Holding a Steer

[Alimoore97]

I have a steer that weighs 928 as of now. Our Beef Futurity is in mid July and they can weigh no more than 975. We have tried several ways to hold him but to maintain a "fresh" look but he is still gaining so much weight. Right now he is getting a scoop of feed and a scoop of crimped oats morning and night. Before, we were feeding a scoop of feed, scoop of cottonseed hulls, scoop of wheat bran, and a scoop of crimped oats. Any advice on controlling this steers weight gain?

 

[5PCC]

Here is some advice that was posted by someone else in the past. I've held onto it incase I ever needed to use it. So far, I haven't needed it. My cattle all quit eating when it gets hot in the summer.

Feed him 3 scoops of Oat Grotes, 1/2 cup of Non-medicated Milk Replacer, 1 scoop of normal grain, and 2 scoops of beet pulp twice daily. I am considering 1 scoop to be about equal to a pound. If he won't eat this ration wet than feed it to him dry. The oat grotes and milk replacer are the key ingredients that a lot of people do not know about. We held a steer from our state fair time in august until louisville using this ration and it keeps them fresh and will not let them gain an ounce. If you want to let them gain a little weight simply increase the amount of grain but at these proportions they will stay where they are at. Do not use steam rolled oats, or crimped oats, it must be oat grotes. The oat grotes will also keep their body cooler and help make the ration less hot.

 

[Alimoore97]

Thank you, on this ration will they loose muscle and fat? or just remain fresh?

 

[Alimoore97]

And what would you consider normal grain?