B. Calf Crop
1. Ration consists of dam’s milk plus pasture or forage that cows are fed
2. Creep Feeding
a. providing additional feed (usually energy) in such a way that only calves get it
b. Advantages Disadvantages
- ¯ weaning weight - higher feed costs
- cow weight loss
c. Greatest response when pasture is limiting
d. Minimizes stress and shrink at weaning
e. Question: Does producer keep or sell calves??
3. Preconditioning - preparing the feeder calf for feedlot adaptation before it leaves the production site.
a. Necessary
(1) Wean and start on grain no less than 30 days prior to sale, adjust to feed bunks and water troughs (ration similar to feedlot)
(2) Castrate, dehorn, and treat for grubs & worms no less than 3 weeks before sale
(3) Vaccinate for IBR, Parainfluenza, Pastruella spp., and Clostridial Spp. 3 weeks before sale
b. Optional
4. Should bring $3 to $5 / cwt more to recover costs of preconditioning
C. Replacement Heifers
1. Creep feeding replacements is debatable since weight gain is not marketed
2. Should be fed to attain 60-65% of anticipated mature weight at 15 months of age to calve 1st at 2 years of age.
- post weaning (7 to 15 mo. of age) ADG ~.75 to 1.25 lb/day
- low gains may delay puberty
- high gains may damage mammary developement
D. Bulls
1. Creep feed and then feed a high energy ration from weaning to 12-14 months of age.
2. Mature breeding bulls can maintain condition on same kind of pasture as the cow herd.
II. Finishing Rations for Market Cattle
A. General
1. The purpose of the finishing process is to produce beef that is desirable tot eh consumer.
2. Extreme Variation
- some go in at 400 lb and a few months of age
- some go in at 900 lb and over a year of age
3. Total dry feed intake will be from 2 to 3% of body weight, governed by energy content of the ration.
4. 400 lb calves - may want to feed roughage (~50%)
800 lb calves - full feed on grain
B. Nutritional Management of Finishing Cattle
1. Starting cattle on feed
a. Primary goal when cattle first arrive (few days) must be minimizing disease and death loss.
b. Extreme variation, so much judgement is needed.
- one method is to start on high roughage fed free choice and gradually replace roughage with grain. Antibiotics may be desireable for the first 10 days to 3 weeks.
2. Energy
a. Once cattle are on feed, the goal is to maintain maximum intake without causing digestive upsets.
b. Associative effects - effects that one feed can have on the utilization of another in the same ration.
(1) Can be negative or positive:
- negative exsists when concentrate is 60 to 75%; therefore the following feeding programs have been suggested:
(a) 2-phase
Phase 1 = ration contains 50 to 60% concentrate and fed from ~450 to 800 lb
Phase 2 = 800 lb to market, over 75% concentrate
(b) 1-phase = after adjustment to grain, increase to 75% or more concentrate and continue through market