- including palatable feed such as ground oats, wheat bran, cottonseed hulls, molasses;
- using an older calf that is already eating; or
- locating the feeder close to where cattle frequently congregate (water, shade, etc.).
What is the optimal feeding level for 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.
Is there financial benefit to creep feeding calves?
When properly managed, creep feeding can have a significant beneficial impact on your operation through: Increase of 30-60 lbs. per calf at weaning. Increased financial gain per calf. Increased availability of pasture forage for cow consumption, especially in drought conditions.
How to build creep feeder for calves?
Creep Feeder Design. Plans for constructing creep feeders for calves are published in MWPS-6, Beef Housing and Equipment Handbook, which is available at extension offices or online. The feeder should be roofed to protect feed from rain and should hold at least a week’s supply of feed.
Does creep feeding calves in pasture pay?
When forages drop below 5% crude protein, consider delivering extra nutrients to calves. Creep feeding is a great way to not only meet a calf’s nutritional needs, but it can pay dividends down the road. You can introduce creep feed to calves at an early age. However, a calf’s rumen isn’t capable of breaking down feed until it’s 2 months old.
What is a good creep feed for calves?
Tables 1-10Table 3. Example Creep RationsSoybean meal or cottonseed meal*20 to 4015Soybean hulls—30Molasses—5Molasses may be added to any ration at 2 to 5% to reduce fines, limit separation of feedstuffs, and increase palatability. *Only use cottonseed meal when creep feeding calves over 4 months of age.5 more rows
What do you feed in a creep feeder?
Some good sources of supplemental protein for creep rations are soybean meal, canola meal, commercial protein supplements (urea free) and dehydrated alfalfa pellets. The grains can be fed whole, cracked or rolled but avoid fine grinding to avoid the possibility of digestive upsets.
How do I get my calf to use a creep feeder?
1) Consider feeder placement. congregate, like a water source, so calves will begin to use them and to grow accustomed to them. Spilling some feed on the ground may encourage calves to move inside the creep feeder. Once calves increase their feed intake, Elkins says the feeders should be moved farther into pastures.
Do calves Need grain?
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.
At what age do you creep feed calves?
3-4 months oldYou can introduce creep feed to calves at an early age. However, a calf's rumen isn't capable of breaking down feed until it's 2 months old. Assuming a 30-day weaning period, creep feeding calves at 3-4 months old gives them about 80-120 days on feed prior to weaning.
Can you feed whole oats to calves?
Creep Feeding Whole oats is one of the more popular creep feeds used in the northern plains. Calf performance and creep feed intake may not quite compare to that of more elaborately formulated commercial preparations, but oats requires no processing, is available on many farms and gives satisfactory results.
Can calves eat rolled oats?
For beef cattle, the most common applications are as a creep feed for growing calves and as an energy supplement for forage-fed animals. In addition, oats work well for starting calves on feed. The energy content of oats is related to its test weight or bushel weight.
How do you fill a creep feeder?
3:4313:07First Fill for the Creep Feeder - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo I'm gonna go ahead and set the creep feeder up for cabs I'm gonna drop the creep panels. At leastMoreSo I'm gonna go ahead and set the creep feeder up for cabs I'm gonna drop the creep panels. At least on this side I filled the other side up with the rest of the old stock feed that I had left.
When can lambs start eating creep feed?
4-5 weeksLambs will often explore the creep pen or even nibble on hay or grain in the creep pen as early as 5-7 days of age. However, most lambs will not eat much creep feed until 4-5 weeks of age.
What is creep feed for pigs?
Creep feeding is the practice of introducing solid feeds to pigs before they are weaned. The primary reasons for creep feeding pigs are: To supplement pre-weaned piglets with a solid diet while they are suckling. To create eaters at weaning.
When should I start creep feeding my goats?
Creep feeding is usually started when kids are about two to three weeks old by using a creep feeder or creep pen. Most creep feeding is done by setting up a creep pen that kids can get into but does can not.
Why do you creep feed beef calves?
The primary objective of the management practice of creep feeding is to put additional weight on the calves economically before weaning without making the calves fleshy. Fleshy calves are usually discounted in market price. To creep or not to creep is an economic decision to increase profit potential for ...
What is the most common creep feed?
The most common creep feed is high in energy and about 16% crude protein. Data would suggest that high energy creeps will result in the greatest weight gain. Calves will
Why is it important to not creep cows?
To creep or not to creep is an economic decision to increase profit potential for the cow/calf enterprise. Situations where creep feeding appears to be economical is when feed costs are low and market price of calves at weaning is high.
What is included in creep feed costs?
Remember, when determining costs for creep feeding, include not only feed costs, but equipment (creep feeder, tractor, and wagon with an auger to fill the feeder if not done by the creep supplier), and labor costs.
Does creep feeding reduce lactation pressure?
Creep feeding does not reduce lactation pressure of the dam like one might expect. In addition, there are data suggesting that creep feeding has a positive effect on carcass quality. The effect of creep feeding on carcass quality is influenced by the length of the creep feeding period and type of creep feed fed.
When to use creep for calves?
Young calves will begin to nibble at grain and hay by 3 weeks of age, so you should encourage this tendency if you plan to use a creep.
What do calves eat?
The choice of feeds (barley, wheat, oats, corn, etc.) will depend on their availability and price. Calves will usually start readily on a mixture of whole oats and bran, and this is adequate at the start. Bran sticks to the muzzle and helps get calves started on feed.
What is a creep feeder?
A creep feeder that allows the calves to eat supplemental feed, while it excludes adult animals, will assist calves in growing more rapidly. The potential return of creep-feeding depends on the price of cattle and the price of feed.
What is creep in cattle?
The creep is an enclosure or lot with an opening large enough for calves to pass through, but too small for older cattle. You can build it with wire, poles, lumber, pipe, or a combination of these materials.
How old is a beef calf?
After a beef calf is 90 days old, mother’s milk will supply about half the nutrients it needs for maximum growth. Supplementing the calf’s diet should pay its cost in most commercial herds—in years of inadequate forage and in dry months when calves could use extra feed provided by creep feeding.
How many calves can a pig feeder hold?
The feeder in figure 1 allows calves to eat from both sides and is designed to accommodate about 20 calves. It’s 8 feet long and holds 25 bushels of grain. It can be filled from outside the pen. The feeder in figure 2 is 8 feet long and holds 50 bushels of grain and can accommodate 30 calves.
Why is feed supplementation important?
Why feed supplements are important. Feed accounts for about 70% of the cost for raising beef cattle. Supplementing the grass and milk available to unweaned calves with creep can be an economically sound practice, especially during a dry period when forage is short.
Advantages of Creep Feeding
- Weaning weights are increased. Producers can expect 30 to 60 pounds of added gain with creep feeding. It usually takes 8 to 12 pounds of grain to produce one pound of added gain. However, feed conv...
- Calves which have been creep fed usually suffer less setback at weaning and tend to adapt to feedlot rations quicker than calves which have not been creep fed.
- Weaning weights are increased. Producers can expect 30 to 60 pounds of added gain with creep feeding. It usually takes 8 to 12 pounds of grain to produce one pound of added gain. However, feed conv...
- Calves which have been creep fed usually suffer less setback at weaning and tend to adapt to feedlot rations quicker than calves which have not been creep fed.
- Milk is an important source of nutrients for the nursing calf. Herds with low milk production or high numbers of first-calf heifers or aged cows may benefit the most from creep feeding.
- Calves with above average growth potential will respond better to creep feeding. Likewise, bull calves will respond better than steer or heifer calves.
Disadvantages of Creep Feeding
- Creep feeding generally will not pay, if calves will be wintered or backgrounded on low energy diets before going to summer grass as yearlings.
- The calf price relative to feed price ratio does not always favor creep feeding.
- For producers planning to retain ownership, much of the value of creep feeding may be masked by compensatory growth of non-creep fed calves. Calves which do not receive cree…
- Creep feeding generally will not pay, if calves will be wintered or backgrounded on low energy diets before going to summer grass as yearlings.
- The calf price relative to feed price ratio does not always favor creep feeding.
- For producers planning to retain ownership, much of the value of creep feeding may be masked by compensatory growth of non-creep fed calves. Calves which do not receive creep feed will catch up or...
- Genetic differences in maternal milking ability may be masked. Creep feeding tends to minimize differences in weaning weight. Calves from cows with poor milking ability may consume more creep, redu...
Types of Creep Feeds
- Grain-based Creep. Grain can be creep fed alone. When an adequate amount of good to high quality forage is available, conversions will usually not be economical. Acceptable conversions (5:1 to 10:1...
- Limit-Fed High Protein Creep Feeds. Calf gains can be increased by limit feeding high-protein feedstuffs such as soybean meal, cottonseed meal, or blends of other high protein meals. Ok…
- Grain-based Creep. Grain can be creep fed alone. When an adequate amount of good to high quality forage is available, conversions will usually not be economical. Acceptable conversions (5:1 to 10:1...
- Limit-Fed High Protein Creep Feeds. Calf gains can be increased by limit feeding high-protein feedstuffs such as soybean meal, cottonseed meal, or blends of other high protein meals. Oklahoma and N...
- Green Creep. High quality forages can be used as "green" creep feeds. Generally fields adjacent to pastures which the cow-calf pairs will graze are planted to annual forages and calves are allowed...
- Commercial Creep Feeds. Many different commercial creep feeds are available and can give …
Locating The Creep Feeder
- Place the creep feeder in an area which will be frequented by the cow herd. Locating the feeder near watering areas or areas where cows normally loaf will ensure that calves are exposed to the feeder. Calves generally will not leave their mothers even for the most palatable creep feed. Providing salt and mineral for the cows in the same location can also help attract the herd to th…
Creep Feeders
- Allow 3 to 4 inches of feeder space per calf. Ten feet of feeder space will handle 30 to 40 calves. Commercially built creep feeders can be purchased from feed dealers, lumber yards, and livestock equipment companies.