Steer Planet - Show Steers and Club Calves Forum

We really haven't sat down & penciled things out yet. i know we've decided not to go to the state fair this year. We'll only have smaller heifers & we usually get trounced because most are so much bigger than ours.
We'll probably be like you & use more homegrown forages.
I was reading an article today about the economics of feeding DDG's. They are certainly very cost benefical but it looks like you need to be feeding a large group since they tend to spoil very easily. The people they were interviewing feed out 3500 feed so it is cost benefical for them.
I think we'll be culling more cattle & selling heifers to the farm if they don't look like they're sellable or show material. Also the tests results will be a big factor. Will probably sell carriers to the farm feedlot.

Red   

knabe: I think a small amount of nitrogen comes out of the sky with snow. Old timers in kansas have said it.It sounds crazy and I used to think it was a joke, but I think there is something to it. No studies have been done on it that I know of. I wonder if the old practice of "backgrounding" may occurr. Just growing cattle at a slow rate on roughage up to 900# and then put the grain to them. The old frame score 7 and 8 cattle did well on 2 $ corn but I almost wonder if your frame 5 cattle with marbling genetics may come into fashion. With cost of gains running at .75 cents in feedlots I think you want to get feedlot cattle fat in a hurry and get them on the rail. I think the ethanol deal is a good deal because it creates jobs in small towns and ect. But high priced corn will weaning calf prices I think. There is also dried distillers grain byproducts that will keep alot longer but it is higher priced.