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Post by wolflog on May 19, 2011 23:32:40 GMT -5
Who here processes their own Dexter Beef? Also on average how old are your steers when you process them. Is their an age or weight that you are focused on for buthchering.
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Post by copperhead on May 20, 2011 22:27:19 GMT -5
I really focus more on the age than weight. I like to process by 26 or 27 months, they are usually up to weight by that age. When they get to 24 months I figure out when I want to butcher and then feed appropriatly. I don't feed much grain, but I will supplement some creep feed and alfalfa hay if they are not to a size I want. I really like to butcher along toward the end of summer so they have been on full grass and I don't have to give any feed, but that doesn't always work out.
P.J.
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Post by Clive on May 21, 2011 14:30:14 GMT -5
I would go on the age and the finish they are showing, not weight at all. We process at 26-28 months off grass, and at that stage they will have a bouncy look and medium fat lumps either side of the tail-head. We have butchered earlier, and the meat was leaner but not as much flavour IMO, but that's personal. Shorties can finish earlier and some stockier non-shorts as well. Tall ones I take up to 30 months. Mine start to put on what I would call a proper finish at around 20-24 months. I think it's important that they don't go backwards at any time if you can avoid it. Good nutrition from day one to the last. Also, in really cold winters where we are, it's almost a waste of time trying to get a finish, just keeping them from going backwards is all we can achieve.
Good luck.
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Post by copperhead on Jun 24, 2011 21:22:59 GMT -5
I think thats why I like the spring babies, they are ready to finish after a nice summer on good grass, the fall ones are really hard to get them right. I don't like to feed one out on hay, it's just not as good, plus, I have to feed more feed or alfalfa hay, both put a lot more money in the beef.
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Post by copperhead on Jul 9, 2011 22:14:08 GMT -5
that works good, when you have "lush grass" but this year we are just chasing any grass. Thankfully, the one I had to take was ready just a couple of days after these 100 degree plus days started. I still fed him hay the last week, just to keep him from losing any weight. I have two that will go this fall and I'm praying we have rain and can get some recovery on our pastures before then. It's a struggle to keep them in any kind of condition, and I know our friends to the west and in Texas are really struggling, just to maintain. times like this I'm really glad I have my little, and very tough, Dexters.
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