Any unknown tricks to fast-traking a steer ???

I have a realy good Heatwave steer that I am showing at a mid May county fair, the calf only weighs 750-800 lbs now and has a growth implant in as off about a month, know any good tricks to fast-tracking him???

So are you shooting for 1250 - 1300 lbs for final weight?  Thats about 450 pounds in 134 days or so. So thats at least 3.35 to 3.50 pounds a day gain needed.  We had a steer last year that we had to push the heck out of almost exact figures / timelines.  We tried a few things that really seemed to help in the end.  At least you are in the cooler months.  Ours was trying to gain in the middle of the summer as our fair is first of Sept. We used some Loomix with cellulator (spelling) and just poured a cup of it on their grain.  Seemed to get him to really clean it up.  A vet friend of mine also got us to using Diamond V yeast products.  A half a handful at each feeding of grain.  It really seemed to keep the bugs going in his stomach.  I really think these two things helped the steer eat the amount of feed he needed to get that 3.45 pounds a day he needed to gain. 

We use that Diamond V yeast and we live by it.  Never have a problem cleaning up the feed, just mix it right in the grain or just sprinkle it on top if you only have one steer.  Cheap way of going about your problem, only thing is don’t just pour it to him right away- Let him get used to it by steadily increasing to desired amount (about a half handful per head/feeding) over a 7 to 10 day period.

best of luck, ik those hw's can be picky eaters!

Which Diamond V culture do you use is saw an XP, XPC, and a YC

if you aren't feeding him with another calf you might try feeding him with one. Sometimes competition for feed helps.

Hes only been eating away from the other calves for about a month or two and thats when his appetite started to fade(no competition). Thanks for all the tips il put them to use, I always hate the dam light eaters !!!

Glu-Coat, that stuff is unreal. makes em eat so fast they dont even have time to chew. (thumbsup)

bk2005 said:

Glu-Coat, that stuff is unreal. makes em eat so fast they dont even have time to chew. (thumbsup)

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How is it fed?  We are getting some and I was told can be a sticky mess.

Im embarrassed to say I don't remember which type of the Diamond V we were using.  The bag broke and I put it in a tub.  My friend recommended it after using it on his senior project at Oregon State University steer barn.  Steer group A got the basic feedings of grain.  Steer Group B got same raions but were also fed the yeast.  Steer group B consistently were gaining up to .30 to .50 pounds a day more than Steer group a.  Keeping that rumin going just makes the "plumbing" work smoother. I'm a super believer in the Diamond V.  it's just hard to find in my neck of the woods.