What's best to feed to put some cover on?

Haynes Livestock · Feb 16, 2010

I've been feeding a simple diet with a 14% protein pellet (2.5% fat) and beet pulp, along with all the long stem hay my heifer will eat. I'm now wanting to fill her in around her hooks and loin, just to smooth her out. She just needs some cover! We ordered steam rolled corn, but I'm aware that feeding too much will cause her to lose her hair. Is there a better alternative? I've looked at Golden Flo from Sullivan Supply and also Show Bloom, but I don't know if that will give me what I'm wanting. I will also be starting her on Full Tank soon, just to give her that nice spring of rib. Our first show is in a month. Thanks for the help!

BrechtCattleCo · Feb 16, 2010

Im all for the Golden Flo it is great, but for heifers idk if it would work as well because what it does is adds fat to make them bloomy and you really dont want heifers that fat. I would not feed the golden flo in this case but it does work for steers. I even feed it to growing calves to add a little flavor and oil to the feed.

Just my opinion though!

Haynes Livestock · Feb 16, 2010

That's the kind of thing I want to hear! I just honestly don't know. You would think with all the nutrition classes I've had in Animal Science at NCSU I'd be able to figure these things out, but nutrition is sometimes way over my head.

So instead of the Golden Flo what would you suggest? Because I definitely do not like heifers that are too fat.

BrechtCattleCo · Feb 16, 2010

What I would do is feed her less of her grain and add a little of that goldon flo, If you do not feed her as much grain she will not gain weight she will just get enough to fill her appetite. And if you give her golden flo it will replace the little bit of feed that you took out of your ration and will give her that desierable cover.

Do you get what im saying?
I think it will work well.

Haynes Livestock · Feb 16, 2010

Yes that makes perfect sense! That will help make the Golden Flo go farther too, which makes me feel better about it since it is somewhat expensive. I know they say add 6-8oz to the feed.. so would you cut that down to 4 oz or so, with less of the feed & beet pulp? We were trying to feed her 2% of her body weight in feed & beet pulp (which is around 20 pounds) but she isn't always cleaning that up.

BrechtCattleCo · Feb 16, 2010

Yeah what I would do is feed her about 6lbs. in the morning with 2-3 oz. of golden flo and the same at night. If she seems really hungry make sure she has hay and feed her a tick more feed but I dont know if I would be feeding any heifer more than 14-15 lbs a day, they just get too fat and then dont want to breed, a buddy of mine was feeding a heifer to show and got her fat, yes she looked good but still to this day she will not AI breed or bull breed.

If you have any other questions let me no, I love helping other people.

BrechtCattleCo · Feb 16, 2010

Oh yeah and the golden flo does not effect the hair, my steer has 6-8 inches of hair around his body not joking either I body clip him every other week because it gets to shaggy. It wont effect it in the summer either or hot seasons whenever that is for you because my steer last year had plenty of that nice shiny hair!

I hope it all works out for you!

Haynes Livestock · Feb 16, 2010

Oh okay well thanks! I've always heard everyone around here preaching "feed at least 2% of their body weight" so that's what we were trying to do. She's by no means fat now or anything, but I understand what you're saying. Just as long as she'll keep growing and puts on the right amount of fat that's all that matters! And I definitely want to be able to breed her. Our hot season is coming up around May (I'm in NC) so I'm glad it won't affect the hair. Thank you so much for all the help! There's so many different things I've heard and it's hard to figure out what to do. Everything you've said has made sense though.. so thank you! I will be sure to let you know if there's anything else I need help with!

stangs13 · Feb 16, 2010

Haynes Livestock said:
Oh okay well thanks! I've always heard everyone around here preaching "feed at least 2% of their body weight" so that's what we were trying to do. She's by no means fat now or anything, but I understand what you're saying. Just as long as she'll keep growing and puts on the right amount of fat that's all that matters! And I definitely want to be able to breed her. Our hot season is coming up around May (I'm in NC) so I'm glad it won't affect the hair. Thank you so much for all the help! There's so many different things I've heard and it's hard to figure out what to do. Everything you've said has made sense though.. so thank you! I will be sure to let you know if there's anything else I need help with!

If you want to go a cheaper route, try HSC power fuel..we feed it to our heifers, and it does a great job of putting on the right amount of cover without getting her to fat, it will not burn the hair, in fact it helps grow hair, it also contains TASCO which lowers the body temp to keep calves on feed and grow hair. You wont have to decrease her feed either...The GF will give you your results a bit quicker as it is 99% fat( I think), but you run the risk of getting her to fat if your not careful! Good luck!

Haynes Livestock · Feb 16, 2010

Oh that sounds like it would work great! Yeah, I've heard of TASCO, so that would be wonderful. I'm going to try that! Where can I get it?

Haynes Livestock · Feb 16, 2010

Nevermind, HSC = Honor Show Chow. Duh. haha

stangs13 · Feb 16, 2010

Haynes Livestock said:
Nevermind, HSC = Honor Show Chow. Duh. haha

Yup!! Haha, you can also try there finishing feed, Finishing Touch if you really need more finish, but you would be fine with the feed you have and power fuel. Just contact your local Purina dealer!!

Haynes Livestock · Feb 17, 2010

I think I will! That will be the cheaper route for sure. Thanks for everyone's help tonight, I've learned a lot! haha

What's best to feed to put some cover on?

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