Simmentals
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Does anybody have any routine for hair they go by or tips on growing cattle hair?
Daily hair routine
- Thread starter Simmentals
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RSC
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If you search hair you will find many good posts on Hair on Steerplanet. I started a thread this Spring as I was looking for a routine so the boys could grow good hair without the use of a cooler. I also contacted an Instructor from a Stock Show U grad class we attended to seek his advice. We had great luck this year so I 'll share. Genetics is important but so is hard work.
First off we decided to cover all windows and put on a new door as it's important to keep them in the dark under fans all day.
Starting in March we use the rake like Sullivan's Shedding comb. We love this comb and use it aggressively for about a week. It's best to use first thing into the wash rack before you blow or wash the hair as it seems to grip it better.
Starting around the 15th of August every day we use Clear Choice Soap and wash him in the morning. Some will say soap isn't necessary everyday but this soap is good at keeping the hide clean and healthy. After each soaping we spray a light coat of Kleen Sheen to put some conditioning back into the hair. We mix one gallon of Sheen with one gallon of Apple Cider Vinegar. This is good for the hair and cheapens the price of the sheen up a bunch. It also seems to help with flies. After this we blow them completely dry.
In the evenings we rinse them and blow dry. On about 3 nights a week we use Revive. Some say the oils in Revive are to heavy and make them hot in the Summer. Revive is great for the hide so we put it on the legs as well as the whole body. We then us a roto brush on the whole calf and work it into the hide. After this we rinse the revive completely out and blow completely dry.
We also have the calves on Honor Supplements and I believe this helps as well.
As he grew a full hair coat later this Summer we had to step up to 3-4 times a day of rinsing and blowing when it was warm to keep him cool on hot days. Most days it was just twice a day.
First off we decided to cover all windows and put on a new door as it's important to keep them in the dark under fans all day.
Starting in March we use the rake like Sullivan's Shedding comb. We love this comb and use it aggressively for about a week. It's best to use first thing into the wash rack before you blow or wash the hair as it seems to grip it better.
Starting around the 15th of August every day we use Clear Choice Soap and wash him in the morning. Some will say soap isn't necessary everyday but this soap is good at keeping the hide clean and healthy. After each soaping we spray a light coat of Kleen Sheen to put some conditioning back into the hair. We mix one gallon of Sheen with one gallon of Apple Cider Vinegar. This is good for the hair and cheapens the price of the sheen up a bunch. It also seems to help with flies. After this we blow them completely dry.
In the evenings we rinse them and blow dry. On about 3 nights a week we use Revive. Some say the oils in Revive are to heavy and make them hot in the Summer. Revive is great for the hide so we put it on the legs as well as the whole body. We then us a roto brush on the whole calf and work it into the hide. After this we rinse the revive completely out and blow completely dry.
We also have the calves on Honor Supplements and I believe this helps as well.
As he grew a full hair coat later this Summer we had to step up to 3-4 times a day of rinsing and blowing when it was warm to keep him cool on hot days. Most days it was just twice a day.
RSC
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RSC
Well-known member
RSC
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Simmentals
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- Aug 17, 2014
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Thanks for the advice! It definately helped
RSC
Well-known member
I was reading back on my post and ment April instead of August.
garett
Well-known member
Everyone says to rinse 2-3-4 times a day, but I'm just letting you know that you can still get a shaggy calf with a healthy coat just by rinsing once a day, and without a cooler! That's all my parents allowed me to do and I always had calves with shag and everyone just assumed I had a cooler.
Every morning I would bring her in the barn, blow out all the dirt and spray a 50/50 kleen sheen/vinegar mixture. I regularly added a few oz of rag oil to replenish her hair. Work that into the hair and then the was then fed and let loose in a stall probably 16x16 with 1 fan for the day.
I worked from 8-5 so my sister would usually clean up the pen during the day, but didn't ever brush or work hair.
Mid evening I would rinse for probably 10-15 minutes, set a fan behind her and brush all her hair forward. I usually tried to work a roto brush through her legs and her body occasionally. I used a women's paddle type hair brush more than anything though. I would then blow out any excess water and hit her again with the kleen sheen mixture. She was fed and then let out about sunset.
She was fed AAOK's ration, Sure Champ and I added to some kelp meal, which is supposed to help lower the internal body temp.
I started this regiment on a fairly slick shorthorn heifer last June and had a decent coat in 45 days, and a nice thick coat by state fair in mid August.
I only soaped her about once a week, and used revive for 1-2 days after a show.
As RSC mentioned, that shedding comb is awesome! It works great at getting all the dead hair out.
Every morning I would bring her in the barn, blow out all the dirt and spray a 50/50 kleen sheen/vinegar mixture. I regularly added a few oz of rag oil to replenish her hair. Work that into the hair and then the was then fed and let loose in a stall probably 16x16 with 1 fan for the day.
I worked from 8-5 so my sister would usually clean up the pen during the day, but didn't ever brush or work hair.
Mid evening I would rinse for probably 10-15 minutes, set a fan behind her and brush all her hair forward. I usually tried to work a roto brush through her legs and her body occasionally. I used a women's paddle type hair brush more than anything though. I would then blow out any excess water and hit her again with the kleen sheen mixture. She was fed and then let out about sunset.
She was fed AAOK's ration, Sure Champ and I added to some kelp meal, which is supposed to help lower the internal body temp.
I started this regiment on a fairly slick shorthorn heifer last June and had a decent coat in 45 days, and a nice thick coat by state fair in mid August.
I only soaped her about once a week, and used revive for 1-2 days after a show.
As RSC mentioned, that shedding comb is awesome! It works great at getting all the dead hair out.
RSC
Well-known member
I a Agree with Garett on the rinsing 3-4 times per day isn't always necessary. We were rinsing him one to times a day early on. We have been up to 3-4 lately as he gets hot pretty quick with a haircoat. Good info.
Simmentals
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- Joined
- Aug 17, 2014
- Messages
- 32
That's really good news because I only have time to wash once a day!
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