Growing Beef Calf And Beef Cow Maintenance

Question 1

What is creep feeding?

Answer 1

Providing grain prior to weaning (free choice)
Momma (allegedly) can’t get access to it, but calves can

Question 2

T/F: Beef calves that are offered creep feeds tend to have higher weaning weights

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Define feed conversion

Answer 3

How much does it cost in feed to get a pound of gain

Question 4

Why is feed conversion an important concept in beef calves?

Answer 4

Beef calves are sold by the pound

If its a good year for selling calves (priced more per pound) and feed is cheap, it would be very economical to feed grain b/c get higher weaning weights and therefore they will sell for more (better profit)

Question 5

T/F: Creep feeding beef calves will help preserve cows body condition as the calves will be eating more in grain and less in milk

Answer 5

False - Calves will continue to guzzle down milk

Question 6

Heifers should be ______% mature weight at breeding

Answer 6

55-65%

Similar goals to dairy heifer (calve @ 24mo, pregnant @ 15mo, puberty @ 12-13mo)

Question 7

About how much should a beef heifer be gaining per month?

Answer 7

Rule of Thumb: 40-50lb/mo

1-2lbs/day between weaning and breeding to be cycling at breeding

Question 8

What two majors decisions drive nutritional budget of the beef cow?

Answer 8

When do you put in and take out the bull? Defines breeding season

When do you wean the calves? Determines when you can start putting weight back on the cow

Question 9

Beef cows should calve at a body condition score of _____

Answer 9

5-6

If they are less than a 4, you will see decreased number of pregnant cows the following breeding season - longer PP anestrus

Question 10

When is the ideal window for putting weight back on a cow?

Answer 10

Between weaning and late gestation