YOUNG BEEF CATTLE

MANAGEMENT
By
Mr. Jackson Muchiri
Department of Animal Production
University of Nairobi
YOUNG BEEF CATTLE
• These include:
• Calves from birth to weaning ( 0 – 9 months)
• Weaners – (9 – 12 months)
• Yearlings – young animals between (1 – 2 years)
Calves
• They are usually born in the open but ideally should
have a calving pen/ shed.
• At calving, monitor the dam (mother) incase she gets
complications during parturition.
• After parturition, the dam should lick the calf until it
finishes the amniotic fluid leaving the calf dry
• The calf should start suckling during the first two
hours.
• This is necessary for the young calf to obtain
colostrum from the dam
Calves cntd…
• Colostrum is high in proteins, minerals and vitamins and antibodies
required by the young calf to obtain some degree of immunity against
the local diseases.
• It is recommended to provide some kind of temporary shelter in the
first 4 weeks to protect the calves from too much sunlight, cold wind
etc.
Calves ctd…
• Beef calves are allowed to suckle their dams throughout
(day and night) from birth to weaning.
• Some dams have too much milk hence controlled suckling
should be practiced during the first 4 weeks to avoid calf
scours.
• Kept under clean conditions to avoid infestation by worms
and other parasites.
• The calves should also be provided with drinking water:
introduce slowly
• If the dams have to walk long distances to reach the
grazing lands, the calves can be separated from the dams
especially in the first 4 weeks of age
Calves ctd…
• Zebu - first 3 months sufficient milk from dams.
• From 4 – 9 months the calf is not able to attain
sufficient milk from the dam. During this time they
can feed on roughage at 1% of its body weight in form
of dry matter.
• It is common in Kenya to get at least 0.5kg ADG but
some successful beef farms in Kenya can attain 1kg
ADG.
Calves ctd…
• Weaning of beef calves is at the age of 9-12 months.
• The young beef calves must be protected from external parasites by
dipping or spraying and internal parasites by drenching (from about 3
months of age)
• Vaccinations against rinderpest, foot and mouth disease, Anthrax and
Lumpy skin diseases should be done.
Weaners
• These are calves which have just been weaned at about
150kg body weight.
• They should be weaned on to high quality pasture. But
this may not be possible in most beef producing areas.
• Should continue on supplementary feed at 1% of body
weight in dry matter
• Weigh regularly to ensure growth rate of 0.5 – 1kg ADG
• After weaning, the growth rate usually falls due to
emotional and nutritional stress. The recovery period
should be as short as possible.
Weaners
• The weaners - sold off from rangelands into the medium and high
potential areas.
• Proper handling during loading, transportation and offloading is
necessary to prevent injuries.
• If the weaners are to be put on intensive feeding, this should be
introduced gradually
Yearlings (1 – 2 yrs of age)
• Are purchased for different reasons
1. For a growing operation – these are kept in medium potential areas
under good grazing management. Fencing and the feeding must
ensure a growth rate of 0.5 - 1kg weight gain per day to gain 150kgs
and reach 300kgs. They are then sold to a finishing operation.
2. For a grass based finishing operation- May be bought and raised on
good pastures until they are sold for slaughter. This kind of beef is
called grass-fed-beef.
Yearlings cntd…
3. For a grain based finishing operation: Put on an intensive feeding
system (feedlot) – high grain/silage ration.
• Fed to gain weight rapidly and reach 400 – 500 kgs live weight within
a period of 3 – 4 months. To achieve this feedlot rations have to be
provided.
• The main components of a feedlot ration are grains provided at 3% of
body weight in dry matter to achieve the desired growth rate.
 Yearlings cntd…
• The feedlot ration are usually given ad-libitum.
• Wastage is decreased by including a certain amount of salt in
the ration which will control the intake.
• The salt can be included at the level of 20 – 30% in the grain
ration and this will regulate intake.
• They should be checked regularly for feedlot problems such as
Sub Acute Ruminal Acidosis (SARA).
 Strategic supplementation.
• Provided to the animal during the dry season to ensure that the animal does
not loose weight and the growth curve is leveled.
• This can be obtained from byproducts of breweries, cereal milling and oil
extraction factories.
• Strategic supplementation is important because it reduces the time required
for an animal to reach slaughter weight by 30% compared to animals that are
not supplemented during the dry season.