Finishing Dexter Beef - Give concentrates or not?

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:12 pm

Can we have a few of your ideas about feeding our steer please?

It is a slightly unusual situation, he has been a bit of a pain since he arrived with us, always a little inclined to be stroppy with us but after some advice from Margaret, (Wagra), he now largely leaves us alone, although he has still been aggressive with the other cattle on a daily basis, most of which are larger than him. The last straw was when he took to chasing the calf almost non stop, the steer is now in a field on his own!

So – he is going in the freezer ASAP, before we house which should be the end of October. He is 15 months now and we want to keep him alone, which doesn’t seem to bother him a jot. We are aware that the whole idea of Dexters is beef from grass but wondered in this particular case, is it worth giving something extra to get a bigger or better animal, as he won't be more than 21 months at slaughter?

Stephanie

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:20 pm

I have finished them both ways, intensive stuff them full of cake, and only grass and hay. Taste and texture I think the grass has it, but the intensive finished stuff was extremely good too. When one, who had had a big amount of beef finishing cake went to local butcher, noted grouch and always moaning to farmers about lack of quality in local cattle, he said that he was perfectly finished. From memory he was 21 months (the steer, not the butcher)

In view of the need for speed in this case I would go for the stuff him with cake option and he will be ready several months sooner.

Duncan

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:59 pm

Thanks Duncan,

About half the quantity we would give a bigger breed I take it?

Stephanie

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:53 pm

I wonder why he is such a pain? Nature or nurture? Because it seems such unusual behaviour. But I quite agree the freezer ASAP seems the best place for him.

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:15 pm

Sylvia I think he is just a one off bad egg, I hope never to get another like him.

I can't remember having any particular trouble with steers in the past but we had such big bunches that they possibly couldn't get so full of themselves with so many others to compete with. If only I had a nice big bunch of almost fit Friesian steers here now - that would give him something to think about - I would like to see him try bullying that lot!

All the others, most of which came from the same place have wonderful temperaments, although they weren't handled much before they came here, they were all naturally very nice natured and soon became hand tame in a nice gentle way. Including our young bull who is of a simialr age to the steer and is also very patient with the calf. The steer and the bull lived together and were treated exactly the same until now.

One problem solved anyway - I was worried that as we had so few I would become fond of him and feel upset about him going - no chance!!!

Stephanie :D

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:03 am

Freezer sounds the best place. I have a very flighty heifer, not aggressive just impossible to handle and somewhat of a danger to me and herself. During TB testing and BT vaccinations she's been a nightmare. On three separate occasions she broke through a fence, leapt out of my crush and on another occasion broke the gate on my crush. I bought her last November and she wasn't one of my better buys. So once she's calved and it's weaned she's heading for the freezer. I couldn't resell such an animal. If the calf inherits this temperament he/she will be heading for the same place too.

Colin

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:13 am

Stephanie

If you just give him your best hay or haylage ad lib and give him a top up of hard feed every day, he should finish reasonably. I have finished at that age on grass/clover and the meat was fine. If you can leave him a little longer then that would be good. If you want to feed hard feed and retain all the benefits of grass-fed, then if you can find feed with a good level of flax in it (linseed?), then that does the trick. I tried to find such feed and gave up after not trying too hard because I don't need it. Apparently hard feed based on flax/linseed is even better than grass according to research done by the European Healthy Beef Project. Or if you have or can get hay/silage with a high clover content, that'll finish him nicely and give an added flavour that we like.

Edited By Broomcroft on 1215152805

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:28 am

Hi Clive,

We used to give our youngstock linseed flake but it was quite hard to get hold of -wonderful for their coats as well. I shall ask around. We have good grass with plenty of clover with it.

Hi Colin,

If your heifer hasn't calved yet you may be lucky and find her temperament calms down totally after she calves. We had a Friesian heifer once that was just like you describe and after calving was just as placid as all the others. Hope you are lucky.

Stephanie

Edited By Saffy on 1215160138

monica waltho · Post by **monica waltho** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:22 pm

Hi Saffy,
Has he been properly castrated? We bought an animal this year that had supposedly been rubber ringed but unfortunately they missed one testicle so we had to get the vet to cut it out, he was not nasty but he was certainly capable of service.

monica waltho · Post by **monica waltho** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:23 pm

Hi Saffy,
Has he been properly castrated? We bought an animal this year that had supposedly been rubber ringed but unfortunately they missed one testicle so we had to get the vet to cut it out, he was not nasty but he was certainly capable of service.

wagra · Post by **wagra** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:24 am

Given the history of this particular steer, it is more likely that he has a megalomania problem associated with herd dynamics. He could be a rig, but that does not explain his aggressive/defensive behaviour.

When Palm Chat died, nobody, neither bovine nor human, challenged his ascendency into the vacancy at the top.

This fellow had assumed the control role well before anyone knew there was a problem brewing. Also, he was caught stealing milk from the calf's mother, which would be why he was chasing the calf off.

1/ Humans must assume the role of pack leaders, herd boss.
2/ If at risk, carry a cane or stockwhip as a deterrent.
3/ Use the whip effectively if you have to, and you most likely will never have to use it again.
4/ After weaning, seperate the genders.
5/ Eat the calf sooner rather than later if it gives you grief.

Margaret.

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:18 am

Five golden rules of stockmanship, Margaret.

All anyone needs to know really, but I will comment on No1. Assume the role of pack leader.

Because I think the temperament of the herd mirrors that of the leader so a quietly assertive leader gets a quiet, well mannered herd. The leader who shouts, pushes and pokes does not. Unfortunately if you buy in an animal who doesn't want to or can't conform then massive patience or the freezer are the only 2 options.

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:27 am

Hi Monica,

When the vet was here for something else he checked for us and he has been properly castrated and he doesn't seem interested in the cows in a bull like way but he just likes to beat them up!

He has just been a rat bag!!! Also to be fair they are an intelligent breed and he is definately the most intelligent of mine by a stride and I think all his problems start with a wicked streak and thinking too much!!!

Last Autumn when we turned 3 youngsters including him in with 3 weaned lambs, it was he that was delighted to see that I had supplied the lambs for hunting practice and the lambs got chased. The other 2 Dexters joined in but stopped after a bit they weren't at all keen, if they had been like the steer I think I would have had 3 very bedraggled, sad little lambs by the time I had seperated them. He was like a sheepdog around them, very accurate and only stopped because it was no fun by himself and there was lots of grass to eat but you could see the intelligence in him as he looked from lambs to his mates and worked out distances and when to turn.

So it is either freezer I suppose or - " One woman and her Steer" - no it doesn't have the right ring to it and he doesn't take commands well, so it will have to be the freezer! :D

He is a nice looking boy - pic below and doesn't seem to mind being on his own at all.

Stephanie

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:22 pm

Yes Colin, I'll agree with Saffy. We had a wild heifer who could jump fences like a pony. After three calves, her temperament is quite acceptable. She even behaves in the yards and cattle race. So wait and see how she goes.

Saffy, intelligence misused is indeed a pain in the neck. At least you have a solution available.