High flank steers

Yes it is me again, i have another question for you planeters..  What is some good ways of lowing a steer rear flank when it is to high?
thank you


Hope every one had fun at the San Antonio Stock show.  My sons char. made it to the top 10 in the light wieght but placed 9th.  and we are going to Houston with him now. i would like to have his flank lower.  that i why i am asking the above question. 

thank you

Can you post a pic??

I would say to maybe try the cooked corn ration or maybe even some barley. This should get some more finish on him which would aid in dropping that flank a little more.

Dry or wet beet pulp will bring the flank down. Feed it at a rate of between 10 and 20 percent of their ration (if they get 10 pounds per day, give them 2 pounds of beet and 8 pounds of feed).

klintdog said:

Dry or wet beet pulp will bring the flank down. Feed it at a rate of between 10 and 20 percent of their ration (if they get 10 pounds per day, give them 2 pounds of beet and 8 pounds of feed).

Click to expand...

Now would that be 2 lbs of wet or dry?

i beleive beet pulp is fed wet

zach said:

i beleive beet pulp is fed wet

Click to expand...

We're feeding it dry right now....feed it wet in the warmer months.

Davis Shorthorns said:

klintdog said:

Dry or wet beet pulp will bring the flank down. Feed it at a rate of between 10 and 20 percent of their ration (if they get 10 pounds per day, give them 2 pounds of beet and 8 pounds of feed).

Click to expand...

Now would that be 2 lbs of wet or dry?

Click to expand...

2 lbs dry or 2 lbs dry before it's wet... take your pick.

I prefer feeding dry, but I can see feeding it wet in the summer to help "cool" the animals a little. 

I'm told getting them finished as quickly as possible can drop the flank, or feeding beet pulp.  Feeding beet pulp isn't going to do anything for heating up the ration and getting some finish on them though.  Any thoughts.

farwest said:

I'm told getting them finished as quickly as possible can drop the flank, or feeding beet pulp.  Feeding beet pulp isn't going to do anything for heating up the ration and getting some finish on them though.   Any thoughts.

Click to expand...

Beet pulp or silage will expand the gut, which will drop the flank.  I'd start with the beet pulp or the silage early on.  Most start their calves on silage the very 1st thing to get more capacity.  We don't put up or feed silage, but I know people that do & it works.   

Is beet pulp a roughage source, can you swap it in for some hay to keep the ration hot.

farwest said:

Is beet pulp a roughage source, can you swap it in for some hay to keep the ration hot.

Click to expand...

I think it IS a source of roughage, but you would have to feed a pretty good amount of it to swap it out for hay.  We feed around 33% of our ration as beet pulp to heifers, and we still feed a good amount of hay. 

Horse people feed beet pulp to stretch hay, so, yes, beet pulp is a source of roughage.   However, it's got slightly more TDN than corn silage, a lot more TDN than cotton seed hulls & it has more calories per lb. than early cut alfalfa, so it's not exactly diet cola.  Like OFS said, you'd need to feed a lot of it to notice them backing off the hay, but you could get some extra roughage in your ration by feeding it.  You still need to feed some hay.  At least 1 flake per day to a steer, IMHO.  Heifers are different & I personally like to free choice the hay on them.   With that said, I'm not a nutrition expert & I'd talk to one. 

We free choice hay and feed beet pulp to ones we are trying to hold or beginning to limit feed, just remember beet pulp is a filler so the more they eat the less feed they will eat, for a steer you're trying to finish it's not always the best option.

Beet pulp (wet or dry) works good, which ever way they will eat it.  We are feeding our heifers & steers a product by Kent Feeds called Winning Fill, which is a unique blend of timothy hay, alfalfa hay, steam flaked corn, steam flaked beans, Kent First Rate Baby Beef 24, and molasses.  It work wonders at during long stays at the fair grounds.  Also some soy based oil (Golden Flo or Power Plus) can smooth them up and acheive some fat cover in his flank area.