Author Topic: Heifer Ration (Read 2697 times)

[cowgirl_up_47 · « **on:** March 24, 2009, 08:36:05 PM »

We are looking at mixing our own feed, instead of using a commercial mix. We usually only show heifers. Last year we used a 14% cattle developer mixed with equal parts of rolled corn. We have also used wet beet pulp and vegetable oil in the mix before. I thought of using Calf Manna as part of a ration.

I know we can get corn, beet pulp, alfalfa pellets, oats, molasses, etc. I don't think we can get milo, soybean meal or cottonseed hulls...

Any suggestions on heifer rations?

Also, what do you feed to young calves? I have a bottle calf that I'm hoping to show later and I'm not sure what I should be feeding to keep her growing the way she should be. She's 2 months old now, and getting 2 1/2 bottles a day and some Calf Manna. The milk replacer is 20-20 all milk. When I wean her, I was going to give Calf Manna and ?, top-dressed with milk replacer.

Is this OK? Or should I feed something else? What age should she be weaned?

[cowgirl_up_47 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2009, 04:01:12 PM »

Anybody?

I found some rations on here, but some of them have things I can't find around here. I have also been having a hard time finding rations for heifers, instead of steers. Any help would be appreciated.

Davis Shorthorns · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2009, 05:21:09 PM »

I would go and talk with your local COOP about it.

cpubarn · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2009, 05:37:42 PM »

This was my first question on steer planet and RED was the only one that answered. I will admit her feed company was a little far away (Ohio to Iowa). I could not find that answer, here is mine.

WHat I am using now uses a Purina/Honor Grand 4 -T fyer as a base.

970# corn
430# oats
50# molasis
100# cottonseed hulls
50# beet pulp
400# Grand 4-T-Fyer

I hope this helps a little. Everywhere I go to look at heifers I look at their feed and ask about it. It is amazing how different everyones ration looks/works.

[cowgirl_up_47 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 26, 2009, 06:07:37 PM »

Quote from: Davis Shorthorns on March 26, 2009, 05:21:09 PM

I would go and talk with your local COOP about it.

Not many people around here show, and ones that do mostly do 4-H. It's just not very big around here. The people who do show won't tell you what they use. And the feed store people aren't very knowledgeable...

Quote from: cpubarn on March 26, 2009, 05:37:42 PM

This was my first question on steer planet and RED was the only one that answered. I will admit her feed company was a little far away (Ohio to Iowa). I could not find that answer, here is mine.

WHat I am using now uses a Purina/Honor Grand 4 -T fyer as a base.

970# corn
430# oats
50# molasis
100# cottonseed hulls
50# beet pulp
400# Grand 4-T-Fyer

I hope this helps a little. Everywhere I go to look at heifers I look at their feed and ask about it. It is amazing how different everyones ration looks/works.

Yes, it does help. It will give me another one to look at. Thanks

Wright-Way Simmental · « **Reply #5 on:** March 26, 2009, 07:03:15 PM »

A tip is to try and keep the oats and corn at approximately the same level it cost quite a bit more to do this in our area but we believe it is well worth it. Also in ours is soy hulls, cottonseed hulls, beet pulp, molasses, protein supplement, and a few other secret ingredients. Thought it might help a little but i cannot give out our ration as i was sworn to keep the recipe secret.

LazyGLowlines · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2009, 07:42:29 PM »

We have the local feed mill custom mix a feed for us, it is 40% rolled corn,40% rolled oats, 10% beet pulp, and 10% cotton seed. We learned of this from a herdsman who ran cattle for the Weyerhaeuser family here in WA (Lumber barons in the Pacific NW). He didn't add mollasses as it added a lot of weight to the finished product, in other words you get a lot more feed without it. The heifers and bull calves love it!

kimbaljd · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2009, 07:52:17 PM »

The people who do show won't tell you what they use.

Exactly right! You would think they have the Colonel's secret recipe!

linnettejane · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2009, 08:14:22 PM »

Quote from: kimbaljd on March 26, 2009, 07:52:17 PM

The people who do show won't tell you what they use.

Exactly right! You would think they have the Colonel's secret recipe!

or the secret ingredient in bush's baked beans!

Jill · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2009, 08:38:50 PM »

Quote from: kimbaljd on March 26, 2009, 07:52:17 PM

The people who do show won't tell you what they use.

Exactly right! You would think they have the Colonel's secret recipe!

That's not really a fair or accurate statement, I have posted our recipe on here and I know AAOK has also posted his and I believe in the post 3-4 above yours someone else has posted.

[cowgirl_up_47 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 26, 2009, 08:47:41 PM »

Is there anything you could use instead of cottonseed? I'm not sure if we can get it around here... I'll have to check.

RSC · « **Reply #11 on:** March 26, 2009, 08:49:51 PM »

Quote from: Jill on March 26, 2009, 08:38:50 PM

Quote from: kimbaljd on March 26, 2009, 07:52:17 PM
The people who do show won't tell you what they use.

Exactly right! You would think they have the Colonel's secret recipe!

That's not really a fair or accurate statement, I have posted our recipe on here and I know AAOK has also posted his and I believe in the post 3-4 above yours someone else has posted.

The heifer below is fed on the diet that Jill shared on here!

Tony

farwest · « **Reply #12 on:** March 26, 2009, 08:54:59 PM »

Quote from: LazyGLowlines on March 26, 2009, 07:42:29 PM

We have the local feed mill custom mix a feed for us, it is 40% rolled corn,40% rolled oats, 10% beet pulp, and 10% cotton seed. We learned of this from a herdsman who ran cattle for the Weyerhaeuser family here in WA (Lumber barons in the Pacific NW). He didn't add mollasses as it added a lot of weight to the finished product, in other words you get a lot more feed without it. The heifers and bull calves love it!

I guess i don't understand how you get alot more feed without molasses. This ration would be dusty in my opinion. During summer heat molasses i believe does wonders to increase palatability. The correct molasses product is hotter than corn per pound so it's not a waste. !00 lb. per ton i think is great in this type of ration. BTW, most co ops will order in cottonseed hulls for you.

linnettejane · « **Reply #13 on:** March 26, 2009, 08:57:08 PM »

here's a link to a past thread about the same topic...(jill's recipe)

http://www.steerplanet.com/bb/index.php?topic=7204.0

AAOK · « **Reply #14 on:** March 26, 2009, 09:16:53 PM »

Quote from: [cowgirl_up_47 on March 24, 2009, 08:36:05 PM

We are looking at mixing our own feed, instead of using a commercial mix. We usually only show heifers. Last year we used a 14% cattle developer mixed with equal parts of rolled corn. We have also used wet beet pulp and vegetable oil in the mix before. I thought of using Calf Manna as part of a ration.

I know we can get corn, beet pulp, alfalfa pellets, oats, molasses, etc. I don't think we can get milo, soybean meal or cottonseed hulls...

Any suggestions on heifer rations?

Also, what do you feed to young calves? I have a bottle calf that I'm hoping to show later and I'm not sure what I should be feeding to keep her growing the way she should be. She's 2 months old now, and getting 2 1/2 bottles a day and some Calf Manna. The milk replacer is 20-20 all milk. When I wean her, I was going to give Calf Manna and ?, top-dressed with milk replacer.

Is this OK? Or should I feed something else? What age should she be weaned?

I'm certainly not a Nutritionist nor an expert, but I have fed a lot of Show Heifers. The best advice I ever received was that you feed Steers and Heifers differently, but what you feed them should be the same. I think most people make the mistake of feeding heifers a ration too high in protein, and not high enough on fat. Another huge, and common mistake is changing the ration by continually adding and subtracting both key ingredients. The rumen system functions best when what goes in is the same every time.

I have shared my ration many times on this forum, others, and individually. Some use it, some don't. In your case, you have stated your unavailability of Cottonseed Hulls. You can equally substitute shredded Beet Pulp. Since you also cannot acquire Soybean Meal, you would need a little additional protein source which could come from some Alfalfa Pellets or even by increasing the percentage of Oats.

An essential item to any ration, overlooked by many is a High Quality Mineral! This can be either mixed into the ration (not recommended), top dressed (preferred), or offered free choice.

Here is a great ration. Use it, change it, or ignore it; just find what works, and leave it alone. Have your ration checked, and try to keep the protein 10 - 11%, fat 3.5 - 4.5%.

Pounds Per Ton:
1200 Corn
200 Oats
400 Cottonseed Hulls
100 Soybean Meal
100 Molasses

Moormans #168 mineral

Your calf - cut the milk replacer in half, and start feeding your show ration. Have the calf on full feed at 4 months (4% body weight)

Steer Planet - Show Steers and Club Calves Forum

Author Topic: Heifer Ration (Read 2697 times)

[cowgirl_up_47

Heifer Ration

[cowgirl_up_47

Re: Heifer Ration

Davis Shorthorns

Re: Heifer Ration

cpubarn

Re: Heifer Ration

[cowgirl_up_47

Re: Heifer Ration

Wright-Way Simmental

Re: Heifer Ration

LazyGLowlines

Re: Heifer Ration

kimbaljd

Re: Heifer Ration

linnettejane

Re: Heifer Ration

Jill

Re: Heifer Ration

[cowgirl_up_47

Re: Heifer Ration

RSC

Re: Heifer Ration

farwest

Re: Heifer Ration

linnettejane

Re: Heifer Ration

AAOK

Re: Heifer Ration

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