How to Raise Grass-Fed Cattle
Grass-fed cattle yields the best meat because the cattle are not filled with growth hormones. Generally, grass-fed cattle lead a very stress-free life and are filled with the most nutrients. Done right, it can also be the most cost effective way to raise beef cattle. Read on to learn how to raise grass-fed cattle.
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Instructions
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Look for breeds that thrive on grass. In the Leader Call, Teddy Gentry spoke about crossing Barzona-Polled Herefords with Red Angus-Senepols to create a breed that thrived on grass.
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Provide grass and legumes.
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Supplement with plant proteins, if necessary. Cows should have 11 percent protein in their food.
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Add starch protein when the plant proteins drop during late summer.
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Give low-level antibiotics only when individual cows are ill.
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Use no growth hormones.
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Rotate your pastures so that the cattle are constantly eating fresh grass. Some farmers let their chickens into the fields where the cattle graze so the chickens can help in the fertilization process by spreading the cow manure around as the chickens search for something to eat.
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Make certain your beef cattle have plenty of water. Cows can drink 12 gallons per day. Keep that in mind when purchasing a water tank. Keeping the tank clean in the water is important.
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Be certain to provide enough grass for your beef cattle. If you want your cattle to be grass fed, you must provide the grass. Depending on where you are, the amount of acreage changes.
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Grow your own hay. You can decide to own your own equipment to cut your hay, or hire someone to cut it for you. You may find you use as much as a half ton to three quarters of a ton when fattening beef cattle.
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Comments
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how do you work out the acreage a cow needs of grass?
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wildrosebeef
Aug 01, 2010
Another article that is a bit misleading. It only seems to be referring to cattle that are being grass-FINISHED, not RAISING cattle on grass alone. I've yet to see a How-To article on here that mentions anything about raising and managing a cow-calf operation on grass and hay alone.
