Grain: Corn, barley, and wheat are all good options for grain in beef cattle feed. Protein sources: Soybean meal, cottonseed meal, and canola meal are all good protein sources for beef cattle. Roughage: Hay, silage
Silage
Silage is fermented, high-moisture stored fodder which can be fed to cattle, sheep and other such ruminants or used as a biofuel feedstock for anaerobic digesters. It is fermented and stored in a process called ensilage, ensiling or silaging, and is usually made from grass crops, including maize, …
What is the optimal feeding level for calves?
consume 1.5 to 2.5% of their body weight in dry matter the first week on feed. These are calves that were fed on the farm in which they were raised and typically had been creep feed. The only major stress on the calves was weaning, and death loss and sickness were minimal. Yearling
What is the best way to wean calves?
- Requires additional pasture/drylot space to isolate calves from cows
- Bawling Calves
- Requires more feed to condition calves in drylot/pasture setting
What should I do with my calves?
The following practices for raising calves can:
- Decrease the exposure of calves to disease.
- Improve calf health.
- Improve calf survival rates.
- Improve growth rates.
What is the best feed for a calf?
Five Feed Tips for Weaning Calves
- Use Cattle Lick Tubs When Weaning Calves. Cattle lick tubs can be used as a free-choice supplement in calf receiving pens. ...
- Offer Palatable Calf Starter Feed. When calves search for feed, make sure there’s a palatable feed in the bunk. ...
- Select a Feed That Supports the Immune System of Weaning Calves. ...
- Find the Right Feed Form. ...
What is the best thing to feed beef cattle?
Best Healthy Feed for Beef Cattle1) Grain Supplement. Grain can get cattle growing quickly and can help cattle get fat. ... 2) Hay. Hay can provide every important nutrient for cattle, but it has to be picked at the height of its nutrient richness À” that is, before it becomes too dry. ... 3) Pasture and Forage. ... 4) Concentrates.
How much grain should I feed my beef calf?
10-15 lbs. per day of corn, oats or barley fed to grazing cattle is a good finishing ration. This fed to a 900-1000 pound steer for 3-4 months should will you a nicely finished animal. If you do not have access to pasture or if you are finishing during the winter, you might increase the amount of grain to 15-18 lbs.
How do you make beef cattle feed?
3:294:42Cattle Ration Formulation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe need to use 9 pounds of bro. Hey 11.7 5 pounds of corn silage. 6.75 pounds of dried distillersMoreWe need to use 9 pounds of bro. Hey 11.7 5 pounds of corn silage. 6.75 pounds of dried distillers grains. And point 3 5 pounds of a supplement which contains the minerals vitamins ionophore.
What is the best grain for beef cattle?
CornCorn, oats, and barley are the primary grains fed to cattle. Oats, which has a lower energy value due to its high fiber content, is considered the "safest" grain in regards to potential digestive disturbances.
What is the best grain for calves?
Alfalfa or other high-quality legume hay, silage, or haylage can be used to supplement corn silage for protein in calf rations. It will take 3.5 to 4.5 pounds of alfalfa hay to supply the amount of protein contained in 1.2 to 1.5 pounds of soybean meal.
What is the cheapest cattle feed?
“Corn residue is one of the lowest cost forages on a cost per pound of energy. That's why mixing a high energy and protein feed like distillers' grains with a low quality forage like corn stalks is so cost effective.
Is beet pulp good for beef cattle?
A combination of beet pulp and crop residues can be an economical substitute for hay, silage, or pasture in beef cow diets. Beet pulp contains highly digestible fiber making it a nice complement to poor quality residues or forages. It can be used as a component of a supplement or as an ingredient of a complete diet.
How do you fatten up a beef cow quickly?
0:010:40What to Feed Cattle to Fatten Them Up - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe fitters edge that's. That's a universal feed. I can feed a steer that and tweak it to get in fatMoreThe fitters edge that's. That's a universal feed. I can feed a steer that and tweak it to get in fat. Or. I can I can add a little fiber to it like non-medicated pre-con to a heifer.
How much grain should a beef cow eat per day?
Cows will voluntarily consume about 2 percent of their body weight or 24 pounds per day. The 24 pounds is based on 100 percent dry matter.
How much grain should I feed my steer per day?
The steer will consume roughly 15-20 pounds of hay per day or 2 percent of his body weight. Grain is added to the diet three months before taking the steer to the processor. The amount of time on feed can vary from 60-150 days. For a backyard steer, 90 days on grain should be sufficient.
How do you calculate feed ration for beef cattle?
% feed 1 x pounds of ration = total pounds needed for ration.% feed 2 x pounds of ration = total pounds needed for ration.
How often do you feed cows grain?
The grain finished cattle need to be checked regularly and fed daily. They live in the pasture their entire lives and also receive natural grain during the last 6 months of their life. It's up to them on if they eat the grass or grain. The heifers need to be checked regularly and they're fed some grain too.
Ration Formulation for Growing Cattle
Fact sheet providing guidelines as hypothetical scenarios that illustrate dietary comparisons across a singular system for growing beef cattle.
Integrating Grazing into Cropping Systems
Benefits of integrating livestock grazing into cropping systems are becoming clearer. There are many challenges that need to be addressed to increase the chance of success with both enterprises.
Preparing for Calving Season
Spring calving season is here for some and around the corner for others. As a beef producer, what do you need to know to be prepared for calving season?
Ration Formulations for Growing Cattle
Formulating a diet for beef cattle and feeding a balanced ration are keys to having a successful beef operation. Learn how to combine various feed ingredients to meet beef cattle daily requirements.
Cattle Feeders Day
Learn up to date information on the cattle feeding industry and production with this informative webinar!
Transitioning Calves: From Pasture to Feedlot
Transitioning newly weaned calves to the feedlot can be highly successful, or it can be a disaster. In order to avoid the disaster, follow these tips for success.
Gut Health in Cattle
Poor gut health can negatively affect overall cattle health status and performance. By maintaining ideal gut health, animal health and performance will be bettered.
Getting Started
Finishing cattle doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does take additional management to ensure the health and performance of the cattle are maintained. This article will address a few options for hand-feeding a small group of cattle to finish.
Things to Consider
Before discussing specific diets, here are some tips and things to think about prior to finishing out cattle for beef.
How Much Space Do Your Calves Need?
Take a drive through the countryside, and you will see steers, dairy herds, and more, crammed into the smallest spaces imaginable. Many of these sad looking herds are full of mud, feces, and are fed a diet consisting of corn.
Adequate Fencing for Raising Beef Calves
When raising beef calves, they should spend the first 6-8 weeks of their lives in a small, breeze-free area. However, calves also need good ventilation otherwise they end up with respiratory disorders early on.
Where to Find Inexpensive Calves
Making the decision to purchase day-old bull calves is a respectable choice. Dairies have little-to-no use for young bull calves and unfortunately, some even allow them to die on the farm.
How to Choose the Right Calves
You may have caught on to the fact that this article is built around purchasing unwanted dairy bull calves. Holsteins are going to be the most commonly “discarded” bull calf, but you can often find Jerseys and Angus as well.
Feeding Calves
If you’ve purchased your calf from the auction house, you may have a calf that is a few days old and has already taken a bottle.
The Process of Developing Steers
When your steers are finishing their milk from their buckets before you can leave the barn, it’s time to start giving them access to small amounts of hay and starter grain. The good news is, you don’t have to teach them to eat either. They naturally become interested in the grain and hay themselves and start nibbling out of curiosity.
Processing
Most wait to butcher their steers until they are around 1200 pounds. Depending on what you have decided to feed your steers (grass-fed, cornfed, grain-fed) and what breed of steer you raise, it may take anywhere from 12 months to 36 months.
First two weeks of life
Within the first two weeks of life, calves typically consume little calf starter and are more dependent upon liquid nutrition.
Three to four weeks old
You’ll likely notice an increase in calf starter intake by three to four weeks of age. Monitor feed intake closely. If you don’t notice the intake increase and adjust feeding accordingly, calf growth may suffer due to inadequate nutrition.
Four to eight weeks old
By the time calves reach weaning age they should be consuming higher amounts of calf starter. Calf starter intake may even double. Be aware of potential spikes in consumption and be ready to meet calves’ increased appetites.
Eight to 12 weeks old
As calves continue to grow, calf starter consumption increases significantly. Don’t limit intake at this stage of development and don’t allow calves to go periods of time without calf starter.
1. Use Cattle Lick Tubs When Weaning Calves
Cattle lick tubs can be used as a free-choice supplement in calf receiving pens. For operations using supplement tubs in the cow herd, calves will be familiar with the tub and more likely to start eating quickly.
2. Offer Palatable Calf Starter Feed
When calves search for feed, make sure there’s a palatable feed in the bunk.
3. Select a Feed That Supports the Immune System of Weaning Calves
It’s critical to support the immune system of weaning calves during high stress. Select a feed that addresses stressors and respiratory challenges head-on.
5. Prioritize Starter Feed Quality
Evaluate your feed quality and don’t settle for the least expensive option – it might be cheaper up front, but it could also be less palatable.
Starting A Beef Feeding Enterprise
- Thorough planning and preparation are essential for you to have a successful beef-feeding operation. Operators should determine where they will obtain feeder calves, which feeds will be required to finish the cattle to desired market weights and grades, and what type of shelter will b…
Facilities
- Various materials can be used for feedlot fences, including boards, wire panels, high-tensile wire, and steel cables. Barbed wire is not recommended. A seven- or nine-wire high-tensile fence is one of the most economical barriers. Another effective fence is a combination of high-tensile wire (which can be electrified) with three or four 2-by- 6-inch planks spaced between the wires. Housi…
Grazing and Backgrounding
- Some cattle feeders purchase lightweight feeder calves (350 to 550 pounds), graze them during the spring and summer, and then finish them in the feedlot starting in late summer or fall. Backgrounding is a special type of program that usually combines pasture systems and lightweight cattle. These cattle require extremely good nutrition, management, and health progra…
Purchasing Feeder Cattle
- Anyone purchasing feeder cattle must keep up-to-date on market conditions. Graded feeder-calf sales are held in both fall and spring; some feedlot operators use cattle brokers and tele-auctions to obtain their feeder cattle. Feeder-cattle prices can fluctuate considerably in almost every season of the year. Higher-grade feeder cattle sell for a higher price per pound than lower grade…
Health Maintenance Program
- Because preconditioned and heavier feeder cattle tend to have fewer health problems, purchasing preconditioned calves can be a good investment for the cattle feeder. Preconditioning includes weaning 21 to 45 days before shipping, vaccinating for diseases prevalent in the area, dehorning, castrating, implanting, treating for external and internal parasites, and starting the cattle on grai…
Environmental Impacts
- In the normal course of operations, farmers handle pesticides and other chemicals, may have manure to collect and spread, and use equipment to prepare fields and harvest crops. Any of these routine on-farm activities can be a potential source of surface water or groundwater pollution. Because of this possibility, you must understand the regulations to follow concerning t…
Risk Management
- You should carefully consider how to manage risk on your farm. First, you should insure your facilities and equipment. This may be accomplished by consulting your insurance agent or broker. It is especially important to have adequate levels of property, vehicle, and liability insurance. You will also need workers' compensation insurance if you have any employees. You may also want t…
Sample Budgets
- Included in this publication are three sample budgets summarizing costs and returns for feeding beef cattle. The first is for feeding steers; the second is for feeding heifers; and the third is for feeding yearlings. These budgets should help ensure that you include all costs and receipts in your calculations. Costs and returns are often difficult to estimate in budget preparation becaus…
For More Information
- Becker, J. C., L. F. Kime, J. K. Harper, and R. Pifer. Understanding Agricultural Liability. University Park: Penn State Extension, 2011.
- Comerford, J. W., L. F. Kime, and J. K. Harper. Beef Backgrounding Production. University Park: Penn State Extension, 2013.
- Comerford, J. W., L. F. Kime, K. E. Knoll, and J. K. Harper. Dairy-Beef Production. University Pa…
- Becker, J. C., L. F. Kime, J. K. Harper, and R. Pifer. Understanding Agricultural Liability. University Park: Penn State Extension, 2011.
- Comerford, J. W., L. F. Kime, and J. K. Harper. Beef Backgrounding Production. University Park: Penn State Extension, 2013.
- Comerford, J. W., L. F. Kime, K. E. Knoll, and J. K. Harper. Dairy-Beef Production. University Park: Penn State Extension, 2008.
- Greaser, G. L., and J. K. Harper. Enterprise Budget Analysis. University Park: Penn State Extension, 1994.
