Author Topic: Dead Weight of Jersey Calves (Read 4399 times)

sokel · « **on:** June 22, 2013, 07:55:02 am »

Just thinking ahead as have several people asking about meat.
As you know we are rearing 2 jersey bull calves They where born November 2012 and January 2013.
Thinking of keeping them until the weather turns so I am not sure what the meat will be classed as ?
Anyway what sort of meat weight would I be expecting to get back ?
Just want to prepare ourselves and have some freezer space and know what others can have .
They are on a lot of lush grass and have stopped taking the nuts with any great enthusiasum

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #1 on:** June 22, 2013, 09:28:15 am »

I'll buy some meat, too, Graham, if there's any to spare

As to weight - I've no idea! They'd be 10-11 monthish? Maybe 400kgs liveweight? I think cattle give more than 50% deadweight - but perhaps less as they're young, and also as they're a dairy breed.

You could always ask Wheelbirks to give you a idea

sokel · « **Reply #2 on:** June 22, 2013, 09:40:54 am »

Thanks Sally
yes they will be between 10 and 12 months old
will def contact them and see if they can advise me

henchard · « **Reply #3 on:** June 22, 2013, 10:10:51 am »

Cattle normally kill out at around 50-55%.

However, they are usually older than 10/12 months when slaughtered and I suspect that they will kill out at a lower percentage at a younger age being proportionally more bone than meat.

sokel · « **Reply #4 on:** June 22, 2013, 01:06:29 pm »

Quote from: henchard on June 22, 2013, 10:10:51 am

Cattle normally kill out at around 50-55%.

However, they are usually older than 10/12 months when slaughtered and I suspect that they will kill out at a lower percentage at a younger age being proportionally more bone than meat.

We aimed at the start to do them as Rose Veal due to the lack of space for wintering inside and the weather we get

Backinwellies · « **Reply #5 on:** June 22, 2013, 07:40:31 pm »

A fully grown Jersey isn't much more than 400Kg .... so will be a bit less than that (you can look in any onfo on Jersey breed for likely final weight of full adult) and KO% is about 45-50%

Will be pretty much rose veal I guess at that age.

I presume thay are castrated? .... if not get them off quickly ...... bulls mature early and are evil!!

sokel · « **Reply #6 on:** June 22, 2013, 09:14:45 pm »

Yes castrated, wouldn't have been here if they where not

domsmith · « **Reply #7 on:** June 23, 2013, 07:38:08 pm »

To be veal, technically they should be 9 months or younger. you wont get 50% kill out it will be less but not much. i would think if you feed them well maybe 230-280kg live at 1 year. dont skimp on the foodno point in killing anything thats not fat.

so you might get 70-90 kg of saleable meat.

dominic

sokel · « **Reply #8 on:** June 23, 2013, 09:05:10 pm »

They are on loads of lush grass and they are getting nuts twice a day although now that there is so much grass they are not clearing the nuts the way they used too $:-\$