Last few days I've noticed my bull is walking slower to the feeders and is eating slower than the cows...he's not his aggressive fast-eater self. He even moved from one spot to check for different food in another feeder (he never does that). He might just be run down from breeding all night or chasing off dogs/coyotes....I'm just not sure. Here's the list of the NEW THINGS that I have done recently (experimenting)...where I might have hurt his rumen floral. What I'm really concern with. FYI, Bull's balance is fine, he looks like he's dragging himself to the feeder, like "Do I have to come and eat?"...like it's a job for him.
1. Placed out two lick tubs....very minimal usage, appears nobody is using them, only minor usage-licks-scruffs.
2. Poured out too much molasses onto whole oats, oats won't hurt him....(realized my mistake after) I've calculated he might have gotten up to a quart of molasses. Ouch, that seems bad.
3. Alpha cubes (dry)...the cattle didn't seem to like them much, half avoided them and half ate a few slowly was a 15lbs test. Anyway, about a week later I just threw the remaining 35 lbs of alpha in for them to eat, maybe the bull ate it all (wasn't watching).
What are your expert thoughts?...I don't see any bloat, he's not foaming at the mouth, he is still eating--@65% of a cow's pace, not his normal 170%....He looks like he went through a marathon, super tired walk, head held a bit lower (not much) and even his chewing has slowed down. But he is eating. What did I do to my majestic fast running hungry bull? How do I fix him? Cut back on feed? I've been HAVING to grain them more this winter due to drought... hay being unavailable. Cows are doing ok...just my bull looks slow, weak and tired. My cattle are still grazing some green legumes and rye grass, not much there, but it's still growing. Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions.
1. Placed out two lick tubs....very minimal usage, appears nobody is using them, only minor usage-licks-scruffs.
2. Poured out too much molasses onto whole oats, oats won't hurt him....(realized my mistake after) I've calculated he might have gotten up to a quart of molasses. Ouch, that seems bad.
3. Alpha cubes (dry)...the cattle didn't seem to like them much, half avoided them and half ate a few slowly was a 15lbs test. Anyway, about a week later I just threw the remaining 35 lbs of alpha in for them to eat, maybe the bull ate it all (wasn't watching).
What are your expert thoughts?...I don't see any bloat, he's not foaming at the mouth, he is still eating--@65% of a cow's pace, not his normal 170%....He looks like he went through a marathon, super tired walk, head held a bit lower (not much) and even his chewing has slowed down. But he is eating. What did I do to my majestic fast running hungry bull? How do I fix him? Cut back on feed? I've been HAVING to grain them more this winter due to drought... hay being unavailable. Cows are doing ok...just my bull looks slow, weak and tired. My cattle are still grazing some green legumes and rye grass, not much there, but it's still growing. Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions.
