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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2013 18:06:27 GMT -5
We have noticed the horns on our near 7 month old boy ‘Anka’ has split. We haven’t seen this before and are wondering if its ‘normal’ or is he lacking in something? Anka is a fast maturing boy and very rectangle in shape. His butt is as wide as his impressive muscular shoulders. We affectionately refer to him as the ‘red brick s##t-house boy’ but now we are wondering if his early maturity means he needs something ‘more’ in his diet to help him compensate for this. He was weaned about 6 weeks ago – not by choice but because mum was giving all she had and a little bit more so for her health’s sake, we weaned. So does this mean we need to accommodate this early weaning with extras? We are still abundant in feed in the paddocks even though it is winter. It’s a wide range of native grasses. We feed treats every second day – trust me the treats are not because they need it but are fed as the “humans want too”. I have always thought horns are like finger nails – as soon as something is not right, the nails show it. Is it the same for the horns? And if so, how do we begin to fix / prevent this? Cheers Donna
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Post by tarsallat on Jun 26, 2013 6:48:03 GMT -5
Could be zinc deficiency. Does he have cracks in his feet? Your pasture doesn't look great, bit dead and bare, do you supplement with protein and minerals?
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Post by jdcarnathan on Jun 26, 2013 8:14:38 GMT -5
I second the zinc deficiency. If you have loose minerals out for free choice and not just a block that should fix it. When did this start? How old? If you do have minerals out free choice do you notice him going to it to get his fix, if not try moving it closer to your water source. They will be more apt to take advantage of it. The blocks are for the majority just a big salt block that is very hard and they dont get as much out of them. (Work great for deer around the place though )
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Post by jamboru on Jun 26, 2013 9:31:15 GMT -5
Australian native pastures are just fine for Australian native animals. Hard hooved creatures evolved somewhere else on the other side of the planet, on different types of grasses, so they most likely need supplementary fodder to provide other different nutrients. Several different types of lick blocks in the paddocks at the one time can give interesting insight into just what it is the cattle think they need. Bought-in local hay can have the same deficiencies as in a person's own pastures so where possible it can be a good idea to buy hay from out of the area. That looks like canola he is eating.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2013 17:17:51 GMT -5
Could be zinc deficiency. Does he have cracks in his feet? Your pasture doesn't look great, bit dead and bare, do you supplement with protein and minerals? No noone else has cracks or peeling of their horns - only him and no, there are no cracks in the feet. Pasture in that area isnt as good as below the property that is for sure. That area is prolific in warm seasoned grasses where down over the rise there and heading down the back areas, the cool season grasses are at their best. These guys are free to move around on 100 acres so they have the freedom to graze where they want. We have 5 different lick blocks out in four locations - none with UREA as our moos have been described as kegs-on-legs.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2013 17:27:11 GMT -5
I second the zinc deficiency. If you have loose minerals out for free choice and not just a block that should fix it. When did this start? How old? If you do have minerals out free choice do you notice him going to it to get his fix, if not try moving it closer to your water source. They will be more apt to take advantage of it. The blocks are for the majority just a big salt block that is very hard and they dont get as much out of them. (Work great for deer around the place though ) Hi Dcarnathan, no we don’t have loose minerals out only lick blocks. But will look into these. Moving to their water source could be a smallish issue – we have 4 large dams and a small creek. The moos are free to wander as they see fit. I only noticed it a couple of weeks ago. One horn is split on the front (as you can see in the pic) and the other horn is split on the backside. Anka will be 7 months in a few days. Our other boy, Bear is nearly 10 months along with Lou who is a day older than Bear; Ash is 9 months and then there is Brom who is closer to Anka at 5.5mths (Branna and Aleala are not good to use as a reference as there are nil to little horns there) and their horns are all fine, no splitting nor any peeling etc. Its just this little man’s horns. None of our moos have ever seemed interested in any of the lick blocks, but we have them there anyways. Even the tetany block was hardly touched last spring with all the new green sprouts of the warm seasoned grasses taking off. Great for deer hey?! Well maybe the little herd of 8 that has been getting around are getting into the blocks maybe………………….
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Post by rhonda on Jun 26, 2013 17:43:42 GMT -5
Could he have been sick? Wouldn't the others be lacking mineral as well?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2013 17:49:09 GMT -5
Australian native pastures are just fine for Australian native animals. Hard hooved creatures evolved somewhere else on the other side of the planet, on different types of grasses, so they most likely need supplementary fodder to provide other different nutrients. Several different types of lick blocks in the paddocks at the one time can give interesting insight into just what it is the cattle think they need. Bought-in local hay can have the same deficiencies as in a person's own pastures so where possible it can be a good idea to buy hay from out of the area. That looks like canola he is eating. Hi Jamboru I have to disagree with you on this one. We had an environmental study of the property which involved 6 visits throughout a calendar year for documenting the varying native grass species and their ability to be able to year round feed bovines. We undertook this expensive and draw out process before purchasing our moos to ensure we could sustain them year round without supplementary feeding. At the time we were considering Angus or Low Lines on a commercial basis meaning we would be fattening for market and sustaining lactating and weaning calves. We won the lotto in the fact that our property had no traces of any introduced species. We are 100% native grass and have an extensive selection of warm and cool seasoned species capable of producing high value pastures. The variety we have for all seasons is written to be of persistent and nutritive value similar to introduced species and will provide for year round green feed on a stocking rate of 400 kg Lwt steer of 42.7. They are tucking into their bi-daily treats - it was oaten hay this time round
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2013 23:14:04 GMT -5
Could he have been sick? Wouldn't the others be lacking mineral as well? That was my initial thought too – why aren’t the others displaying a lack of something in their horns as well? I was thinking maybe it was the differing in the rate of maturity that could have caused this. Maybe Anka has a greater need for more nutrition than than the others? And we did wean Anka early whereas Bear was nearer to 8 months before he was weaned. If early weaning and maybe a lack of something because of this could be one of the reasons why Anka’s horns have started to split, then we will have to think twice about weaning little 5.5mth old Brom next month as planned. Brom is equalling Anka’s rate of quick maturity (Brom is also taking more from mum than he should just as Anka was doing with his mum). Bear is older than Anka, but if you glance at them both in the paddock, Anka appears to be the older one. Bear, the poor little man of near 10mths is really going through the “gangly-fugglies”. Genebo could have a point too – Anka takes on Bundy (who is near 2 years of age and is also built like a brick s##t-house and with an impressive set of horns) quite often with head butting and playing around. Bundy has never appeared to take Anka seriously and has never ‘pushed’ Anka in play or with aggression but I am now wondering if the big boy has ‘injured’ Anka’s horns in this playing around? Oh these midget moos are worse than kids with their antics, I swear……………………….
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2013 23:15:37 GMT -5
Wow Genebo - horns really do tell a tale or two.....................
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Post by jdcarnathan on Jun 27, 2013 7:31:19 GMT -5
Good thinking Gene, I hadn't really thought of that my self. Of course that is because these darn dexters are so mellow, but sometimes its true they may be rambunctous (sp). It could just simply be that, I believe if Anka looks good other than that, and none of the other moos are having any problems then, it just may be a rowdy little boy playing a bit. Also it is so true on how those horns are like the rings in a tree. They can tell you the good years, and the bad, it is really neat.
Also lindon, we started using these mineral blocks that we had out for our cows/sheep once we noticed the herd of 20 or so white tails taking to it, EVEN in the middle of the day 50ft from the house. I quite using "Deer Salt Licks" completely and went with putting a few of these, sometimes busted up, around the place. The cows can still take a taste if they want, but the deer tear some dirt up. Also quit using corn for the deer, and moved to sweet potatoes. Best decision ever made for where we live. I would still recommend using some bag o minerals around the place. My moos seemed to look way better after I started that, but that is just a suggestion.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2013 2:30:39 GMT -5
Would you believe the closet produce stores near us don't have loose minerals. One said he's never been asked for it. But he is going to look into it for me.
He has cattle too on natives and I showed him this thread. So he said he is happy to search around for 'the good stuff for us both
So thank you. Will let you know how we go.
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Post by jdcarnathan on Jun 28, 2013 9:48:26 GMT -5
Sounds great! I look forward to seeing what yall find out.
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Post by carragheendexters on Jul 1, 2013 8:14:01 GMT -5
Hi Donna, I don't think that we have a loose mineral lick commercially made in Australia, just the blocks. What a lot of people do is make up the Pat Colby loose mix. It is easy to make up and most produce and ag stores have available what you need to make it. She makes a mix of seaweed, salt, copper sulphate, dolomite, borax and one other thing which I can't quite think of what it is. I'm not sure of the ratios, you'll have to check up on that. It's on the net, I think it's the Red Poll Assoc that has the mix on their site. If you contact your local LHPA office and talk to one of the rangers, they will help you get rid of the deer, they will help organise someone to come and shoot them for you, or at least on the coast they do. They are very motivated to get rid of them, and are trying to get landowners to band together for a concentrated effort in eradicating them. regards Louise
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2013 14:55:11 GMT -5
Neighbours on either side have licensed shooters come through on a regular basis. For two years now we have seen a major increase in the deer, foxes, feral pigs and feral goats.
The neighbours are frustrated so much that they are setting out baits this weekend for the foxes and (if the rain stops) the shooters are scheduled to come out for the next four weekends before one neighbours lambs are due to drop
it's an ongoing battle that's for sure.
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