Stocker Steve wrote:Boot Jack Bulls wrote:I avoid any program that thinks a TMR is the way to bring up bulls and refuse to buy bulls put through "tests". I think both cases push young bulls way too hard and ruin them.
What issues would you expect with a bull that was pushed too hard?
One of the biggest issues I have run into is bulls being pushed on DDG. I know I'm gonna catch some flack for this, but I do not and will not ever again feed my cattle DDG. In my experience, it runs there ability to convert forage. Before anyone jumps me, No I do not have any studies or research to back this up. Just years of pushing show steers and young bulls for fast gain and quick development. I have found that they do well on DDG for so long, then can't survive on pasture or just good hay through the winter. I also avoid ones pushed on corn. As others have pointed out, it causes fat deposits in the most unhelpful of places! I have not seen the stress on joints and feet others mentioned with pushing young stock, but I also haven't kept any of the ones I bought that had been pushed around long enough to really find out. In most of these cases, they weed themselves out the first winter.
I currently have 5 yearling (just yearling) bulls in development. They are all paternal brothers. One is red Angus X black Angus, one is a black Limflex and 3 are red Limflex. They are all slightly different in there phenotype and performance (100% intended). They were pulled of the cows a touch late (we had a massive snow storm in the middle of April and I fed the last hay on June 1!). They we put on a custom developer ration through the summer, and are now on pasture with about 5 pounds of cracked corn per head bucket fed daily (they are each about 1000 pounds). They will be one good hay through the winter, and corn supplement as necessary to maintain about a 6 BCS. Come spring (and a minimum of 60 days before BSEs are done), they will get no more feed for the rest of their days. At that point, if they can't make it on good hay/ pasture, they do not stay in my program! This has worked for me for several years now, to ensure our Limousin and Angus bulls grow well, but also have some longevity.