Is there a way to add finish with minimum weight gain??

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SlickTxMaine

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Feb 11, 2009
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Hi, my son's steer currently weighs 1170 and his show is Feb. 26Th.  We will need to start really working on getting enough finish on him these last 80 days, but don't want him to get too heavy.  I know muscle weighs more than fat, but is there a way to get adequate finish on him without breaking the scale?  Any suggested products.  I am considering adding High Octane.
Thanks.
 

OH Breeder

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That gives you about 2 months. If you are gaining a min of 3#'s a day you add an additional 90-100#'s. I do not know your son's steer but from what we have seen locally is most competative show steers are at the 1250# to 1350# mark. At this point keeping him on feed is more important than changing his diet. If you are going to change the diet ,my opinion, you should be adding finish and cover at this point. I have changed feed program and set calf back and they go off feed. If you have a feed consultant talk with them about your ration. Adjusting the fat and protein ration will help. The last 30 days or so if you are fat enough Opti-Flex will add muscle. If you aren't fat enough it will ring one out pretty quick. JMO

 

SlickTxMaine

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OH Breeder, 
    Thanks for the reply.  We have exactly 81 days to weigh in.  At 3 lbs a day, that will be 243 lbs added.  We really wanted to pour the finish to him, but would like to stay below 1400. 
 

vc

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Try "MoorMan's ShowTec® Fast Fat No. 11156" or Stabilized Rice Bran. You can also use barley or corn to help add fat.
We fed Stabilized Rice Bran last year for the last 90 days and calf had a nice even finish, we used the pellets, calves clean it up better. We fed 2 pounds a feeding as a top dress, helps the hair as well.
 

OH Breeder

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So you know what he is gaining? Toward the end of the finishing cycle they tend to slow on the rate of gain in some cases. I suggest one weighing your calf frequently. We live close to a grain elevator so we can weigh our steers toward the end quiet frequently. i need to jusy in vest in a set of scales. We adjust the feed ration accordingly. The last 60-90 days we make sure there is some barley in the ration to add nice smooth hard finish. I never had lucky with the supplements with the exception of Opti. Easy supplement to add is calf manna. It also helps the coat etc and improves feed consumption.
 

SlickTxMaine

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Feb 11, 2009
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He was gaining 3-4 lbs. a day for a good while.  We reduced his intake recently and he is still gaining 3 lbs a day consistently.  He will definitely need to put on the finish from now until the end, but again worried about putting on too many lbs.  Does the rice bran work better than cooked corn?? 
 

kwl

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Dec 8, 2009
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Keep him going with the same ration you are giving today but with a liquid fat top dressing. There is a zillion different ones out there and they are all about the same, we have have a fairly local one by us that we like a lot. Then when he hits that magic 1300 lbs mark (probably in about a month or so), or whatever weight he is finished at, put him on a 4-5 lbs. beet pulp, 1-2 lbs. wheat bran, 1-2 lbs. of oat grotes, and the most important 2 scoops (there is a scoop that comes in our bags I can check the exact measurement if needed. About a cup and a half i would guess) of non-medicated milk replacer along with 3 lbs. of his normal grain. This ration will put the brakes right on one and will not sacrifice the finish by making them stale or by making them starve. The variance in the beet pulp, wheat bran, and oat grotes are depending on how much you have to play with weight-wise and if you need to take any weight off or not. If you have any questions, pm me, and i can be of help or detail. Feeding cattle is definitely a science and every calf gains and converts feed differently but this is a mix we found to work really well for us through the years to help hold one.
 
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