Farmers believe that fattening a steer for slaughter requires them to be offered good pasture supplemented with grains. In return, they should have the ability to gain 1.5 to 2.5 pounds per day. Feeding to fatten a steer for slaughter has to be effective within 90 to 200 days, depending on the purchase and its weight.
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.
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 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).
Do you put up your Holstein steers to grain feed?
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. Click to expand... Could you explain or define "put up"?
How long should you grain a steer before 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.
How do you feed a steer for slaughter?
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.
What is the best grain to finish a steer?
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. per day.
Do steers Need grain?
Cattle can be consuming a forage-based diet with minimal grain supplementation or be receiving a predominately grain-based diet while being housed on pasture. The desired rate of gain and available feed and labor resources are things to consider when determining where to land on this spectrum.
How much corn does it take to finish a steer?
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.
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 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 can I fatten up my steer fast?
0:090:40What 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 you feed a steer?
The average amount of grain will be: o 770 * 1.5% = 11.55 pounds/88% Dry Matter o = 13 pounds of grain per day. The increases need to be done slowly so the calf does not get acidosis and go off grain feed. When individually feeding cattle, each animal will respond differently.
What age should you butcher a steer?
Your steer is finished (ready to be butchered) when he has fully filled out his brisket (fatty area between his front legs as viewed from the front) and has fat rolls at his tail head. Steers on full feed (all they can eat grain with hay) will be butcher ready at 14-18 months of age.
What is the best weight to slaughter a steer?
For example, a 9-month old steer with a hip height of 44.3 inches has a frame score of 4. This steer will be ready for slaughter when it reaches 1100 lbs.
How much grain should you feed a steer?
The average amount of grain will be: o 770 * 1.5% = 11.55 pounds/88% Dry Matter o = 13 pounds of grain per day. The increases need to be done slowly so the calf does not get acidosis and go off grain feed. When individually feeding cattle, each animal will respond differently.
What do you feed Feeder steers?
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 age should you butcher a steer?
Your steer is finished (ready to be butchered) when he has fully filled out his brisket (fatty area between his front legs as viewed from the front) and has fat rolls at his tail head. Steers on full feed (all they can eat grain with hay) will be butcher ready at 14-18 months of age.
How much meat do you get from a 800 pound steer?
How much to expect when buying freezer beef: Part OneCarcass weight, Yield Grade 3 beef steerBeef from whole carcass, poundsBone-in cutsBoneless, closely trimmed cuts600408300700476350800544400May 21, 2020
Where do we put up steers?
We "put up" the steers in a small section of pasture, separate from the other cattle, so that we can feed just them. They graze in addition to their feed ration. We get our feed in bulk from a local dairy, who mixes their own. It is heavy on corn, with cotton seed meal & candy factory rejects (think pieces of m&m's, toffee, etc...) mixed in. When we don't have this feed, we feed pelletized "dock feed" from the local co-op or a corn-gluten mix that we get from a local feed mill.
How long do longhorn cross calves eat?
With my longhorn cross calves, I feed grain and hay for 90 days. For the last 30 days I feed as much grain as they will eat. They've always graded high choice. If I grain them on pasture they don't eat as much grain so I usually end up feeding them for 120 days.
What does "putting up" mean in cattle?
Beeman, "putting up" is taking them off pasture and penning or small paddock. I buy 14% because I feed it to my dairy goats also. One percent does make a difference with goats but rarely makes a difference in cattle....just feed them (steers) a little more....TJ
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 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.
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.
Can I feed my fnish on total grain?
The last few months to fnish I have mine on Total Grain, I fill a Huge tub and they eat as much as they want. Grain fed till the end is the only way to go.
What if my steer isn’t ready?
Ideally, you’ve been monitoring the body condition of your steer and specifically checking for finish for the three or four months leading up to the butchering appointment.
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.
What does it mean when a steer marbles?
When a steer’s body is done putting marbling in the meat, marbling is the little fat streaks that are mandatory for great eating steaks, his body will start stashing extra fat other places.
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.
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.
How long does it take to finish cattle?
This time can range from 80-300 days.
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.
