Red Laced Cornish X and project talk (pics p. 8)

[kfacres]

You have me thinking here--

Perhaps the layering on of fat occurs because of the slowing of the growth ( bone and muscle) so more fat is made from the extra calories.

Or, high percent of fat intake in the diet, which in theory makes an artifical enviroment of the body thinking that it has reached a mature point.

In sheep, sexual maturity is usually hit at 100#, regardless of the breed.

Not quite... quite the avid sheep person here- and my ewe lambs by far won't hit sexual maturity until 150-200 pounds. Matter of fact, most any breed I've ever been involved with is like this. But, we also select for, and breed for later maturity. It is very well desired here.

In humans, we have an obesity problem in our kids that is significant at a very early age. BY 3-5 grade, and as the grades in crease the % that are obese increases. ( Verysad.) Yet our kids are getting taller with each generatation, and sexually maturing at an earlier age too.

Soooo, back to chickens. Perhaps it is the reverse, I'm done growing, put on the fat. Or it is independent . . . ..

I don't think it's reverse, I think it's the same. I'm done growing, time to put on fat. Feed them a higher percent fat diet- and manipulate it. Last year when I butchered roosters-- the farm king DP crap-- were really yellow fat. my half cornish half other- were just beginning to put on fat, and my straight cornish-- were completely lack of fat.

I love this meat project and I love the innovation and creativity.

However my goal was to find a bird that could maximize the land I have and raise meat in an economical fashion because feed prices have doubled in the last few years.

Go for meat rabbits. They are the coolest thing on this place-- and fried rabbits puts the hammer to fried chicken. Space, feed, and labor fall in favor of the rabbit.

If all meat birds ( cornish x, the red laced cornish x, the rangers) all need extra protein to meet the growth mark, I wonder if I am looking at the wrong bird for my goals. I appreciate all this wonderful information as it helps me find my way toward a meat bird suitable for my homestead.

I love that you keep me thinking and thank you for sharing!!!!!

 

[Arielle]

haahaa! I bough a meat rabbit last week!! DH says no way to breeding rabbits. ( I"m the one that does the butchering and I"m having to get over the cute factor!) I"m thinking rabbits and chickens might be a good combo. Feed the offal to the chickens for protein.

My ewe lambs mature early; I had one that lambed on her first birthday. I think you have sheep that are a bit bigger than my sheep though my shearer says my rams are among the biggest he has sheared. I have cut the flock numbers down to a third. Just not ecomical.

In regard to the amount of fat on the carcass, while I do think fat has value in our diets, I hate the amount of fat in a Perdue bird. Wasteful. I can't eat all that fat in the time I can finish a whole chicken. Overly fat birds are a waste of feed IMO. Even a lean bird has plenty of fat: I have roasted a lean bird and was surprised at the large amount of fat it released. Fat tastes good!

 

[kfacres]

haahaa! I bough a meat rabbit last week!! DH says no way to breeding rabbits. ( I"m the one that does the butchering and I"m having to get over the cute factor!) I"m thinking rabbits and chickens might be a good combo. Feed the offal to the chickens for protein.

I keep mine completely seperate, but know several that run them together. I see no point inintermixing the two species. Rabbits are so easy- no egg gathering, no incubators, and no worries about keeping chicks here, then moving pens, then making sure they are eating and drinking. Then you don't have to worry about roosters fighting. Just dump feed in front of them everyday, and they do everything else.

My ewe lambs mature early; I had one that lambed on her first birthday. I think you have sheep that are a bit bigger than my sheep though my shearer says my rams are among the biggest he has sheared. I have cut the flock numbers down to a third. Just not ecomical.

Biggest ram here weighed 380 at Louisville as a yearling. He stands as the record of the biggest framed (42.43) and probably weight in our breed at the national show. My brood ewes average 37-38 inches tall plus, and weigh easy 250-300. My rams are all 40 inches plus, and weigh 300 plus. I have sheared many sheep over the years, used to average over 700 a year. Only two other places I sheared at come close.

In regard to the amount of fat on the carcass, while I do think fat has value in our diets, I hate the amount of fat in a Perdue bird. Wasteful. I can't eat all that fat in the time I can finish a whole chicken. Overly fat birds are a waste of feed IMO. Even a lean bird has plenty of fat: I have roasted a lean bird and was surprised at the large amount of fat it released. Fat tastes good!

Fat is flavor. External fat is directly correlated to internal fat. Internal fat is the same as marbling. Marbling is flavor. The key, (i'll speak in beef terms as it's really the only species to mastermind it), is getting an optimal balance of internal (Quality grade), and external (yield grade).

I very closely monitor the fat intake, and diet in general to our show sheep. I know that my 'show' lamb feed is between 15-16 percent CP, and 2.5-3.0 percent Fat. For the 'sale' lambs, I bump up the fat to 4.0, everything else stays the same. Nobody can read into a skinny sale lamb, they want 'bloom'. My brood ewes are on a ration very similar to the show lambs, but completely different ingrediants. Same protein, 2.5% Fat.

Now, in the Shorthorn sector, I poor the fat to them. My ration is low protein (13 %), and high fat (3.8-4). It can pack the 'pounds' on one in a hurry.


"Blood Money", a very appealing young yearling ram here that has made quite a name for himself.

 

[Arielle]

Nice top line on BLood Money-- he makes all my boys look small. lol

I have a white rabbit that is supposed grow huge. DIdn't catch the name of it. Need acouple does for him. I expect cross breds in rabits grow faster than pure breds--just need to know what rabbits I should b looking for. I had anoras long ago-- a rack of bones with fur.

My goal at this point is to maximize the grasses available on the farm already and cut back on the commercial feed. Delivery is a huge expense. OVerall the price of grain has doubled. Figure to cut back on any creature that requires a lot of commercial pellets and purchased hay. Leaves me at rabbits and chickens, and a few sheep.

 

[knjinnm]

Whoa!
No hijacking!
Soooo, back to Cornish project birds.

JAC

BTW,
Anyone heard from Steve?

 

[kfacres]

\

BTW,
Anyone heard from Steve?

NO, thankfully... Hope he doesn't participate anymore on this site. It's nice not to have to worry about him.

 

[knjinnm]

NO, thankfully... Hope he doesn't participate anymore on this site. It's nice not to have to worry about him.

Goodbye.

 

[kfacres]

Goodbye.

What is that supposed to mean? Surely someone from NM doesn't have a clue.

 

[Annabelleshome]

I have a question. I ordered 5 slow cornish cross chickens at the grange and when I got home one was reddish. She is a bit smaller than the white birds now at 7 weeks. Can anyone tell me if she is a Red Laced? Thank you!

 

[kfacres]

I have a question. I ordered 5 slow cornish cross chickens at the grange and when I got home one was reddish. She is a bit smaller than the white birds now at 7 weeks. Can anyone tell me if she is a Red Laced? Thank you!


not a 'red laced'.

there actually is not such a thing as ' red laced... the correct term is white laced red.