Need feeding advice- steer lacking appetite

[livestockcoffeeandbooks25]

First time poster here- really need advice on getting steer to eat.

-65 days until our fair and steer is about 200lbs short of his ideal weight.
-eats 1 flake of hay and plenty of water
-washed and walked daily
-fans and misters keeping him cool
-inplants not permitted 60 days before weight-in, so we missed that oportunity
-Appetite Express didn’t help (was on for 3 weeks)
-borrowed a ranching steer to stall next to ours so he has a herding buddy. That one eats like he’s starving while ours is indifferent.
-we’ve tried feeding different times of day to no major change
-the ONLY thing he likes is 4-Way!!! So we mix it in get him to eat something.

Food
-primarily used Purina Honor Show (red bag) along with a few supplements like Precon, High Octane. We discovered the Purina could be the issue, so we’re trying new feed.
-We’ve purchased Daily Beast and ShowString to see if he likes it (these feeds are popular in our area). He liked DB the best, but still won’t eat what he needs to (18-20lbs). Yes, we’re weaning him slowly off the Purina.
-Full Tank and Full Body have been introduced, he’s indifferent.
-Sure Champ has been added as a supplement, he’s indifferent.

Our next plan of attack:
-we bought 3 bags of Umbarger to test: Cattlelac, Barley and Breeder Grower. Heard it was the best tasting of all, but hardest for us to get consistantly.
-purchase a bag of S’More fill to replace the 4Way.
-hold him off feed for the day, then feed once at night. (Breeder recommendation)

Other
-bought OptiWize to help his joints, but didn’t like the smell! Mixed with 4Way (his candy) and he still didn’t eat it. Upsetting is an understatment.

I realize this is a long question….but is there anything else left for us to consider? We’re feeling quite desperate. He’s a great steer and it would be crushing if he didn’t show looking his best.

Thank you for your help.

 

[S_W]

I had this problem last year with my steer. He didn't like grain. In Canada, we don't have access to these supplements and feed that you do, but we have local beef text that we feed.

If he liked the DB, give it to him. Give him the 20 pounds right in the morning. If he doesn't finish, take it away. Then, fill the bucket up again and feed him right after school. If he doesn't finish, take it away, and give it back in the evening. He just has to eat 20 pounds in a day. It doesn't have to be at once.

Also feed the other steer at the same time right beside him. Put their buckets up on either side of the fence. If that doesn't work try feeding them in the same area. Yes, the other steer will probably eat more than his share, but the jealously should make yours eat. You might just end up with an overweight rancher steer and an ideal weight show steer. That happened to me.

I would take the Purina out completely if you think it could be the problem.

Maybe give him only just enough hay at night, so in the morning he is hungry for the grain. That worked a little bit with my steer. I find that many steers don't like their feed changed and take a while to get used to any new grain.

Try adding liquid molasses in the grain as a top dressing. They like the sweetness, does 4-way have lots of molasses in it? Try feeding a grain with quite a bit of corn in it. I find that they like the corn and it helps them grow well.

Does he eat the hay with no problem? Does he perfer hay over grain? The hay might be giving nutrients that the grain isn't if he would eat the hay over the grain. You can get your hay tested to see its content. He could also have a chipped tooth and the grain could hurt when he eats. Do you think he could have bit down on a small rock/ piece of gravel and chipped it?

 

[livestockcoffeeandbooks25]

Thank you for these ideas!

I’ll move the feeder closer to the hearding buddy.

He loves his hay! Eats every bit we give him, so we have changed to half a flake.

We tested the Umbarger and he liked all three, better than the Daily Beast. The Cattlelac was drier with hay in the mix, while the Barley and Breeders Choice had lots of molassas and corn.

We want to ditch the Purina all together, but read about changing feed and causing severe bloat/other gut issues if we cut cold turkey.

What I don’t understand is that the hearding steer eate anything and everything and bloat/gut issues isn’t a concern. He eats the the feed the show steer doesn’t without even thinking about it.

I don’t think there are any issues with his teeth, but we’ll check tomorrow.

The 4Way is corn/oats/barley/ with molasses, so he does like grain.

Thank you again for your response. I’ll let you know how it goes.