what to feed holestien steers

by Kelvin Corwin I Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Holsteins are typically fed higher roughage concentrations. Fat concentrations can also be increased to offset the lower energy diets. Protein requirements do not appear to be different from beef cattle, although Holstein steers weighing from 300 to 700 lb should be fed plant protein sources (eg, soybean meal). Publication types Review

Usually, steer calves are fed one percent of bodyweight in grain and full-fed hay, corn silage, or pas- ture up to approximately 700 pounds. From 700 pounds to slaughter weight (1,000-1,300 pounds), steers are fed free choice shelled corn and a protein supplement to bal- ance the ration.

Full Answer

What do you feed Holsteins on a feedlot?

At the feedlot stage, feeding Holsteins is similar to feeding any beef breed. It is the calf stage feeding program that primes the Holstein rumen for a high-grain diet. For calves not weaned to a high-grain diet, adjustment to the feedlot diet will be needed.

What is it like to raise Holstein steers?

“Whatever we’ve done to breed for milk production, we have inadvertently selected genetically for a tremendous amount of marbling in Holstein calves if we feed and treat them right.” Felix outlines the good, the bad and the ugly about raising Holstein steers. “These calves have a great temperament,” said Felix, starting with the good.

When can I start feeding my Holsteins?

After three or four weeks of rumen development, total mixed rations can be introduced. At 16-20 weeks of age, the animals are ready to be moved to the feedlot. They should weigh 300-400 lbs at this time. At the feedlot stage, feeding Holsteins is similar to feeding any beef breed.

What are the advantages of the Holstein feeding system?

In the Holstein feeding system, the advantage is that any Holstein calf fits into a program to finish within a certain weight range. Exceptional marbling is another advantage. Part of that is due to a high grain diet starting at a very young age, but also due to the amino acids acetate, butyrate and propionate.

What do you feed a Holstein calf?

Whole milk can be used to feed baby calves. Calves should be fed daily approximately 10% of their body weight (1 quart of milk weighs 2 pounds). For example, a Holstein calf weighing 90 pounds at birth would be fed 4.5 quarts (9 pints) of milk daily or 2.25 quarts per feeding when fed twice daily.

How much corn will a Holstein steer eat?

How much ear corn per animal will it take in your opinion? These cattle will usually average 2.70 to 3.00 lb/day and consume 21 to 24 pounds of feed on a dry matter basis. Feed conversion will be between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds of feed/lb of gain.

How do you feed a dairy beef steer?

There are predominantly two methods to grow and finish dairy steers; continuous high-concentrate feeding and two-phase feeding programs. Continuous high-concentrate feeding consists of a 90:10 concentrate-to-roughage ratio, fed from 300-400 pounds through finishing.

Do Holstein steers make good beef?

Beef from finished Holstein finished steers has many desirable characteristics and provides a consistent product. Genetic similarity among Holsteins contributes greatly to the consistency of the quality of beef provided by Holsteins.

How do you fatten a Holstein steer?

Continuous High or All Grain Feeding When fed high corn diets, Holstein steers usual- ly will grade Choice at 1,050-1,200 pounds. Some feedlots prefer to feed light-weight (250-350 pounds) Holstein calves. These calves, also called “pee- wee” Holsteins, are fed high-grain finishing diets for approximately 400 days.

How many bushels of corn does it take to feed out a Holstein steer?

Assuming that 750-pound steers are fed a typical corn/ hay/supplement ration for 160 days, about 60 bushels of corn are required for each steer.

What do Holstein cows eat?

Pasture grasses. Hay: dried grass or alfalfa. Silage: made in silos; fermented grasses, alfalfa, or corn. eat that stuff!

How much is a Holstein steer worth?

24 auction at New Holland Sales Stables, slaughter Holstein steers weighing 1,330 to 1,670 pounds brought $127 to $132 per hundredweight. To put that in perspective, at the same sale in 2013, Holstein steers brought an average of $108 per hundredweight, and in 2014, they averaged $148.

How long do Holstein steers live?

We are not aware of any data to suggest the life span of a Holstein steer. However, under the conditions you mention, it should not be uncommon to have a steer live for approximately 15+ years.

How big can a Holstein steer get?

The more interesting question is how, exactly, a steer grows so large. James Gorman at The New York Times explains that most of the black and white Holstein cows out in the paddocks average 4 feet 10 inches and max out at 1,500 pounds while bulls (uncastrated males) can reach six feet and 2,500 pounds.

How much meat do you get off a Holstein steer?

So, in other words, you start with a 1200 pound steer, which has a dressing percent of 63%, so that you have a 750 pound carcass. From that you will get about 65% of the carcass weight, or roughly 490 pounds, as boneless, trimmed beef.

What are the disadvantages of Holstein cows?

Conclusion. Holstein cows can produce higher yield compared to Jersey and can gain additional energy to body tissue rather than milk. These cows have fertility problems, short productive life span, less cream in the milk, less butterfat content.

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 much corn do you feed a cow?

Can I feed whole corn to my beef cattle as a supplement? Cows can be fed whole corn as a supplement. Corn would be considered an energy feed and therefore an energy supplement. In high forage cow diets, I would not feed more than 3 to 4 lb per head per day.

How much corn do I need to feed a 500 pound calf?

Further explanation of the “9” rule. This rule will apply only if supplemental feed is limited to 0.75 percent of body weight. For example, if 500 pound calves were fed 3.75 pounds per day of corn (500 x 0.75 percent), expect about 0.09 pound gain for each pound of supplemental corn.

What is the best feed for fattening cattle?

What is the best feed for fattening cattle? Barley is the best grain for lot feeding cattle, but wheat, triticale, sorghum, maize, and oats can be used. Oats is not an ideal grain on its own for cattle fattening but can be used with any of the other grains. Hay or silage could be used as the roughage source.

How much energy do Holstein cattle need?

In contrast, Holstein cattle require anywhere from 8 to 12% more energy to meet maintenance energy requirements than beef breeds, due to a variety of factors, including their greater frame size, thinner hide and hair coat, and less subcutaneous fat, which make them more susceptible to environmental stresses, such as excessive mud, rain, snow, or wind. They also consume approximately 7% more feed than beef steers, as reported in an excellent online publication from the University of Minnesota ( https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/wbic/files/2010/11/Holstein-Feeding-Programs-MN.pdf) that outlines the nutritional requirements of Holstein cattle at various stage of growth. Their average daily gain rarely exceeds 3.4 lb/day, with a realistic range being 2.8 to 3.4 lb/day gain, under a variety of feedlot conditions. Relatively recent research with Holstein cattle started as calves reported similar performance. In a study with Holstein steers fed a corn silage based growing diet and a corn based finishing diet, and fed for an average of 265 days, the average daily gain was 3.58 lb/day with a conversion of 5.7 lb of feed per pound of gain on a DM basis. The steers were started on feed at 390 lb and taken to a final weight of 1330 lb. They had an average carcass weight of 774 lb and a 58.2% dressing percentage (Lehmkuhler and Ramos, 2008). In a similar study using Holstein steers fed a corn-based diet and started on feed at 483 lb and taken to 1288 lb with 243 days on feed, the steers averaged 3.4 lb/day gain with a conversion of 5.5 lb of feed per pound of gain on a DM basis. These steers had an average carcass weight of 750 lb and a 58.3% dressing percentage (Gorocica-Buenfil et al., 2007). These two different studies show the type of consistency that can occur with Holstein steers that are fed a corn-based diet for long periods of time, without a long growing period using long-stemmed forage.

How does grain based diet help cattle?

With Holstein cattle, reducing maintenance energy costs through feeding a highly-digestible, grain based diet will improve the efficiency of gain, carcass characteristics, and allow animals to achieve a USDA Choice carcass, while reducing the chance of discounts for carcasses that are too heavy. The important thing to remember is that there are ways to improve efficiency, alter the composition of gain, improve carcass characteristics, and increase profit potential with appropriate feeding and management strategies.

What is the dressing percentage of a dairy steer?

In general, dairy steers have a dressing percentage between 55 to 62%, with an average of 58 to 60%, compared with beef steers that normally range between 58 to 65%, with an average of 62 to 64%. The factors that tend to lower dressing percentage are cattle being lighter muscled, having less fat, having a greater gut fill ...

What is the difference between beef and dairy steers?

How to care for Holstein cattle?

They need to be dry and clean to optimize efficiency . Holsteins need a dry place to lie down and they also need at least 25 square feet minimum of dry bedding/shelter, plus another 25 square feet of open lot/feeding area. With a 12% higher maintenance energy requirement than colored cattle, this makes sense. Being dry, comfortable and stress-free takes less energy. Less energy used for maintenance means more NE for gain. Walk the cattle daily so you can observe them for eating and drinking patterns. Sick animals will also be apparent as you get them up.

What do you want in a group of cattle?

What do we want in a good group of cattle? The first thing with Holstein steers is single-source calves that are already started. These don’t necessarily have to come from one dairy (which is ideal), but started from one calf ranch. It is best if you can work directly with a calf ranch or another calf feeder to supply large numbers of calves. This model gives you control of the feeder supply and can really improve health and feedlot performance. In addition, knowing the cull rate and/or death loss of the group being purchased or the ability to choose from within a group will improve profitability.

What is the last management tool used in Holstein steer production?

One last management tool that is underutilized in Holstein steer production is the Kent NutriVantage + OptaFlexx product (8107). This product will produce extra gain and enhanced feed efficiency the last 30 days prior to harvest. NutriVantage will maintain intakes the last 30 days before slaughter, which is the time when appetite typically declines as cattle approach finish.

Why is it important to walk cattle daily?

Less energy used for maintenance means more NE for gain. Walk the cattle daily so you can observe them for eating and drinking patterns.

What is the advantage of Holstein steers?

Another advantage is uniformity of genetics — about 80 to 90 percent of Holsteins can be traced to three sires.

How long do Holsteins live on feed?

You can expect these animals to be on feed for 300 to 400 days. ”. Because of their frame size and gut metabolism, Holsteins have higher maintenance requirements. It takes more feed just to meet the calf’s daily nutritional needs than it does to keep a native beef steer alive.

What is the ugly thing about raising Holstein cattle?

Felix outlines some of what she calls ‘the ugly’ about raising Holstein beef . Holsteins tend to be pattern eaters more than native beef breeds. “Any beef calf will have a pattern where if it’s fed once a day it will eat up to 70 percent of total feed intake within the first six hours after feeding,” she said. “Holsteins seem to be even more like this — think about how we push feed to the Holstein cow and encourage them to come to the bunk to eat more. If we only put feed in the bunks once or twice a day, calves will run up to the bunk because they’re curious about humans and curious about new feed. They’ll consume, and throughout the rest of the day, they dawdle. The patterns they develop as a result of their interaction and relationship with humans is unique to the Holstein calf.” These pattern eaters have a greater risk for acidosis and potentially liver abscesses because they over-consume early and ruminate the rest of the day.

Why do Holstein calves play in water tanks?

Because of the increased feed and water intake, pens tend to be messier, so good facility design and drainage is essential. Felix noted that it’s part of Holstein calves’ nature to play, and they tend to play in water tanks. “If they’re on a bedded pack, you’ll have to consider more bedding to keep calves dry,” she said.

Is a steer calf a byproduct of milk?

While the bull, or steer calf was formerly thought of as a by-product of milk production, these animals now have significantly more value as beef. “In the past, that by-product has been extremely affordable because it wasn’t needed,” said Felix. “The dairy farmer needed the lactation but didn’t need the calf. We have come full circle on that. The question of whether they’re a by-product and ‘cheap’ starting out depends on the marketplace.”

Is there a right way to feed a beef calf?

Felix added that in the beef industry, there’s no ‘right’ way to feed a beef calf — grass, hay, corn, by-products or any combination of feeds there’s a genetic match for that system. In the Holstein feeding system, the advantage is that any Holstein calf fits into a program to finish within a certain weight range.

Is a Holstein steer good for beef?

While the temperament of the Holstein steer makes it easy to work with, most beef producers prefer an animal that moves away when pushed and knows how to work through a chute — a potential negative when it comes to efficiency. “The easy temperament can be frustrating,” said Felix. “You have to be okay with that. Getting upset and pushing isn’t going to get you anywhere with them.”

What is the feeding program for Holstein calves?

What is the primary goal of feeding calves grain from a young age and not feeding forage?

A primary goal in feeding the calves grain from a young age and not feeding forage, is to develop the rumen to adapt it to a grain-fed diet. Rumen papillae are developed with grain feeding and are needed to increase the ADG. Having the most ADG, from the start, is the goal.

What is calf fed?

The calf-fed feeding program requires starting the calves on milk or milk replacer and plenty of fresh water, with very little or no hay. The calves transition from milk to grain to the total mixed ration (TMR) that they will receive in the feedlot.

How old do calves have to be to be in a feedlot?

The program depends upon healthy calves entering feedlot environments at 20 weeks of age. Before then, the calves need to be protected from disease — particularly scours and respiratory illnesses — and acclimated to a grain-based, high-energy diet.

When do calfs get mixed rations?

The calf-fed diet is meant to “get them ready for the feedlot setting,” Cassie Youst, Penn State Extension Dairy Educator said. After three or four weeks of rumen development , total mixed rations can be introduced. At 16-20 weeks of age, the animals are ready to be moved to the feedlot.

Is Holstein beef profitable?

But that doesn’t mean that Holstein beef can’t be a profitable venture. Instead, it means that even experienced beef producers, or dairy farmers seeking to diversify into raising their own beef steers, need to learn how to get the most gain, for the least cost, while producing a Holstein carcass that grades well.

Do Holsteins marble well?

Holsteins “marble at a very young age,” and “are genetically primed to marble well,” Felix said. Their growth is predictable, as “the majority of our Holstein genetics in the United States come from three top sires.”