Does anybody feed layers like meaties?

[jaj121159]

Yesterday i was talking to a farmer friend of mine about feeding out a Holstein steer like an Angus steer. He puts them on corn immediately and it's stunts their growth. Instead of growing tall like a Holstein normally would, they grow out instead of up. A Holstein steer fed out like any other non-grass fed steer would mature at 1,700 lbs and take 18 months to be ready to butcher. Feeding them nothing but corn they mature at 12 months at 1,300 lbs. He said the meat that results is some of the finest he has ever tasted.

Does anybody use this same approach of feeding traditional roosters like a Cornish X. Putting them on 21% right from the get go and try to get them to gain wieght and size they normally wouldn't do until 9 to 12 months. I don't know if I would limit their feed like you would with a Corish cross.

 

[madamwlf]

I was wondering the same thing. I have 10 extra roos I'll be butchering in about 11 weeks and was wondering if it would be better to feed them like you would meaties. Higher protein.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I feed my hens higher protein occasionally in the winter and whenever I think they need it but to do so continuously makes fat hens which don't make good egg layers.
As far as feeding beef corn - cattle and all ruminants are grazers. They are healthiest fed only grass and grass hay. Corn fed beef produces bigger profits and tastier(in the eye of the beholder) beef but it doesn't mean we should be eating it. Feeding corn produces unnatural fats in beef and other ruminants which can lead to numerous health problems in those that consume that beef.
The ratios of omega 3 vs. omega 6 fatty acids, vitamin e and beta carotene between grass fed vs. grain fed beef are significant.
Cookies and ice cream taste good but I don't eat them.

 

[CDennis]

I feed flock raiser I am not sure about layer, I know you shouldn't give layer feed to young birds and depending on what type of meat bird you were raising it might damage them, but then again they are not going to live long anyways....

 

[eggbuster]

Quote:
Ditto!!

Also should add that all that corn is what creates the problem with E. Coli and salmonella.

By regular chickens, I am assuming the OP was referring to a DP chicken? I get good results from feeding 20%+ protein, but it isn't going to turn a DP into a Cx and it will cost. What I do get is better odds of maximizing the breed potential. My 16 week chantecler cull roosters ave. 4-6 lbs dressed. A top quality yr old rooster will make 10lbs. Cx has that beat in under 10 weeks.

 

[jaj121159]

Quote:
Ditto!!

Also should add that all that corn is what creates the problem with E. Coli and salmonella.

By regular chickens, I am assuming the OP was referring to a DP chicken? I get good results from feeding 20%+ protein, but it isn't going to turn a DP into a Cx and it will cost. What I do get is better odds of maximizing the breed potential. My 16 week chantecler cull roosters ave. 4-6 lbs dressed. A top quality yr old rooster will make 10lbs. Cx has that beat in under 10 weeks.

I was referring to DP chickens, primarily roosters you plan to eat, not live. Primarily I was wondering if you would get a bigger bird sooner. I'm not trying to turn a DP into a Cornish X, just a decent sized chicken sooner than its regular maturity date.

 

[SteveH]

Quote:
Hopefully he feeds something other than corn , or they at least are getting some grass or eating their bedding . What he's doing is simply makeing them obese . They weigh more at an earlier age and shorter height because they are fat . If the meat tastes better its because they are young and fat , but the reason Holsteins are worth less than Angus for slaughter is that the Holsteins fat will be external to the meat for the most part . The Angus bring a premium because they're geneticly predisposed to marbleing [ growing fat within the meat ] which adds greatly to flavor and tenderness . Chickens mostly develope fat outside of the meat also ; those fed for early growth are fed higher protein , which means a lower percentage of corn than in a layer's ration or a standard grower formula .

I realized I had been distracted by a dog and never finished . LOL I do sometimes increase protein levels on my DPs and those being grown to breed , but without the genetics for early and heavy muscular growth , they can't utilize the extra protein to be ready for slaughter much earlier than normal . Higher protein levels usually translates to more cost per pound of feed , and isn't cost effective on animals that do not have the genetics for rapid growth of heavy muscle

 

[ChickenCanoe]

On those that have the genetics for bigger growth, the higher protein definitely is put to good use. I star my meat birds on 24% and am already butchering some by the time I switch over to 15% finisher.