FEEDLOT FINISHING OF WEANERS
Ulrich Müller, Voermol Feeds

The fattening of weaners in feedlots is currently very profitable and provides maize and weaner producers with the opportunity to add value to the products themselves. The price of maize and hominy chop is relatively low and under downward pressure. At the same time meat prices are increasing. The favourable relationship between the meat price and feed price increases the demand for weaners. With this background, an increase in farm feedlots is expected which will further increase the price of weaners.

The fattening of weaners is simple and can be done with basic facilities or with good facilities on a bigger scale.

Voermol offers a variety of fattening concentrates for the fattening of weaners. The simplest system is probably the "Voermol System" where the concentrate and roughage are fed separately.

Voermol SB 100 (V 4498)
By using the feeding system developed by Voermol, the feeding of weaners is very simple and effective. Firstly it is important that the calves are correctly inoculated and dosed. Secondly an ear implant or growth stimulant must be used. And thirdly the "Voermol System" or a complete feed can be fed.

Voermol System. Simply mix 200 kg Voermol SB 100 with 800 kg grain (whole maize or hominy chop) and feed the mixture ad lib. together with hay (maize residues, wheaten straw, etc.) separately and ad lib. With this feeding system very basic facilities are needed. The least is probably a feeding trough in which the Voermol SB 100 – maize mixture is fed ad lib. plus hay in a hay rack. The hay can be provided in the form of natural grazing in a small camp.

Complete Feeds. Herewith two examples of complete feeds based on Voermol SB 100 and with or without maize silage. 

               

Mixing Instructions for Complete Feeds
	Kg	Kg
Voermol SB 100 (V4498)	150	150
Voermol HPC 36 (V8097)	25	25
Crushed maize	650	600
Maize silage (wet)	---	300
Hay	100	30
Total	925	1 105
Estimated Feed Consumption (kg/calf) over Feeding Period:*
	Kg	Kg
Voermol SB 100	180	180
Voermol HPC36	30	30
Crushed maize**	830	770
Maize silage (wet)	---	390
Hay	130	40
Total	1 060	1 420

* The feed consumption was calculated by feeding a weaner weighing 220 kg, for approximately 120 days so that the calf can then be slaughtered at 420 kg live mass to produce a top grade (A2 or A3).

** With the use of hominy chop in the place of crushed maize the mixtures need to be adapted. Contact your nearest Voermol agent for advice.

Other Concentrates and Liquid Feeds
Voermol also markets a series of concentrates, e.g. Voermol Super 80 (V16976) and liquids for bigger feedlots. These concentrates are cost-effective and need more facilities like scales, a mixing wagon, etc. Contact your Voermol agent for more details.

Voermol Zilmol (V 16978)
Voermol Zilmol contains the β-agonist, Zilphaterol HCL. This partitioning agent increases the deposition of muscle (protein) at the expense of fat (energy). Consequently a calf that has already reached the A2 fatness degree can be fed for a further 30 days without becoming too fat. Exploiting the positive feed margin by feeding animals longer considerably increases profitability. Contact your Voermol agent for more details.

Please contact your nearest Voermol agent or Ulrich Müller, Technical Manager, Cell: 083 414 5928, utm@mweb.co.za for assistance with these calculations.