Cattle weighing 700 pounds or more should be fed a ration containing 11 percent crude protein in a ration composed of grain (usually corn, but barley and wheat are often also used), protein sources, and roughage.
What do you feed your cattle on grain?
Beeman one thing that hasn't been mentioned is the cattle will need access to roughage while on grain. Straw or some kind of long hay such as sorghum, or lower quality grass unless your feeding a TMR ( totally mixed ration) which will already have a roughage product mixed in.
What should I Feed my steer to finish it off?
If you are going to feed your steer some higher energy feeds, he will finish faster. Most people feeding steers are using some grain, if not primarily grain, to finish their beef. I’m not recommending grain, merely stating that most beef producers are feeding it.
How long to grain feed before slaughter?
Grain fed till the end is the only way to go. We just put up 4 Holstein steers today to grain feed for 30 days prior to slaughter. We give the 4 of 'em a 5-gallon bucket of grain once or twice a day (depending on whether DH is feeding or FIL is feeding). My in-laws swear by grain feeding to improve marbling in the meat.
How much grain do you feed your steers?
Grain fed till the end is the only way to go. We just put up 4 Holstein steers today to grain feed for 30 days prior to slaughter. We give the 4 of 'em a 5-gallon bucket of grain once or twice a day (depending on whether DH is feeding or FIL is feeding).
How long should you feed out a steer for slaughter?
The amount of time on feed can vary from 60-150 days. For a backyard steer, 90 days on grain should be sufficient. The grain component will help him gain faster and change the flavor of the beef to more closely match what is purchased in the grocery store.
What do you feed slaughter steers?
Feed a free choice mixture of 80 percent ground sorghum grain, 10 per- cent protein supplement and 10 percent salt as cattle are placed on pasture and continue until slaughter weight is reached. Cattle will consume this mixture at approximately 1 percent of their body weight daily.
How much grain do you feed a cow for slaughter?
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 long does it take to raise a cow for slaughter?
Butchering cows, however, is complicated and requires a specific skill set and tools, so it is important to know where you will process your beef. If you are raising a cow for beef, Robbins said that grass-fed cows will be ready to eat at around 28 to 30 months, while grain-fed cows can be ready by 15 to 16 months.
Is cracked corn or whole corn better for cattle?
Processing Corn Even though corn can be fed whole with satisfactory results, cracking or rolling prior to feeding will increase digestibility by 5 to 10 percent. In most instances, grinding or rolling corn will not markedly improve average daily gain, but proper processing will improve feed conversion efficiency.
What grain should I feed my calf?
Calves will need 4 to 5 pounds of a grain-protein mixture per head daily to average 1.2 pounds daily on winter fescue pastures (Table 3). Forage sorghum, small grain and grass legume silages work well for wintering calves but are lower in energy than corn silage.
Is it cheaper to raise a cow for meat?
You can taste the difference! Price-While the cost of feed can be a lot up front, the cost of natural grass fed beef is much cheaper to raise than to buy in the store. Our local butcher charges a $55 kill fee (divided by how much of the beef you purchase) and $. 50 per lb cut and wrap.
How much corn does it take to finish a cow?
Corn production requirements Depending on the size and weight of the cattle, the amount of forage available for growing lighter calves, access to low-priced byproducts and other factors, 50 to 80 bushels are typically required to finish one steer.
What is the best feed mixture for beef cattle?
Cattle weighing 700 pounds or more should be fed a ration containing 11 percent crude protein in a ration composed of grain (usually corn, but barley and wheat are often also used), protein sources, and roughage.
How much does it cost to raise a calf to slaughter?
If you retain ownership of the calves and they are the type of calf that can go through a growing period during the winter and grass pasture in the spring and summer, then to a short feedlot phase and the total cost after weaning to slaughter is about $520, then the total cost is $905 per head (using cow cost to ...
How old is a 500 pound calf?
During this time their primary source of food is milk from their dam, and the grass or roughage (hay) that is available. At 6-9 months of age the calves are weaned off their dams and placed in a field or pen with other calves of a similar age and weight. Most calves will weigh 500-700 lbs at weaning.
How old do calves have to be to sell?
The age that a calf should be before it is transferred is determined by the distance it is being transported. If the distance is greater than 100km, calves must be at least 10 days of age. If being transported less than 100km calves should be at least seven days of age.
How to feed a calves?
Mimicking feedlot diets may not be practical when finishing calves on-farm; however, similar steps used in the commercial feeding industry should be adopted including: 1 Calves should be transitioned from a roughage diet to the final high concentrate diet over a three-week period. This is called a step-up program. 2 Feed calves at least twice per day when the final diet does not contain built in roughage or is not formulated to be self-fed or self-limiting. 3 Include 10% to 15% roughage in the final diet for increased rumen health and reduced acidosis. 4 Feed calves a balanced diet (protein, minerals, mineral ratios and vitamins). 5 Adjust feed amount as calves grow.
What is finishing calves?
Finishing (forage- or grainfinishing) and marketing goals (personal use or sale) will determine the land and facilities needed. Whether finishing calves on pasture or in dry lot confinement, calves will be more comfortable if they have access to shade during summer and a wind break during winter.
What is forage finishing?
Forage finishing capitalizes on the beef animal’s ability to convert forage into muscle protein through the aid of microbial breakdown of forage celluloses in the rumen. Since cattle are naturally grazing animals, some consumers seek out beef from cattle reared in their “natural environment”.
Why is it important to raise your own beef?
Advantages to raising your own beef include having control over calf quality and choice of how the calf is finished out. Calves can be finished on grass, grain and grass, or high concentrate diets. There are disadvantages to consider when fattening your own beef.
What is confinement feeding?
Confinement feeding in early America also was a mechanism to concentrate manure for fertilizer. Unlike forage-finishing, grain-finishing requires less land. Depending on soil type and topography, as little as 150 square feet per calf of pen space with a feed and water trough is sufficient.
Why is it important to keep feed troughs clean?
Feed troughs also should be kept clean to minimize leftover feed spoilage and buildup of uneaten portions due to mixing fresh feed with spoiled feed in troughs. Hay used in forage-finished beef programs should be high in quality.
Why should beef feed be stored in a dry location?
Feeds should be stored in a dry location to reduce the chances of molding. Feed storage facilities need to be kept clean to keep pests (rodents and insects) at a minimum.
How long does it take to finish cattle?
This time can range from 80-300 days.
Why is it important to take inventory of feeds?
Even through hay will make up a small portion of the ration, it is important to know the quality and the nutrients it will be contributing to the overall diet.
Do ranchers sell beef?
A trend that has become more prominent in recent years is for ranchers to finish a few animals and sell beef directly to the consumer. Consumers have a desire to know where their beef comes from, value the story and are seeking ranchers to purchase beef from. At the same time, ranchers have been seeking opportunities to add value to their cattle and reduce their exposure to market swings.
How long does it take for cattle to fatten up?
Typically finishing cattle are put on a ration of 85% grain and 15% roughage to fatten them up in 90 to 120 days. Ground up corn, more common in your area, is fed along with silage to have the cattle put on weight quickly.
How long do cattle stay in feedlots?
Depending on how heavy the cattle are when they start their finishing ration, the larger cattle (~900 lbs) are only in the feedlot for 15 to 30 days, whereas the smaller cattle (weanlings ~750 lbs) are in for the average 100 days. Both wt. sizes are fed the same high grain, low forage diet. Save. Share.
How long to feed hay to get finish?
To get the finish you want you'll have to get them up 2 to 3% of their body weight daily in grain for 90 to 120 days.
What to do if your steer is not finished?
If you are a month away from the appointment and your steer is not finished, you don’t have the time to fix much now. Call the butcher and see if you can reschedule. If you can’t reschedule, you can still butcher this steer. You’ll just be short on marbling, which means short on juiciness and tenderness of the meat.
When is a steer ready to butcher?
Steers on full feed (all they can eat grain with hay) will be butcher ready at 14-18 months of age.
What does the fat roll on a steer mean?
The fat rolls at the tailhead show the finish of the steer in the same way that the full brisket does. This is another overflow of stored energy stash that is easy to see on the live animal. If your steer has the finish at the tailhead, he’s good to go. If not, you can still eat him, of course.
How long does it take for a steer to be butchered?
Steers on grass only will take 26-28 months to be butcher ready. Congratulations! Raising your own beef is huge! To make sure you and your family get the best eating experience and make the best use of that beautiful steer you are raising, you’ll need to have him butchered at the right time.
How long before butchering date should you adjust your steer?
If you have checked your steer and not liked the finish you are seeing, if you have 3-4 months left before the butchering date, you have time to adjust his ration to help him put on fat.
Where is the brisket on a steer?
Look at the steer’s brisket for finish. For anyone who’s new: the brisket is located between the front legs of the steer. You’ll need to see the steer from the front to evaluate the brisket properly. The brisket should be full, you should be able to see a filled out padding of fat.
Which is better, a large framed steer or a smaller framed steer?
Generally speaking, a large framed steer is going to take longer to finish than a smaller framed steer. Short and wide will finish faster than tall and wide or short and thin. Keep in mind the finishing time of the steer is determined by diet as well.
