ability to grow rapidly and increase body weight. Meat beef has a pleasant taste and tender texture. For high-quality fattening, farmers make up a certain diet for cattle, which includes:

• cereal crops;
• beans;
• vegetables and root crops;
• hay and fresh herbs.

Attention! An important role for proper metabolism is played by walking in the fresh air. Cows of the meat direction spend on the pasture for 10-12 hours daily.

The weight of cattle reaches its maximum mark at the age of two. There is no longer any point in fattening animals, they are sent to slaughter. The weight of a meat cow is 650-800 kg. There are record holders in this category of cattle, for example, the Hereford breed, which is distinguished by a longer body. At the age of 1.5-2 years, the body weight of a female reaches 900 kg, and a bull - 1200-1400 kg.

Meat and dairy cow

Rural residents and owners of small farms prefer to breed universal breeds of cattle for meat and dairy. The average weight of such animals varies between 450-700 kg. They depend on the quality of fattening, livestock conditions and other factors.

Influence of other factors on weight gain

In addition to belonging to a certain direction of productivity and breed, the weight of a cow depends on other factors:

• health conditions;
• conditions of keeping and feeding;
• age and gender.

Young growth grows quickly and develops properly when kept in comfortable conditions. In winter, the barn should be warm and dry, then the animals will not waste energy on heating their bodies. Do not allow the accumulation of stale air in the room, supersaturated with hydrogen sulfide and ammonia vapors. In such conditions, cows get sick more often, which means that their average daily weight gain will be minimal.

The correct preparation of the diet of cattle is the primary task of the farmer. Young animals should receive not only hay, but also the norm of succulent feed and concentrates. Vitamin and mineral supplements are also included in the daily diet of calves.

stressful situations

Cattle do not tolerate stressful situations such as long-term transportation. Farmers are advised to avoid transporting cows long distances shortly before slaughter, as they lose weight quickly.

Attention! Being under stress for a long time, the animal can lose up to 20% of its weight.

Prolonged exposure to negative factors causes a deterioration in the general condition of the animal, leading to fluid loss. As a result, not only the slaughter yield decreases, but also the quality of the meat - it becomes tough.

Age

From birth to 6 months, calves grow very quickly. At the age of one year, the weight of the heifer is 85-90% of the mass adult. Only by the age of 2, this figure reaches its maximum mark, provided that the animals are properly fed. It also matters how strong an individual's immunity is. If a bull or heifer suffers an infectious disease, this factor will certainly lead to a slowdown in muscle mass growth.

The heaviest bulls in history

The undefeated champion in weight was a bull who lived in the last century named Dobryak Donetto. He was born in Switzerland and weighed 1 ton 740 kg. It was truly a huge representative of the porcelain breed. So far, no one has been able to beat his record.

Later, a goby named Chili of the Freesian breed from England also became famous. Every year, his body weight increased by an average of 100 kg. When he was 10 years old, Chili weighed 1 ton 300 kg. Another contender for the title of champion belongs to the same breed as Chili, his name is Trigger. It is simply huge - the height at the withers is 1.96 m, and the length of the body has reached 4.3 m. The bull weighs 1 ton 200 kg.

The heaviest bull today is Field Marshal, he belongs to the Charolais breed. He comes from the English province. The growth of the bull reached 1.9 m, and the weight is 1 ton 700 kg. Despite its size, it seems cute, and its owner assures that the animal has a good disposition.

The weight of a cow is a key indicator for a farmer. Based on it, you can find out whether the animal is healthy, whether it develops correctly, whether its diet needs to be corrected. It is important to know the average weight of cattle for different breeds and age categories and use them to monitor the condition of your livestock.

Wanting to purchase healthy livestock, the buyer wants to get as much information about the animals as possible. One of the most important indicators confirming the quality of the product is the weight of cattle, since it is directly related to the health of a cow, bull or calf, and will also affect their productivity and meat yield in the future.

The weight of cattle (cattle) carries a lot of information for livestock representatives. So, knowing the body weight of an animal, we can say about its physical condition, as well as about growth and development.

Data on how much a cow or bull weighs is necessary for calculating and compiling a diet, vaccination doses.

Did you know? The intestines of a cow make up 30% of its weight.

On the standard weight cattle affect her:

• age;
• breed;

In animal husbandry, it is customary to distinguish the following categories of cattle mass:

• selected- weight is within 450-500 kg;
• first grade- weight up to 450 kg;
• second grade- the weight of the cattle is within 400 kg;
• third grade- 300 kg.

If the average animal weight is significantly different with an allowable error of 30 kg for an adult, then this may indicate an improper diet and diet, the presence of diseases.

Bull

The average weight of a bull should be one and a half times the weight of a cow, which is approximately 700-800 kg, while in an adult bull of a large meat breed, this figure can reach a ton and even exceed this value, amounting to 1200 kg.
cows

The average heifer can weigh about 350 kg, but no less if it does not belong to small breeds.

Meat cows can weigh up to 700 kg if they are over two years old and kept in good conditions.

calf

At birth, the weight of the calf should be slightly less than 10% of the body weight of the mother, which is an average of 40 kg. It can vary and depend on the weight and breed of the baby's parents.

Calves grow rapidly, just like newborns, they should be regularly weighed in order to understand how much they are gaining, whether everything is in order with health and whether there is a need to introduce changes in the diet of a young bull or cow.
At the age of 1 month, the weight of the calf should increase by at least 10 kg, on average they gain about 30 kg, that is, they double their birth rates. At the age of six months, he is transferred to adult food and less often, but always once a month, weight measurements are taken.

How does the weight of cattle differ depending on the breed

Specialists involved in cattle breeding and selection identify about a thousand breeds of cows all over the world. However, all of them are usually divided into three main types, based on their purpose in the economy:

• dairy;
• meat;
• meat and dairy.

Dairy

A distinctive feature of the products of dairy cows can be called:

• milk with high fat content;
• less nutritious meat.

Among the livestock of this species, the most popular breeds in our region are:

Meat

Characterizing cattle of this species, we can name such distinctive features, as:

• fast weight gain;
• meat over High Quality due to the special development of muscles;
• more refined taste.

• . An adult cow can be 500-600 kg of weight, and a bull - 800-1100 g. Meat yield - 53-65%, less often 70%;
  
• . Cows also gain 500-600 kg of weight, and bulls are slightly smaller - about 800 kg. Product yield - 60%;
  
• . An adult bull gains 1200 kg, and a heifer - 800 kg, despite the fact that they have a lot of meat, but not much fat, as well as a large yield of meat products;
  
• . They are extremely unpretentious in nutrition, since they eat any vegetation, while reaching 550 kg at 16 months. In addition, the skin of this breed is used in the manufacture of shoes;
  
• Znamenovskaya. Possesses more miniature forms, since a cow of this breed will weigh a maximum of 550 kg, and a bull - 700 kg. Leather is also used to make shoes and bags.

  Representatives of this species have a strong body and are universally used both for milk production and for meat products.

  They produce more meat than dairy and more milk than meat. The average weight is in the range of 550-900 kg, depending on the gender.

  Did you know? Cows live an average of twenty years, although there are also centenarians. Bulls live less, fifteen years.

  Meat and dairy breeds of KRG, which are popular among livestock breeders, are:

  • Brown Carpathian;
  • Lebedinskaya;
  • Alatau;
  • Red Gorbatovskaya;
  • Yurinskaya;
  • Shvitskaya;
  • Red Tambov;
  • Yorkshire;
  • Caucasian brown;
  • Simmental.
  
  Simmental

  What determines the weight of cattle

  The weight of bred livestock directly depends on the conditions of its maintenance, as well as on the nutrition provided by the livestock breeder. There are also recommendations for breeding and care, depending on the breed and type of cow.

  So, for example, meat-type cows are not required, and even to a certain extent, long and exhausting grazing is contraindicated, since they can lose their own weight. They are advised to grow in a stall.

  Important! Environment, diet and diet, climate and housing conditions in the complex affect the health and weight gain of livestock.

  When organizing a barn for breeding cattle, one should take into account the importance of such aspects as:

  • temperature regime. The room should not be cooler than +10 °C, if it is not cold content, for adult cattle and +15 °C for calves;
  • indoor humidity;
  • good lighting;
  • gas saturation;
  • No noise, calm environment.

  It is worth taking care of the pasture. Its use makes the breeding process less costly, while the cow's body can fully develop, her movements are not constrained, she breathes fresh air bathes in sunshine. Most beneficial effect walking in the pasture has for dairy and meat-and-dairy cows.
  

  Animal feeding

  Properly organized feeding should be of high quality. It includes:

  • vegetable feed: succulent (grass, silage, root crops), coarse (hay, straw), concentrated (technical waste, grain);
  • animals;
  • chemical and microbiological synthesis;
  • compound feed and feed mixtures;
  • vitamin and mineral supplements.

One of the factors that affects the weight of the young and what gain he gains in a year is the breed. Meat breeds have a large muscle mass, and their weight is ahead.

What determines the mass of the bull and its weight is presented below.

The mass of animals is a great carrier of the necessary information for a specialist. According to the weight of the cattle, he will determine the physical condition of the animal and draw up the necessary feeding ration, as well as calculate the vaccination doses. There are certain standards for determining weight. This is the age, sex of the animal and breed. Depending on the weight of the cattle is divided into categories:

• the highest grade, weight within 450 - 500 kg
• first grade, weight up to 450 kg
• second grade, weight up to 400 kg
• third grade, weight up to 300 kg

If a average value animal weight varies greatly with a tolerance of 30 kg for an adult livestock, this means poor care, feeding and the presence of diseases in livestock.

The average weight of a bull exceeds its mass by 1.5 times. With an average weight of a cow of 750 - 800 kg, the weight of a bull will be 1200 - 1500 kg. The average weight of a young cow should not be less than 350 kg. The weight of a two or three year old cow of meat breed, if it has good conditions content, reaches up to 700 kg and above. The weight of the calf at calving should be on average about 10% of the weight of the cow. This value is 30 - 40 kg, depending on the breed and weight of the parents, as well as the sex of the calf.

Young animals grow quickly and gain weight if there are no health problems. It is recommended to weigh animals 2-3 times a month in order to determine in detail for each calf how much a bull or heifer weighs, to monitor their growth and development.

By the age of one month, the weight increases by an average of 10 kg. By six months of life, the mass of young animals is 60-75 kg and they are transferred to adult content. Weighing should be done once a month. By the age of 1, the bull's weight increases to 250 - 400 kg.

The effect of breed on weight

A huge number of breeds of cattle were bred by scientists - breeders, but all breeds are divided into three types:

• Dairy.
• Meat.
• Meat - dairy.

Dairy

• Hereford breed. The weight of a cow reaches 600 kg, and a bull up to 1100 kg. Meat yield at slaughter up to 70%.
• Aberdeen Angus breed. The weight of cows is up to 600 kg, and bulls are up to 800 kg. Output finished products up to 60%.
• Charolais breed. The weight of an adult individual reaches 800 kg, and gobies up to 1200 kg. Product yield up to 60%.
• Ukrainian meat breed. The weight of a 1.5-year-old cow is up to 600 kg, and that of a bull is up to 800 kg. It is unpretentious in feeding and the skin is used in industry.
• Znamenovskaya breed. The maximum weight of a cow is up to 550 kg, a bull - 700 kg. Leather is used in industry.

Meat - dairy

Animals of this species are used for meat and milk production. Their milk yield is higher than meat breeds, and the yield of meat is greater than that of dairy cows. The live weight of cows is within 550 kg, and bulls grow up to 900 kg.

Among livestock breeders, the most common breeds are:

• Brown Carpathian.
• Lebedinskaya.
• Alatau.
• Red Gorbatovskaya.
• Yurinskaya.
• Red Tambov.
• Swiss breed and others.

Factors affecting weight

The mass of cattle is associated with the conditions of detention and care, as well as the feeding ration. The breed of animals is also important. dairy breeds require a long time to be on the pasture, and individuals of meat species are recommended to be kept in a stall or paddock.

If they are kept on grazing for a long time and driven a certain distance, they will lose weight.

Conditions of detention

When building or reconstructing another building for a barn for cows, a number of requirements must be taken into account:

The diet should be balanced.

It must include:

• Coarse and succulent food of plant origin. Roughage includes hay and straw. Succulent fodder should include silage, haylage, fodder beet, potato.
• Concentrates, which include grain, cake, bran and others.
• Bone meal, animal feed.
• Vitamins and mineral supplements, as well as chemical and food industry waste.

You have to stick to the diet. Cattle need to be fed 3 times a day. Grain and succulent feeds should be given in the morning and at lunchtime, while coarse feeds are better in the evening. If there are no automatic drinkers in the barn, it is necessary to monitor the presence of water in the water tank. Water for drinking should be clean, free of impurities and odor.

When growing bulls for fattening, their diet differs from feeding. During the day, the bull eats up to 100 kg of feed for 3 times. The duration of fattening is up to 20 months. AT recent months it is necessary to limit the mobility of the animal and put on a leash. At this time, bulls become aggressive fighters.

When feeding one bull per year, he eats about 3 quintals of hay, the same amount of feed, as well as a lot of silage straw and vegetables.

In the first year of life, with proper fattening, the weight of a bull in 1 year should increase 8 times compared to its birth weight. This is an indicator of the correct feeding of the animal.

Cows - champions: maximum and minimum weight

In the variety of cattle breeds, there are very large, and even massive breeds - giants.

Among bulls, these are such breeds as:

• Porcelain breed. The bull Donnetto weighed 1740 kg and was 190 cm tall at the withers. He lived in Switzerland in the 20th century.
• Charolais breed. Bull Field Marshal, his weight is 1700 kg, and his height is 190 cm. Residence England, present.
• Freesian breed. Bull of Chile, its mass is 1300 kg. Habitat Britain, our time.
• Freesian breed. Bull Trigger, its weight is 1200 kg and its height is 196 cm. The length of the animal is 4.3 m.
• Podolsky breed. Bull Repp, his weight is more than 1500 kg. Place of residence Ukraine.

Among the cows it is necessary to highlight:

• A hybrid of the Holstein-Durkhman breed. Cow Mount Katahdin, her weight was 2270 kg, height 188 cm and length 3.96 cm. Life time was the beginning of the 20th century. Listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
• Chile breed. The cow weighs over 1000 kg and is 183 cm tall.
• Kazakh white-headed. The weight of the cow is 1069 kg, the year of residence is 1980.

The smallest breeds of cattle:

• Namibian ovambo. The weight of cows is 160 kg, and bulls are 225 kg.
• Anatolian, Turkey. The live weight of a cow is 95 - 275 kg, height is 100 cm.
• African Shothorns. Weight 150 - 200 kg, height 80 - 100 cm.
• In Mexico, a breed of cows was bred, whose weight is 120 - 150 kg, and their height is 80 cm.
  The smallest cow, 62 cm tall, was bred in Mexico.

The ability to determine average weight animals, the weight of the offspring and the average daily gain of livestock are among the main tasks

Kira Stoletova

Fattening bulls is one of the main tasks of a farmer who raises animals for meat. Knowing the weight of the calf by months, you can correctly calculate the diet of the cattle representative and determine the features of caring for him at all stages of growth.

Many breeders believe that the most effective period for gaining mass in bulls falls on the first few months of their life. In this period proper care becomes the basis for a strong and healthy body.

The Importance of Feeding Your Newborn Calf

The task of each farmer after the calving of cows is to drink calves with colostrum. This product is an indispensable source of vitamins and minerals that create a strong and healthy immune system from the first hours of an animal's life. His distinctive feature from ordinary milk is more high content protein, which is the basis for the formation of a strong body.

It is important to feed newborn bulls with colostrum in the first hour after calving. Every farmer must do this exactly in the first 60 minutes after birth. Any delay in watering increases the chances of bulls dying and performing poorly in the future. Such animals do not grow well and are poorly amenable to weight gain.

How to feed newborn calves

In order for the calf to grow and develop quickly, it is necessary to know about the features of its feeding. The main task is to create strong immunity, which will create the necessary conditions in order for the baby to develop faster, because during the first month of life the animal needs it most of all, therefore, from the first day of the little bull, it is necessary to feed 5-6 times a day. Special bottles with nipples are used for this. It is necessary to correctly select the diameter of the hole in them so that soldering does not cause:

• blunting of the sucking reflex;
• cheesy formations in the abomasum;
• swallowing large portions of milk.

It is best to give fresh milk to calves, although frozen milk can also be used. The main thing is that it should have a temperature of 37-38 ° C. Many livestock breeders also use combined milk from different cows for feeding. The antibodies that such a product receives create a strong infectious diseases immunity. Such methods are also welcome in the case that the mother of the calves suffers from mastitis. If a farmer doesn't know the nuances of how to feed a bull to gain weight, there will be no growth and no benefit from the calf.

The scheme of feeding calves in the first month from birth

Each newborn calf has a weight of 30-40 kg. Depending on the built diet and the characteristics of immunity, the animal receives an increase of 10-15 kg by the 30th day. But to achieve such indicators is not so easy, much depends on the farmer himself. It is important to consider the nuances of feeding, which include:

• the need to water newborn calves 5-6 times a day;
• a gradual decrease in the frequency of feeding by day 30 to 3-4 times a day;
• use of prefabricated milk;
• feeding through the nipple (each bull has its own, and after each feeding it is disinfected);
• the use of vitamin supplements;
• gradual transition to roughage.

Switching to solid food

The second month of a bull's life differs from the first by the introduction of solid food rich in proteins, fats and carbohydrates into the diet. For such purposes, starter feed is used, which is introduced into the daily menu to replace milk feeding. The weight of the calf gained during this time can be 1.5-2 times the weight at birth, but its scarring digestive system still weak, which cannot be ignored. Starter feed allows you to soften the transition to hay, grass and other foods. It contains products that will be easily digested by the stomach:

• crushed corn, barley and wheat;
• skimmed milk powder;
• meal;
• fodder yeast;
• feed fat;
• sugar and salt.

From the second month, such food becomes the main food for a young bull. All necessary for good health and active growth nutrients, the animal receives from such food. Already in the second week of using the starter feed, cicatricial digestion normalizes, so the farmer should add a small hay sack to the diet with the start of the transition to solid food. Every day its quantity increases by 150-200 g. It is equally important to add silage and haylage.

When the calf starts gaining weight quickly

Calves, whose weight by months depends on the characteristics of the diet, develop faster with a complete transition to solid food. Most often, this period begins at the end of the second or beginning of the third month. By this time, the animal organism becomes ready to digest any food and needs a large amount of protein. The weight of bulls at this age is 90-110 kg. The table shows how to feed a young bull so that he gains weight:

Males differ from females in appetite. Bulls do not need to be persuaded to eat all the food, they easily empty any container of food. In order for the calf to gain weight, it is necessary to choose the right feed, which will include a large number of protein and have a high energy value. The main reason is the decrease in the amount of milk consumed. A good substitute for it would be soy-based concentrates. Such products are rich in vegetable protein, but have one drawback: poor digestibility. Feed additives can help solve this problem. One serving of such compound feed should contain:

• 22% crushed soy;
• 20% corn;
• 23% barley;
• 30% peas;
• 5% minerals and premix.

The protein necessary for weight gain with such consumption will be useful and will completely replace the microelements contained in milk. In addition, each farmer can make such mixtures on his own, without buying expensive ready-made feed. As a result, the breeder expects a bull weight gain.

Most often, the main growth of bulls falls on the period from 6 to 12 months. This is due to a fully formed muscle mass and musculoskeletal system. In just six months, starting from this time, weight gain increases by 1.5-2 times.

Features of keeping calves from four months to a year

Cattle accustomed to solid food require a gradual increase in portions. Yes, with fourth month the mass of bulls reaches 140 kg and has a daily increase of 400-500 g. This result is achieved simply: it is enough to increase the mass of compound feed by 1-1.5 kg daily. Constant access to water is also important - even for pasture walking, the farmer should choose places near fresh water sources.

During the summer, walks in the sun are limited to two hours. In winter - 20-30 minutes. The best place is near the barn, on a site cleared of snow and ice. A platform under a specially equipped canopy is also suitable.

From the seventh month, bulls are completely transferred to three meals a day. During this period they muscle mass fully prepared to grow and develop. If from the moment of birth a young bull has been eating properly, then by the age of 7 months it should weigh up to 200 kg, and those individuals that weigh less than 150 kg require fattening. You can quickly gain weight by increasing portions of feeding. You also need to increase the dose of vitamins and minerals.

Basic rules for fattening bulls

The low weight of the calf is an indicator of errors in the nutrition and maintenance of the animal. If other livestock peers weigh more, and the farmer has a desire to correct this problem, you should take care of the animal's diet - feeding and fattening processes.

Especially often such methods are used a few months before the slaughter of a bull. Some farmers are against the use of foraging (eating grass from pastures) due to the low energy value of consuming such food, which cannot be said about keeping in a stall and abundant feeding with compound feed (fattening).

Types of fattening

In order for the bull to gain weight, one of the types of fattening is used for subsequent slaughter and butchering of the carcass:

• Short type. Duration - 1-3 months. Used for large cattle that do not require a large increase in weight. Most suitable age the beginning of the procedure - 1.5 years.
• Medium type. Feeding a bull so that he gains weight using this method begins at 1.3-1.6 years. The duration of fattening is 4-7 months. The effect is an increase in weight by 100-150 kg.
• Long term feeding. Takes 8 to 12 months of moderate feeding. The effect is weight gain up to 350 kg.

The choice of fattening variety depends on how much the representatives of cattle weigh at the age of 17 to 19 months. The need for such a procedure is also determined because of the goal itself, because calves are raised to gain meat mass and make a profit from it.

Fundamental rules

Fattening a bull for slaughter is carried out taking into account such rules as:

• Minimal physical activity of living creatures. The less the bull moves, the faster it will gain mass.
• Abundant consumption of feed rich in proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Compound feed, fresh grass, hay, food waste - everything will do. The main thing is to give the animal food in large portions.
• Addition of beer grains, bards and vitamins to the diet. The healthier the animal, the faster its weight gain.

In order for a calf or an adult bull to gain weight, it is closed in a stall for 3-4 months. During this period, he should gain 50-100 kg. Sometimes the length of time this bull is kept is increased to 8 months and even up to one year in order to obtain a higher carcass weight. The well-known phrase “feed for slaughter”, and it fully characterizes the fattening process, because for a period of time of 12 months, a healthy one should have received an increase in weight by 200-250 kg.

When is the slaughter

When raising cows, each farmer should be guided by the demand for a particular product.

Some breeders keep cattle for milk production. Others - meat products. A farmer for keeping livestock for slaughter must do everything in his power to make the finished product tender, healthy and tasty. There are some features of this merciless, but necessary procedure guided by livestock breeders. All of them relate to the taste of meat.

To obtain soft fiber pulp, calves are slaughtered at the age of 1.3-1.5 years. Such a product has a great biological value: it is easily digested and contains a large amount of amino acids. Young beef is often used to feed the sick and children and is highly valued on the market.

Fattening bulls junior group: 41 days - 2 months

Fattening bulls: 10 days vs. 10 months

video for the "Weight Graph" section

Coarse-fibrous fatty pulp is suitable for the preparation of rich first courses. High fat content or more low quality product affects its value. If the main goal is to obtain just such beef, cattle are slaughtered at the age of 20-24 months.

Both products are in demand on the market, but they have differences in cost. For a farmer, the price of meat products is a payment for hard, long labor and money spent on caring for livestock.