Lecture 23-24: Feeding Beef Cattle Flashcards
goals for beef cattle
➢ 90-95% calf crop weaned
➢ Calves that weigh over 500 lbs at 205 d
weaning
➢ Calves that will gain 2.5 lbs/d or more in the
feedlot
➢ Minimize costs – constantly search for
unconventional cheap feeds
➢ Optimize forage utilization
what are the factors to consider when formulating beef cattle diets?
- nutrient & additive balance
- source of protein & energy ingredients
- performance program desired
- mixing & handling characteristics of the diet/ingredients
body condition scoring:
score 1
score 6
score 9
score 1: sick/weak
score 6: high moderate
score 9: extremely fat
feeding newborn calfs
- milk with colostrum from the mother
- graze grass in the pasture with mother
creep feeding advantages & disadvantages
advantages:
* Heavier weaning weight (30-50lbs more)
* Less cow weight loss
disadvantages:
* Higher feed requirement
* Higher feed cost
* Overcondition replacement females
what is the creep diet?
▪ 80-90% grain
▪ 0-10% protein (SBM)
▪ 3-5% molasses
creep feed only if…
➢ Maximum calf weight at weaning
➢ selling calves at weaning
➢ planning to feed calves on high
energy ration
➢ Pastures are poor
➢ Calves are young and/or thin
➢ Calves are fall-born
➢ Calves are in dry lot
➢ Calves are weaned early
➢ Grain is cheap and cattle prices are high
DON”T creep if…
➢You plan to winter calves on high
roughage rations
➢Cows are good milkers and pasture is
abundant
➢Grain is expensive and calves are
cheap
how do you feed post-weaning calves?
➢ Feed: free choice hay plus 3-4 lbs grain/day
➢ Adjust feeding levels for:
▪ Cattle condition
▪ Cattle frame size
▪ Feed wastage
▪ Environment
▪ Feeding intentions
how do you feed heifers of 6-12 months?
▪ Summer: Forage (pasture, hay, silage) free choice – 3-6 lb.
grain/day
▪ Winter: Hay or silage or both – 3-6 lb. grain/day
▪ Grain composition depends on forage composition.
how do you feed heifers of 12-22 months?
▪ Summer: Forage is usually sufficient (pasture and hay if
needed)
▪ Winter: Hay or silage free choice.
▪ Grain or supplement only if forage is poor.
how do you feed heifers of 22-24 months?
▪ Forage – pasture, hay, silage or combination
▪ Grain – 2-8 lb. gradually increased
what is preconditioning for finishing beef cattle?
getting ready for shipment!
▪ Wean 30 days before shipping
▪ Blackleg and other vaccinations
▪ Castration; dehorning; grub control, deworming
▪ Accustomed to grain
what is backgrounding for finishing beef cattle?
a cattle feeder purchases lightweight calves and develop them from:
~300 lbs to 600 or 700 lbs and then sells
them for finishing purposes
what is the difference between preconditioning & backgrounding?
preconditioning: health
backgrounding: Body condition scoring
what are the main minerals for finishing beef cattle?
- calcium
- phosphorus
- salt
- potassium
- sulfur
why is calcium important for finishing?
▪ Adequate in forage-based rations
▪ Supplement with high concentrate rations
▪ Corn silage rations borderline
▪ Urinary calculi unless Ca:P > 2:1
why is phosphorus important for finishing?
▪ Adequate in high concentrate rations
▪ Supplement all-roughage rations
why is salt important for finishing?
▪ Supplement 0.25% of total ration or feed free
choice in block form
why is fat bad for beef cattle?
the microbes would be killed depending on the amount of fat being consumed
why is potassium important for finishing?
▪ Same as P
▪ Stressed calves may need 2X as much
why is sulfur important for finishing?
▪ Generally adequate
▪ Supplement with NPN
how do you feed yearling & 2-yr old bulls?
▪ Need additional management and feed to fully
develop
➢ Young bulls may need supplemental energy
(grain) during winter and grazing seasons.
how do you feed mature bulls?
maintained on
same feeding program as cow herd, however
consider:
▪ Larger animal size
▪ Condition
