Simmental heifer turned 2 this week. She will be shown at Ft. Worth, San Antonio, and hopefully Houston. All in the jr. shows. Due to calve on Feb. 24. She is definately not fat at this point. Currently feeding purina full control mixed 50/50 with purina/honors finisher. She won't eat the full control straight, but it was a way to get more guts as she wasn't a fan of beet pulp and full tank no longer available in area. She was turned out to pasture from April to August so needed to gain some condition. Looking pretty good right now, but not sure how to feed her with the shows, travel, etc., and keep calf from getting to big. She is a Star Power daughter. Any advice? Oh, she's eating about 28 lbs. a day. (split into2 feedings)
feeding show heifer in last weeks of pregnancy
- Thread starter Simmimom
- Start date
vc
Well-known member
Depends on what you want more, win the shows or a easier calving. I would put her on grass hay for these last 2 months if it were me. At this point the calf is really going to start growing, she should fill out with the calf and not need to be filled with the other.
CAB
Well-known member
Keep Feeding her & have your vet on speed dial!! 
CAB
Well-known member
Simmimom, I hope that you know that I was kidding in the post above.
If she were mine & I was planning on showing her,I would try my best to have in the best show condition that I possibly could, and I would hope that she is bred to a very predictable easy calving sire and worry about getting the calf born safely when it's time. One thing at a time.
If she were mine & I was planning on showing her,I would try my best to have in the best show condition that I possibly could, and I would hope that she is bred to a very predictable easy calving sire and worry about getting the calf born safely when it's time. One thing at a time.
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outlawcattlecompany
Well-known member
Depending on the female, I usually get away with feeding about 6 pounds a day of show feed and free range hay (we use Fitters Edge). Most show heifers will hold their condition very well during this part of their life...enjoy it. Heavy bred heifers are usually cheaper to feed than about anything else. I've also just fed whole oats and beet pulp before. It really just depends on the heifer and how she conditions. People seem to get insanely paranoid during the last trimester which isn't necessary.
Good Luck
Good Luck
OLD WORLD SHORTIE
Well-known member
feed very little and give her all the hay she wants. Works very fine for me.
beefmasterboy24
Well-known member
That is exactly right! She will get to fat and kill herself and the calf if you feed her like a show heifer. She might end up with some awesome calves in the future but if shes dead....vc said:
mlazyj
Active member
depends on were you live . If your not fighting cold weather (below 10 above) feed her what a cow needs 11 % protien , 60% TDN hay , and a good mineral and salt . They're worth alot more alive than dead. Get the calf on the ground and mothered up good you can feed her up later.
She didn't stick AI, so we ended up on a registered simmental bull used for calving ease in a commercial herd. They've never had to assist any of the cows/heifers he has bred (mixed herd of simmental, angus, brahmans). We stressed that we didn't necessarily want a big named sire for this 1st (hopefully) calf... just a good delivery/result. Would you suggest not feeding her grain after San Antonio and just turning her out for those last couple of weeks? I'm in the Houston area so we don't have to deal with snow or super cold.
chambero
Well-known member
Amount of feed over the last trimester in general is what matters. Pulling feed away the last few weeks isnt going to matter. You arent likely to have trouble with a Simi anyway. At this point feed her to win. If you've never pulled a calf, make sure you make arrangements to have someone on call if you need to.
stangs13
Well-known member
Send me a pm and I can tell you where to get full tank in our area!
Good news, she was palpated last night and everything seems to be on track. Vet said she didn't feel all fat inside either so I guess we will just keep feeding the same, and plan to induce if she hasn't delivered by 2 days after her due date (providing everything feels "right" upon palpation at that time.
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