what to feed holestien steers to put weight on

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.

Full Answer

What do you feed a holstein cow?

The preferred method for raising and finishing Holstein steers is to wean them onto a high-concentrate starter diet followed by sustained feeding of a high-energy diet until the desired finished weight is achieved. This method results in finished Holstein steers commonly referred to as “calf-fed” cattle.

What is the best age to feed Holstein steers?

The economic variables that affect profitability of feeding Holstein steers from 6 months old to finish are similar to those of feeding beef cattle. However, profitably feeding Holstein bull or steer calves from birth to 6 months old is more complicated.

How much corn silage does a Holstein steer eat?

Although the costs of corn silage and corn energy are similar, the moisture content of corn silage limits the amount of DM, and therefore energy, that steers consume. Corn Silage in Holstein Steer Diets(430 - 1100 lbs)

What percentage of dairy steers are Holsteins?

Finished dairy steers and heifers account for 16.2 percent of federally inspected steer and heifer beef production. Since Holsteins constitute 86 percent of the dairy cow population, Holstein steers and the few finished Holstein heifers are 13.9 percent of the fed steer and heifer supply. The marbling within Holstein beef can be extensive.

How do I fatten up my Holstein steer?

1:084:59Raising Calf-Fed Holsteins: Feedlot Nutrition - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe answer has to do with grain. And more specifically corn corn is the primary ingredient in usMoreThe answer has to do with grain. And more specifically corn corn is the primary ingredient in us feedlot diets it makes up as much as 80 to 90 percent of the total diet in most feed Lots.

What can I feed my steer to gain weight?

To gain 2.75 pounds a day, a diet with 80% TDN will need to be provided. Steers need to be placed on a 70% to 85% grain diet to finish adequately. During the last 100 pounds of gain, the diet may approach 85% grain content.

How long does it take to fatten a Holstein steer?

A target gain should be 2.4 to 2.6 pounds per day, reaching the 1,400 pound market weight in 18 months or less. With implants, steers can reach this weight in as little as 14 months. Once weaned and in the finishing phase, steers ideally should be fed a total mixed ration that's 80 percent grain on a dry matter basis.

How much corn do you feed a Holstein steer?

Feed conversion will be between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds of feed/lb of gain. This will require about 6,400 pounds of ear corn on a dry matter basis or 7,500 pounds on a 15% moisture basis.

What is the best feed to put weight on cattle?

Good quality grass hay will be a better choice or blend 2 pounds of alfalfa with 2 to 3 pounds of grass hay. Wheat bran or dried beet pulp are good feeds for adding bulk to a diet.

How much grain should a steer get 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.

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 should a 1 year old Holstein steer weigh?

Jersey Heifer GrowthAge (months)Body Weight (pounds)19310821221463155177418321711 more rows•Jul 28, 2017

What do you feed a Holstein cow?

Dairy cows often eat as much as 100 pounds of rations a day, made up of a balanced combination of forage, grain, mineral supplements and protein-rich feeds such as soybean meal. Forage is the basis for a cow's diet. This includes pasture grass in the spring and summer months, or it can be chopped grass (silage).

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.

Can you feed straight corn to cattle?

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 do I make my cows fatter?

5 Ways to Increase Cow WeightTips to Increase and Maintain Cattle Weight. Add Grain into Their Daily Diet. Prevent Illness and Parasites. Add a Weight Gain Supplement. Use Creep Feeders During Weaning. Prevent Cattle Shrink and Stress, Especially During Transport.Explore Farmco Creep Feeders. Meet Farmco Manufacturing.

How do you put weight on a beef cow?

0:010:40What to Feed Cattle to Fatten Them Up - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhat product do I believe in as far as to promote growth and not let cattle get too fat and to meMoreWhat product do I believe in as far as to promote growth and not let cattle get too fat and to me that's an easy answer. The fitters edge that's. That's a universal feed. I can feed a steer that and

How many pounds of grain does it take to finish a steer?

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.

What does beet pulp do for cows?

A combination of beet pulp and crop residues can be an economical substitute for hay, silage, or pasture in beef cow diets. Beet pulp contains highly digestible fiber making it a nice complement to poor quality residues or forages. It can be used as a component of a supplement or as an ingredient of a complete diet.

Why is it important to have a veterinarian for steer calves?

Vaccination is also important and should be designed with the assistance of a veterinarian. Care should be taken to minimize stress during castration and dehorning, and steer calves should be implanted with a growth promotant to increase weight gain and feed efficiency.

How much of the beef market is dairy steer?

Dairy steers contribute 15 to 20 percent of the fed beef market in the U.S. The economic variables that affect profitability of feeding Holstein steers from 6 months old to finish are similar to those of feeding beef cattle. However, profitably feeding Holstein bull or steer calves from birth to 6 months old is more complicated.

How does accelerated feeding help calfs?

Accelerated feeding programs increase calf growth, improve feed efficiency and usually improve health status of the calf. They will also increase feed costs, but those costs should be offset with improved performance, especially given the current value of weaned calves.

Why do heifers need accelerated feeding?

Many heifer-growers have implemented accelerated feeding to achieve higher growth rates while improving calf health. There are many versions of the accelerated program that include increasing consumption by twofold to 2.5-fold and may increase protein content of milk replacer powder ranging from 22 to 26 percent.

What are the factors that affect profitability in a feedlot?

Variables such as performance indicators and health status can have severe negative impact on profitability in the feedlot; however, trying to improve profits by improving growth, efficiency and health of these animals has smaller influence than previously discussed variables.

Which economic variables have the greatest influence on profitability in the feedlot industry?

Economic variables that have the greatest influence on profitability in the feedlot industry include purchase and selling prices and the cost of feed.

Does milk replacer lower fat?

Some milk replacers have decreased fat content to 15 percent. Feeding regimes using higher-volume consumption of milk replacer with higher protein concentrations can lower fat content of the powder without sacrificing lean tissue gain or hindering consumption of starter grain mix.

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.

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 ...

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 difference between beef and dairy steers?

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 and larger visceral organs, having mud on the hide, and having a greater proportion of live weight in head, feet, and leg bones.

Why do grains have a smaller particle size?

In contrast, grain-based diets result in decreased organ weights compared with forages because grains are 80 to 100% digestible and have a much smaller particle size, which allows them to have a faster rate of digestion and passage through the digestive tract.

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.

Is feed fed measurable?

However, this is often hard to do because cattle may be moved from pen to pen, and feed fed is not always measurable and recorded due to a lack of scales. One tool the Kent Nutrition Group offers is a Cattle Monitoring Program on an Excel spreadsheet. However, we can also look at the calculation in a different way.

How to get a cow fat?

If you really want to get him fat, hook up a t.v. out there and put on America's Funniest Cow Videos and give him a Happy Meal .

What do you want to marble with fat?

You want muscle mass marbled with fat for good cuts of meat.

Can you feed a dog grain after being on pasture?

Be sure not to suddenly feed him large amounts of grain after being on nothing but pasture. That can cause acidosis which can kill him

Is cracked corn good for cows?

Cracked corn will add fat, and create good marbling to the meat and he said Millet is a good feed that cows LOVE and it has high protein (build muscle mass) and its cheap. Aug 15, 2009. #3.

Do Holsteins make beef?

Start gradually and work up to full feed. Contrary to popular opinion, Holsteins do make satisfactory beef but it takes longer. They are bigger framed cattle than those bred for beef and it takes longer for them to quit adding muscle and to start adding fat for a nice finish.

How much grain should I feed my jersey steer?

Most will hit 1100 lbs at about 24-26 months and have a good degree of marbling. I will feed a little grain, like 1-2 lbs a day, for the last 2-3 months, for those that want it, which will add a little fat but the grass has to be GOOD. They don't get a big frame.

Why are Swiss not good for feeders?

The bones/frame will naturally grow to what ever their genetic code determines. One reason why swiss are not really liked for feeders because they are slow growing. ...nature of the breed.

Is jersey beef tender?

I have to agree that if you are wanting an animal to " finish" quicker, you are way ahead to go with a beef animal. But a jersey beef properly fed and finished to the right amount of ""FINISH"" is about the most tender and tasty beef there is.

Do Angus cross steers marble well?

But they do marble extremely well and I love the flavor of the jersey beef. If I could find me some angus/jersey cross steers I would pay good money and put them directly in my freezer :banana:

Can dairy animals get a potgut?

Yes dairy animals will get a pot-gut, when someone tries to get them on just hay or any lower protein roughage. They have been bred over the years to where they REQUIRE more protein and that means some type of grain and/or concentrate. Too much too soon and they will also get a potgut, as well as have all sorts of problems.

Can you fatten a beef calf?

Sounds expensive, you'd be better suited to get a beef calf and fatten it. Converts feed to flesh, dairy calves tend to get pot gutty when they fatten,before they get a good cover. No muscling