The overwintering of young cattle

Abstract

During the past decade investigations have been in progress, first at Drayton, nr. Stratford-on-Avon, and later at Hurley, into the production and utilisation of winter grass. Over the period 1951-4, overwintering methods were compared for 2-year-old store cattle (Hughes et al.,1955). These cattle were destined to be fattened on summer grass, but with the change in emphasis in market conditions whereby an animal of 9 to 10 cwt. giving a carcass of about 600-650 lb. is required, it is desirable that cattle approaching 2 years old at the beginning of the winter should where possible be fattened and not maintained in store condition. On most farms there is insufficient yard space for both young and older animals, also on dairy farms winter grass would be a valuable feed if it could be used for wintering growing heifers.For these reasons it was decided to investigate the possibilities of using winter grass for overwintering cattle beginning the winter at 1 year old or younger. Two experiments were carried out with Hereford colour-marked steers during the winters of 1954-5 and 1955-6.