Lbs of feed

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amss101

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We've always followed the feed 2-3% of a steers body weight...someone I know was telling me how much they were feeding their steer and it was way above that ratio... is there any reason to feed way above that--i always assumed you could founder them if you pushed them to hard to fast...I'm not feeding mine anymore right now but should you if they'll eat more-a lot more?  Just picking everyone's brain.
 

vc

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Their are people in our 4H club who claim their steers are eating 36 pounds of feed a day, we never go over 25 pounds of grain plus free choice grass hay. Their calves do not have a higher gain ratio than ours, I think that once they eat more than they can convert it just ends up as fertilizer. I also have seen the amount of ground squirrels running around so the squirrels may be getting the extra 12 pounds.
 

AAOK

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It all depends on the animal, and how well they convert.  We always fed in the 4% range, and would sometimes go to 5% with younger calves that needed to be slowed in growth, but needed additional substance.  As fat as judges want calves now, I would guess the norm is now closer to 4% (even though most would have you believe they feed less).
 

olsun

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When I first started to read this, I decided not to reply, but I'm an old fool, and can't keep my mouth in check. I feel that the best way to feed cattle for market is to feed them at least twice a day at as near the same time as possible. Give the animal as much of your selected ration as he will clean up in about 20 minutes. After that time, take the unfinished feed away. He will tell you as he needs more. Feed hay as you choose between feedings. We usually feed lower quality hay for a source of roughage. Hay is only necessary to stimulate the rumen. The above is just the humble opinion of an old man. Thanks for reading it.
 

Show Dad

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Going to bring up an old post and not try to hijack this post at the same time.

We have discussed on here before about grading of the carcass of show steers and why the bulk of show cattle don't do well (Before someone bites my head off I understand there are those few that do). Could it be from over (push) feeding? Why so many post saying "my steer won't eat" or "my steer is off feed"? Could it be from over (push) feeding? Stress is a factor yes but can you stress a steer by over feeding?

Granted there are some feed rations that can for a time be feed at a higher rate. That said, it comes with some possible hazards.

Is it worth it? If it works. If not it will cost you. Ah, the choices in life.

But I will stick with the "old mans" advice above. JMHO
 

Nasc

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Mar 19, 2007
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Olsun-
Good philosophy and one we use. Like above I do not wish to hijack this topic but if I could go a little rouge here what is your opinion on feeding a standard steer mix from your local feed mill vs using one of these pretty packaged bagged feeds? 

 

olsun

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I would suppose it to be cheaper to feed a feed from your local feed mill than it would be to feed a commercial bagged feed. I would say to feed which ever works best for you. In our area we are seeing a lot of new byproducts from the ethanol plants. I'm not familiar with these yet. The one thing I would reccomend is to use an all natural protein supplement, as opposed to a supplement with urea as a protein. Cattle fed for a longer time on urea tend to have more bloat problems.JMHO.
 

simtal

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While were on the topic of percent body weight, I've heard that cattle on cottonseed meal based diets can have 5% body weight intake. 
 

Jill

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Gardner, KS
Agree with olsun, we feed what they will clean up, have never had a problem with poor carcass we are generally at the top at our fair.  As far as carcass, I think the holding for 3,4,5 months would do more harm than the pushing them.
 

amss101

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Aug 10, 2007
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We'll stick to the 2-3%, I always figure after we've weighted all three figures (2, 2.5, 3) and adjust to how they are looking--need more, holding good...I will say we go a little longer on the time.  We allow them about 40 min.  This is how long it takes my daughters and I to get ready after feeding before we leave in the mornings but I will say when we first started we used the 20-30 min. rule and we had very few steers that could clean it up and I think it was because they couldn't eat that fast.  40 may be a touch too long but you def. know what they wanted after that amount of time.  We feed free choice hay at night only because they make such a mess in their pens.  One thing we ran into this year on a steer we're trying to hold back a little was a water tank makes a huge difference when locked up in the barn.  We shut his daily gain down from 4lbs. a day to about 1.5 just by letting only have water at night.  Figure that one.  The rest of them got to keep their tanks.  Poor guy.
 

CAB

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  Agree 100% with Olsun on his thoughts about feeding cattle. It is the exact same way that my dad taught us and preached, and preached, and preached. same time twice a day, and cattle are on full feed @ all they can eat in 20 minutes. Water is the most important ingredient. I personally would not use water as a limit control. 2to 3% of a calf's body weight is all I've ever been able to get a calf to eat on average. You may have an exception to the rule, but not very often.
 
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