Feeding Simmental Hfrs and not getting heavy fronted

[badwolf]

Was curious on the key to feeding Simmental hfrs through the winter and early spring and not getting them to heavy fronted. I know you want to stay away from the corn, but curious if anyone had any other suggestions. Heavy fiber and oats? Feeding 1% of bodyweight with unlimited hay? I know there is an art to feeding this breed to keep the mass of body without blowing the front ends apart. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[firesweepranch]

By heavy fronted, do you mean the leather, or just coarse and bold? We feed our simmis no different than anything else, because it is just genetics. Some have more front than others, and I really do not think feed will make a difference (at least not enough to worry). A good clip job can help though!  ;D
Now with that, we just feed a cheap winter creep, about 8 pounds per head per day, and free choice hay (fescue bales we produce on our farms). That is it, along with a good mineral. We switch to our show feed around the end of March, beginning if April (AAOK recipe) and stay with that until September when they get kicked out to pasture to be a cow.
Our goal is to raise a female that can show, but more importantly be a cow for the rest of her life. That is where the money is for us!

 

[badwolf]

Yes genetics and beginning phenotype is key to start with to ending with a heifer you like at the end. I have just experienced several Simmi hfrs that if you push hard or really pour the coal to will really start to pull apart in the shoulders as well as develop a lot more brisket then is desirable