The options for feeding beef cattle should be flexible. Corn and hay crops can be incorporated into the feeding program for beef cattle. Ideally, feedstuffs will minimize the cost of weight gain, provide a balanced diet, and support end market goals.
How much should I Feed my beef cattle?
- Total digestible nutrients (TDN): 1-2% of body weight
- Energy: 2 Mcal / 100 lbs body weight
- Crude protein: 3 lbs per animal
- Calcium: 0.12 lbs for smaller animals, gradually decreasing to 0.11 lbs for larger animals
- Phosphorus: 0.06 lbs per animal
What feeds can make beef cattle meat taste bad?
A few examples of how a well-designed grass-finishing program eliminates cattle stress:
- Avoiding Physical Discomfort. ...
- Avoiding Pain, Disease and Injury: A well-designed grass-finishing program ensures that there is a pre-planned strategy in place to remove injured or diseased animals from the herd and provide them ...
- Eliminating Resource Scarcity. ...
What is the best feed mix for cattle?
There are four varieties of Brachiaria grass, namely:
- Brachiaria brizanta, commonly called Palisade grass
- Brachiaria decumbens
- Brachiaria mutica also called the Para grass
- Brachiaria ruziziensis also called the Kennedy or Ruzi grass
What are the nutritional requirements for beef cattle?
On this Page
- Key Points
- The Ruminant Digestive System
- Key Nutrients Required by Cattle Energy Protein Water Minerals Salt Vitamins
- Feed Sources and Quality - Impact on Nutrition
- Factors Affecting Nutrient Requirements
- Conclusion
- Definitions
What is good feed 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.
What do farmers feed their beef cattle?
Cattle are fed grains like corn because they are nutritious, energy-rich, and can be stored for use throughout the year. Because grass does not grow year-round in most of the United States, feeding grains like corn to cattle helps farmers and ranchers raise a consistent, year-round supply of great tasting beef.
What is the most common feed for cows?
Grains serve as the base of most commercially produced and homemade cattle feed. The most commonly used grain in cattle feed is corn, due to its low cost and relatively high nutritional content. Soy and barley are also used to supplement corn and provide a greater variety of nutrients.
What is the best thing to feed a cow for slaughter?
For finishing beef cattle prior to slaughter, most are fed a mixture of ground, shelled corn or millet. These grains are inexpensive, nutritious and add fat to the meat to make it tender.
Do cows prefer grass or hay?
The simple answer is hay. Most people are familiar the a cows diet in the summer, acres and acres of lush green grass. But what is hay? Hay is the staple forage in most cattle operations.
What is the best grain for cattle?
Corn, 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.
Do cows need grain everyday?
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.
How much grain should I feed my beef cow 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 can I make cattle feed for cheap?
“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 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.
How long should you grain feed a cow before slaughter?
The Food and Drug Administration requires cattle to be implanted 100 days before slaughter and removal of hormone feeds from the ration 48 hours prior to slaughter.
What tastes better grass or corn fed beef?
Grass-fed steaks also have a much more mineral-heavy taste that is often described as “meatier” or “gamier,” which is also a common description of grass-fed texture. While there are outliers, the majority of Americans seem to prefer the sweeter, richer taste that comes with corn-fed beef.
Feeding Beef Cattle
Between 24 and 27 billion pounds of beef are produced in the United States annually. Though domestic consumption has been decreasing, foreign demand remains high. Typically farmers raise weaned calves to a slaughter weight of 1,000 to 1,400 pounds. The cost of feeding beef cattle drops as the number of animals increases in operation.
Nutritional Needs of Feed
Cattle that weighs 700 pounds or more should be given a ration that contains 11% protein in a mix composed of grain. More extensive framed beef cattle will require a higher grain ratio to achieve the same quality as smaller framed cattle. Thus ration can depend upon the type of livestock raised and the market grade.
Facilities
Material for facilities includes fencing, boards, wire panels, and steel cables. Housing does not have to be expensive. Both open-sided sheds and enclosed structures are appropriate. It is essential because it is designed for the number of cattle and has a good manure management program.
Purchasing Beef Cattle
Graded feeder calf sales typically happen in the Spring and Fall. Farmers can use cattle brokers or auctions to obtain feeding beef cattle. Prices can fluctuate significantly, but higher-grade feeder cattle sell at a greater rate than lower grades. Cattle in better shape are generally given a higher grade, regardless of weight in pounds.
Environmental Implications
Farmers have much to consider in regards to their operation and how it may impact the environment. They handle pesticides, have manure to handle, and use equipment to manage their stock. All of these can influence soil, water, or air.
Insurance
All facilities and equipment must be insured when raising and feeding beef cattle. Obtaining insurance can best be accomplished by connecting with a local insurance agent or broker. Property, liability, and vehicle insurance coverage should all be in place. A good option is to obtain multi-peril crop insurance.
Budget Considerations
It is essential to consider all costs and budget so you may have a successful operation. Allocating price to nutritional feed with the correct protein to grain ratio will ensure you are feeding beef cattle adequately to make them competitive.
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.
Why are beef cattle wintered?
Under certain systems of management, beef cattle are wintered on low-quality roughages and thus may not receive the recommended nutrients for optimal performance. If heifers are fed low-quality roughages during winter, they will produce inadequate quality and quantity of colostrum, take longer to deliver their calves, and have poor rebreeding rates.
How much should a heifer weigh?
Heifers should weigh 55%–60% of mature body wt at breeding time and should be fed well thereafter to allow for continued growth, good milk production, and prompt rebreeding. Mature cows have greater body reserves and lower nutrient requirements than heifers; therefore, they can be wintered on rations of poorer quality.
How long does it take for cattle to finish?
This phase of beef production consists of full feeding of grain with limited amounts of roughage until market weight and finish are reached. Older cattle may reach finish weight on pasture alone (or with only a few pounds of grain/day) or after 60–90 days in the feedlot on high-grain rations to improve market grade and to remove any yellow tinges from their body fat (due to stored carotene from pasture forage). Weanling calves can be shipped directly to the feedlot and fed finishing rations for 150–250 days, whereas yearlings require ~150 days. Grain consumption of cattle on full-feed is ~2–2.5 lb/100 lb (1 kg/45 kg) body wt. Roughage consumption usually is limited to approximately one-fourth to one-third of the total concentrate consumption after cattle are on full-feed. Cattle consume ~3% of their body wt/day when self-fed mixed rations. For calves, ~1.5–2 lb (<1 kg) of a 33% protein supplement is required daily for best gains and market grades when nonlegume roughage is fed.
What is creep feed?
A creep-feed mixture of high-fiber co-product feed s such as corn gluten, dry distiller's grains, and soyhulls can be combined with a salt-vitamin-mineral mix to provide a palatable ration for the calves . The mixture should be rather large particles to prevent dustiness.
What is the body condition score for a cow?
Cows should calve in body condition score 5.5–6 (0–9 scale). Under profitable systems of management, a mature beef cow should maintain her weight from fall to fall. Lactation requires more nutrients than gestation. However, feeding beef cows more than is necessary for satisfactory production, such as is frequently done in purebred herds ...
Do cattle need a ration?
Cattle should always be fed an adequate ration that allows them to thrive in their given environment. (See table: Nutrient Requirements of Pregnant Replacement Beef Cows a through Nutrient Requirements of Growing Beef Bulls a .) Feeding and nutritional management for three systems of beef production are discussed separately.
What do cows eat?
Most of a cow’s life is spent eating grasses and hay. During the spring and summer, when the grass grows plentifully, beef cattle eat more pasture grasses. During the late fall and through the winter cattle are fed hay. In a perfect world, this rotation—grass in the growing season and hay through the fall and winter—would be enough.
Why do cattle need supplemental feed?
Protein and nutrient deficiencies are the other main reasons your herd may need supplemental feed. Low-quality forage is defined as forage that contains less than 7% crude protein (CP) and has lower than 50% total digestible nutrients (TDN).
What happens when cattle eat less forage?
In short, when the forage is depleted and they eat less of it, the need to give your cattle supplemental feed increases dramatically.
Why do cows need cubes?
Cattle Cubes. Cattle cubes help your herd maintain both their weight and condition because they are formulated to supplement fair and low-quality forage. Cattle cubes provide the protein, minerals, and vitamins a cow’s forage sometimes lacks. Cattle cubes come in several different sizes, making them easier for your cattle to eat.
What to do if cattle have insufficient forage?
With insufficient forage, cattle need feed. You should take action right away if you know that your herd’s grazing will be limited. You could simply reduce the number of cows in your herd, which would immediately reduce the amount of supplemental feeding the remaining cows require.
What is textured feed?
Textured cattle feed is made from flaked corn, molasses, protein pellets, and several other energy sources. It is also fortified with macro and micronutrients, vitamins, and other natural ingredients. Because it contains molasses, textured cattle feed is often referred to as “sweet feed.” Today’s textured cattle feed, which uses less molasses than in the past, still provides an advantage; it makes the feed more palatable, which is good news for your cattle.
What are cattle cubes?
Cattle cubes come in several different sizes, making them easier for your cattle to eat. Most cattle cubes contain 20% crude protein but also can be found in higher protein percentages. TIP: To reduce competition among your herd, your best choice is to feed them with ground, free-choice cattle cubes.
What is the best feed for cattle?
Feed Composition Sources. In general, your cattle feed will be made up of three different sources: roughage, concentrates, and supplements. Roughage is relatively low in most nutrients, but high in fiber. Concentrates provide most of the calories, protein, and other nutrients for your cattle, but are relatively low in fiber.
What are the supplements that cattle need?
The most common supplement is salt, but others include oils, phosphate, and limestone.
What is roughage for cattle?
Roughage should make up the bulk of your cattle's feed in volume and weight. The least expensive roughage option is usually forage. Basically, this means that your cattle are pasturing and consuming the plants they find. It's important to make sure you have a good supply of forage, rotate animals regularly, and periodically assess the quality of forage in your pastures.
What are concentrates for cattle?
Concentrates provide most of the calories, protein, and other nutrients for your cattle, but are relatively low in fiber. Ideally, your concentrates should also include most of the nutrients your cattle need, but that isn't always the case. Supplements are food sources added to your cattle's diet specifically to make up for nutritional shortages in ...
Why do cattle need energy?
Cattle need to have enough energy to supply their basic metabolic needs (known as maintenance energy), and enough to help them increase their weight. You also have to make sure cattle get enough fiber. Cattle are ruminants. Their digestive systems are designed to deal with foods that have a high degree of fiber.
How much protein do stressed animals need?
Stressed animals may require more than 20% more protein than unstressed animals, and about 15% more calories. Other nutrient requirements also increase, with many doubling. Check individual nutrients to determine whether you need to add seasonal supplements or change the balance between concentrates and roughage.
What are the main causes of stress in cattle?
Some sources of stress for beef cattle include: Heat. Cold. Mud. Sun. Pests. Illness. Imbalanced and/or unpalatable diet. In hot temperatures, animals may eat less, but need more to maintain their weight, which can lead to weight loss.
What is cattle feed?
Cattle feed contains a food label on the packaging that lists the ingredients and breakdown of vitamins and minerals. What to Consider When Choosing Feed Rations. Know how much dry matter intake (DMI) your cattle eats on average each day. Analyze the energy, fiber, and protein contents of the feed.
What is a supplement for cattle?
Supplement—Is usually in the form of protein as a percentage with a mix of other minerals and grains. It also includes non-protein nitrogen (urea) that can be used for cattle older than 6 months old. Salt—Comes in block or loose form. Most blocks are 95 to 98% salt and 5% or 2% mineral respectively.
How much weight do cows gain?
For example, younger cattle typically need to gain anywhere from 1.5 to 3 pounds (0.68 to 1.36 kg) per day. ADG can be positive or negative. A negative ADG means the cow needs to lose weight. Smaller or thinner cows will require more food to reach a healthy weight.
What breed of cows are lactating?
Dairy cattle breeds include Holstein, Jersey, and Brown Swiss, to name a few.
What breed of cattle is dairy?
Dairy cattle breeds include Holstein, Jersey, and Brown Swiss, to name a few. In a feed formulation, Simmentals and Fleckviehs are also included with dairy. Beef cattle breeds (aside from Simmentals and Fleckviehs) are generally lumped into 3 categories: British-type, Continental, and Exotics.
What is the feeding requirement of cattle raised in a dry-lot or "feedlot" environment?
The feeding requirements of cattle raised in a dry-lot or "feedlot" environment need to be viewed differently than cattle on pasture. Cattle in a dry-lot have their feed harvested, stored, and brought to them compared with cattle on pasture who have to find it themselves.
How much space do you need for a cattle feeder?
Repairs are never going to be a matter of if (only when). Take into account how much space is needed for each animal and how high or low to the ground these feeders need to be. For example, 8 inches (20 cm) space for most cattle, and around 36 inches (91 cm) high from the ground to the top of the feeder.
What do cattle eat?
The livestock will eat the missed ears of corn and parts of the corn plants, mostly the leaves. Have some supplemental hay available if you decide to graze a harvested corn field, this way when the cattle want to balance their intake for the day, they can.
How long does it take for a steer to finish feeding?
With heavy grain feeding, a steer will be finished at around 18 months, this is not biologically appropriate and actually weirdly fast compared to the more natural time line of without grain that is more like 26-28 months. If you want to feed your steer in the biologically appropriate way, don’t feed grain.
Do you need to feed cattle grain?
No, you do not need to feed your cattle any grain, ever. Cattle are ruminants and ruminants do not need grain. However, cattle do need to have plenty of good quality forage to eat everyday to grow well and be healthy. This year, at least, all of that hay is pricey.
Can steers grow on hay?
Steers will need the higher quality hay, but they can grow on just the hay alone, no grain needed. The main advantage to grain for steers or other fast growing cattle is that the easy to use calories from grain allows for much faster finishing of the calf, meaning it reaches butchering weight sooner.
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.
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.
