Garry Hedger

Show cattle and their feeding and preparation have changed a fair bit over the years since I started preparing them 27 years ago. Back then, it was a race to get the heaviest and the fattest on the showground.

Ribbons and trophies were great to get, but the cattle were the ones who paid the price. Junior females with excess fat, ended up with fertility problems. Some became barren, some difficult to get into calf. Those that did conceive had trouble calving, and with excess fat deposits in the udder, had trouble feeding their calves. The bulls, carrying extreme weights and fat, had low semen counts, fluid in the joints, and arthritis cutting their working life in half.

Things have changed today to some extent so that junior females are not pushed to the extreme and don’t carry that excess fat.

A lot of bulls are still being pushed to the limit; massive weights are not necessary. Any judge worth their salt, should be able to assess an animal and know if it has the ability to gain weight or not.

An animal in good condition, strong, healthy and athletic, is far better than one that has been pushed too far.

The following are some tips on starting a feeding program for the novice.

Firstly, work out the shows that you would like to exhibit at, find out the dates and classes for each show. Armed with this information, you can then start to make your selections.

With heifers, I start at 12 months old, show them up to 18 months old and then its out to the paddock to join the rest of the herd. They will not be shown again until they have calved and have a calf at foot at least 3 months old.

With bulls, I start at 15 months old, shown up to 24 months old and then its out to work.

Before you start your feeding program, it is important to understand the nutritional requirements the animal needs to grow and survive. Check with your vet, an animal nutritionist or there are a large number of books available on animal nutrition.

Once you have made your selections, and if the animal is unbroken and has not had access to grain before, give yourself at least 4 months from the first show. This gives you plenty of time to handle and to get them started on grain. It also gives you time if your animals have problems, such as gut upset.

Start with a few kilos of mixed feed per day with free access to roughage, like oaten hay, and slowly increase the mixed ration each few days.

Cattle of different gender and size require different amounts of feed. Listed below are two home made rations that I have used over the years with great success.

500 kg Oats (good quality)

100 kg Triticale

100 kg Lupins

40 kg Rice Pollard

20 kg Mineral Concentrates

140 kg Oaten Hay (good quality)

100 kg Lucerne Hay

This ration is suitable for all age bulls, simply by increasing the amount of feed for age and appetite.

400 kg Oats (good quality)

100 kg Lupins

20 kg Mineral Concentrates

50 kg Triticale

240 kg Oaten Hay (good quality)

200 kg Lucerne Hay

This ration is suitable for all junior females. Cows with calves at foot should get the same ration as the bulls.

Quote: "You can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear." Cattle are 40% feed, 60% genetics.