feeding new prospect heifers

[cornershack]

my daughter will be getting her new prospect shorthorn and cross bred heifers soon. what do you feed them,? % protein? fats etc... last year the breeder reccomende 12% we weren't really satified with her growth. we are in PA, buying spring feb march calves. yes we dewormed several times. she just didn't put finish on, she was stall confined daylight out dark. with fans durring daylight.  and it is a very reputable breeder here in PA.

ok is this to broad of a question or are all the talkative one just not on? should we increase the protein? this is not the first set of heifers we have raised, the older two daughters had angus several years back and they both gained well one was grand female the other was res female at our fair.

 

[AAOK]

Here is my canned Speech: Lots of success![color=red]
I have had so many requests for my Feed Program, that the ration is attached to the whole process.  We feed this ration to baby calves as early as two months, show heifers, show steers, breeding bulls, and as our winter protein supplement for the cows.  Our biggest success is being able to wean and fit show heifers for sale or show at four months of age.
Here it is:

ASKLUND ACRES program for feeding show calves.
www.clubcalves.com/asklundhome.htm

1.  Calves should be fed twice a day, the same time each day. Optimum is 6:00am & 6:00pm.

2.  Calves should be haltered and tied next to each other.... close enough to see each other eat, but far enough apart to not be able to reach one another's feed.

3.  After 15 minutes, they should be pulled from their feed, and the feed cleaned up.
(this teaches them to eat all their food quickly. Sure comes in handy at shows)

4.  Measure feed by pounds, not scoops.  They should eat 10 - 15 pounds of feed, twice daily, depending on the size of the calf.

5.  Make hay or pasture available year round.  I recommend small area containment from morning feeding to evening feeding, rinsing, brushing and showmanship work.

6.  Turn into larger area pasture with hay or grass for the night.  Make sure there is plenty of room to exercise.

Now here is our ration, per ton

1200 lbs. cracked corn
400 lbs. cotton seed hulls
200 lbs. steam rolled oats
100 lbs. soy bean meal
100 lbs. molasses

I top dress each calf 1 oz. per feeding Moorman's #168AU medicated mineral(the #s have changed, but this is the Standard Range mineral + Aureomycin).  A quality mineral is essential.  On the occasional need for a fat additive, I use ADM's Healthy Glo.  This is a 100% extruded rice bran developed for Race Horses.  1 pound per head per day.  It will increase muscle, hair & quality of hair coat.

That's our feed program. It has remained unchanged since 1996, and we have never had any breeding problems.
Dan Asklund
Ada, OK[/color]ss stories!

 

[cornershack]

thanks a bunch, we have ADm available, ill look in to it. we have a friend that will mix feed for us, do you see any benifit in using steam rolled corn etc? also the molasses are dry correct?

 

[AAOK]

Steam Roled corn is more palatable, but the price may not be worth it.  Wet Molasses

 

[cornershack]

point taken, very true. ok wet, thanks again. 

 

[AAOK]

Again, I ALWAYS stress that your Feed Program/Daily Grooming Routine is more important than what you feed.  However, your post, in regard to last year's calves, implied you needed less protien, more fat.

 

[cornershack]

they were on a 12% how much lower can you go, i dont think there is a mix out there less than 12. she added fat supplements. had a routine feed time twice a day washed or blew them out every day. had them under fans. we are not new to raising calves but not expert at club tecniques either. we are in pa and had a blistering summer up here. no not in the 100's but had more 90's this year than years past. thanks for the input. she also was feeding weighed feed and good hay. im guessing they had enough there was always wasted hay.  we are going to try the tying them to eat treatment. and the other things you mentioned. checked with the mill we used several years ago with success and they use the same recipe except they put in a mineral mix. we will be mixing our own with your reccomendations.  thanks