I have 20 crossbread heifers I am retaining to breed at 15mo of age. I still have plenty of green grass right now and keep free range mineral out for all my cows. How much if any feed ration should I provide to them. Right now I give them 100lbs of 14% creep feed every 4 days.
Heifer Feeding
- Thread starter Double L
- Start date
Faster horses
Well-known member
Since I'm not familiar with Texas grass, I couldn't help you, but I do
think you need to feed them protein more than once every 4 days.
They don't need protein every day, but it seems like every 4 days is pushing it. It's all about RUMEN FUNCTION...remember that...and protein
stiumlates the rumen. Can you give them some every other day? Or even every third day?
Energy should be fed every day...
think you need to feed them protein more than once every 4 days.
They don't need protein every day, but it seems like every 4 days is pushing it. It's all about RUMEN FUNCTION...remember that...and protein
stiumlates the rumen. Can you give them some every other day? Or even every third day?
Energy should be fed every day...
Turkey Track Bar
Well-known member
Double L:
I don't have many answers for you, but would suggest you contact the Texas A&M Extension Service. They have many well respected staff members could help you develop a plan and develop a ration, with your forages, available feedstuffs, breed type, drought conditions, etc. in mind.
I don't know as if this was the answer you really wanted, but I think it's one that will be pretty useful.
Cheers---
TTB :wink:
I don't have many answers for you, but would suggest you contact the Texas A&M Extension Service. They have many well respected staff members could help you develop a plan and develop a ration, with your forages, available feedstuffs, breed type, drought conditions, etc. in mind.
I don't know as if this was the answer you really wanted, but I think it's one that will be pretty useful.
Cheers---
TTB :wink:
Faster horses
Well-known member
1.25# per day is all they are getting when you break it down. It would take a lot more to make them fat. In fact, I'm not sure you aren't wasting your money at the rate you are feeding them...let us know what you find out from your extension agent.
Good luck!!
Good luck!!
Faster horses
Well-known member
I would need to know more what the pellets consist of.
What can you tell me? How old are these heifers now?
When do you plan to breed them? What type of grass are they
on now? Do you have any idea of the protein in your grass?
Here we do what Silver does without the protein tubs. Straight hay and mineral all winter.
We have fed Forage Pro supplement one year when the hay wasn't
all that good. It's 22% protein and we fed it so they ate close to one
pound per head per day. But soy is almost 100% digestible, whereas
other protein sources are not as digestible.
Granted, your cattle in Texas don't require the energy the northern
cattle do, as it isn't as cold there. Or I should ask, "is it cold there?"
I really think your extension office will be able to help you out.
Or talk to your mineral supplier. They should be able to advise you,
unless they are a feed dealer...then they'll most likely try to sell you more protein... :shock:
They do need to be on the gain to breed up good. Cattle get strong on protein, they don't gain. Energy is what makes them gain.
What can you tell me? How old are these heifers now?
When do you plan to breed them? What type of grass are they
on now? Do you have any idea of the protein in your grass?
Here we do what Silver does without the protein tubs. Straight hay and mineral all winter.
We have fed Forage Pro supplement one year when the hay wasn't
all that good. It's 22% protein and we fed it so they ate close to one
pound per head per day. But soy is almost 100% digestible, whereas
other protein sources are not as digestible.
Granted, your cattle in Texas don't require the energy the northern
cattle do, as it isn't as cold there. Or I should ask, "is it cold there?"
I really think your extension office will be able to help you out.
Or talk to your mineral supplier. They should be able to advise you,
unless they are a feed dealer...then they'll most likely try to sell you more protein... :shock:
They do need to be on the gain to breed up good. Cattle get strong on protein, they don't gain. Energy is what makes them gain.
Faster horses said:I would need to know more what the pellets consist of.
What can you tell me? How old are these heifers now?
When do you plan to breed them? What type of grass are they
on now? Do you have any idea of the protein in your grass?
Here we do what Silver does without the protein tubs. Straight hay and mineral all winter.
We have fed Forage Pro supplement one year when the hay wasn't
all that good. It's 22% protein and we fed it so they ate close to one
pound per head per day. But soy is almost 100% digestible, whereas
other protein sources are not as digestible.
Granted, your cattle in Texas don't require the energy the northern
cattle do, as it isn't as cold there. Or I should ask, "is it cold there?"
I really think your extension office will be able to help you out.
Or talk to your mineral supplier. They should be able to advise you,
unless they are a feed dealer...then they'll most likely try to sell you more protein... :shock:
They do need to be on the gain to breed up good. Cattle get strong on protein, they don't gain. Energy is what makes them gain.
See that is what I was thinking. I asked the guy at the feed store what he recommended and he said 5lbs. a day per head. So that is 100lbs of feed a day or about $100-125 dollars a week in feed. It just didn't seem reasonable to feed them 5lbs of feed per day when they aren't dropping off.
I have been giving them Lone Star commercial calf creep pellets so far.
http://www.lonestarfeed.com/pdffiles/1665.pdf
It says feed up to 7lbs per day, but I just think they will get too fat doing that, and I want them to be able to stay up on grass and minerals alone later on.
Faster horses
Well-known member
I took a look.
Processed grain by-products, roughage
products (30%), plant protein products,
grain products, calcium carbonate, cane
molasses, salt, vitamin A acetate, Dactivated
animal sterol (source of vitamin
D3), vitamin E supplement, sodium
selenite, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate,
ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate,
ethylenediamine dihydriodide, cobalt carbonate.
------------------------------------------------------------------
You really have NO IDEA what is in this feed. Nothing is
guaranteed. You have no way of knowing what the protein
source is. I hate it when feed stores do this.
I do like that it is all-natural protein--at least that is what
they say. :shock:
I'm no nutritionist and I'll ask the one I deal with, but
I doubt if they can tell me much with this little amount of
information.
You do know you are feeding CTC in that feed, don't you?
I don't think your heifers need that...and it runs the cost up...
our customers feed it in their mineral after calving to get their
cows ready for rebreeding and they feed it only for a window of
time. I see NO reason for you to be feeding it to virgin heifers.
In fact, I would discourage you from doing so.
Now, if they recommmend feeding 7 lbs. per head per day, and you
are only feeding 1.25#, do you see why I made the comment that you
might just be wasting money feeding at that rate? Remember, protein
does not make cattle fat...energy does. And it takes a lot of energy.
What do feedlot steers get fed? 20 lbs. of corn per head/per day? More?
I'll check and get back to you. But I wouldn't buy any more feed with CTC for those virgin heifers.
BTW, what do they weigh now? How old are they? When do you want to breed them? You should have a target weight at breeding time.
I agree not to spend money you don't need to. But remember, we are 90-120 days behind the cattle. What you do now, will show up 90-120 days
from now. I would think you wouldn't have to supplement anything, but I'm not sure of that, as I don't know your area.
Hope this helps!
Processed grain by-products, roughage
products (30%), plant protein products,
grain products, calcium carbonate, cane
molasses, salt, vitamin A acetate, Dactivated
animal sterol (source of vitamin
D3), vitamin E supplement, sodium
selenite, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate,
ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate,
ethylenediamine dihydriodide, cobalt carbonate.
------------------------------------------------------------------
You really have NO IDEA what is in this feed. Nothing is
guaranteed. You have no way of knowing what the protein
source is. I hate it when feed stores do this.
I do like that it is all-natural protein--at least that is what
they say. :shock:
I'm no nutritionist and I'll ask the one I deal with, but
I doubt if they can tell me much with this little amount of
information.
You do know you are feeding CTC in that feed, don't you?
I don't think your heifers need that...and it runs the cost up...
our customers feed it in their mineral after calving to get their
cows ready for rebreeding and they feed it only for a window of
time. I see NO reason for you to be feeding it to virgin heifers.
In fact, I would discourage you from doing so.
Now, if they recommmend feeding 7 lbs. per head per day, and you
are only feeding 1.25#, do you see why I made the comment that you
might just be wasting money feeding at that rate? Remember, protein
does not make cattle fat...energy does. And it takes a lot of energy.
What do feedlot steers get fed? 20 lbs. of corn per head/per day? More?
I'll check and get back to you. But I wouldn't buy any more feed with CTC for those virgin heifers.
BTW, what do they weigh now? How old are they? When do you want to breed them? You should have a target weight at breeding time.
I agree not to spend money you don't need to. But remember, we are 90-120 days behind the cattle. What you do now, will show up 90-120 days
from now. I would think you wouldn't have to supplement anything, but I'm not sure of that, as I don't know your area.
Hope this helps!
TexasBred
Well-known member
Double L said:
If you've got plenty of grass i wouldn't change anything for now. What grain you're feeding right now is really just an added unnecessary expense. If they're in good shape they'll breed.
Mike
Well-known member
Heifers that age need to gain at least a pound of weight per day. Conception rates are a concern for you soon.
Don't worry about them not doing good later on grass alone. No matter how much feed they eat as yearlings they will never forget how to graze.
http://www.extension.umn.edu/Beef/components/homestudy/nlesson3.pdf
Don't worry about them not doing good later on grass alone. No matter how much feed they eat as yearlings they will never forget how to graze.
http://www.extension.umn.edu/Beef/components/homestudy/nlesson3.pdf
Thanks for the advice. The heifers will be a yr old in dec/jan and weigh around 600lbs right now. They are mixed breed (some braford, brangus, hotlander) X Hotlander bull. I plan on breeding them to 2 angus bulls i recently purchased around april/may.
Mike
Well-known member
Double L said:
You'd better get them gaining pretty good then. At that age and weight I would target them for 1 1/2 lbs. per day gain.
One question for you to ponder.......do they really need a feed that's medicated with chlorotetracycline?
Faster horses
Well-known member
I questioned the CTC too, Mike. I woudn't advise it, plus it makes the feed more expensive and in this case, a bit of additional gain is not a
good enough reason to feed it.
He's got 5 months yet til breeding. At one lb. day they would weigh 750 lbs. at breeding. That works here...but these are purebred Angus heifers. Maybe those crossbred heifers need to weigh more. They need to reach puberty to breed regardless...
good enough reason to feed it.
He's got 5 months yet til breeding. At one lb. day they would weigh 750 lbs. at breeding. That works here...but these are purebred Angus heifers. Maybe those crossbred heifers need to weigh more. They need to reach puberty to breed regardless...
TexasBred
Well-known member
Double L said:
Get rid of the CTC. Not enough in there to help or hurt but will add to the selling price of the feed just because it's there. Lone Star has a history of making good feed.....this is not one of them. If you want to feed a complete feed buy a textured type feed so you can at least see the corn content. Jsut keep in mind you want to grow these heifers "up", not "out". Best Wishes.
Larrry
Well-known member
If they are getting good green grass then they shouldn't need a protein supplement.
Check this out
http://www.feedsandfeeding.com/index.php?next=cowpie
Check this out
http://www.feedsandfeeding.com/index.php?next=cowpie