Opinions on this Calf

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bird_dog

Active member
Joined
Jun 23, 2010
Messages
28
Location
Texas
Just wanted to get a couple of opinions on this steer. This is the first calf I have raised in 15 years and it will be my sons first calf to show. I know the pictures are not great. We show in 3 months and he is weighing around 925lbs. I would like him to show in the light weight class. Let me know what you think
 

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Cattledog

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 27, 2008
Messages
1,116
Looks like a nice calf.  I'd keep feeding him and not worry too much about the class breaks.  If you want him in a lighter class shrink him down, don't withhold feed.
 

LostFarmer

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Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Messages
528
Location
Eastern Idaho
When we first started the market project the guy that has been helping us said feed a calf is like Voting in Chicago.  Feed early and often.  He meant don't waste time getting them fat.  Not many calves that are over done.  It can happen but not the norm.  He also said that to be done a month early is much preferred to being 100 lbs too light.  Just what I have been told.  We will see if it works in a few weeks.  LF
 

LostFarmer

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Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Messages
528
Location
Eastern Idaho
If he is getting 20 lbs a day of good feed he should be gaining 2.5 - 3.0 lbs per day.  Do the math and you should have a good idea where you are at.  So 925 now and 90 days to show you need to keep pouring the feed to him.  You can shrink him easier than you and push him at the end. 
 

rackranch

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 14, 2010
Messages
1,245
Location
under the X in Texas
I agree, keep feeding and get him fat.. I would be feeding at least 50% corn ration this last 90 days and adding a bypass fat if he needed it.G-Luck
Cattledog said:
Looks like a nice calf.  I'd keep feeding him and not worry too much about the class breaks.  If you want him in a lighter class shrink him down, don't withhold feed.
 

RCF Farms

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 9, 2009
Messages
201
Location
Daleville, Indiana
If hes 925, and he will only gain 50lb a month if it is hot where you are thats only 1075lb. Depends on what you are going for, but a County or state show its market time and they want them market ready!!!  I have always fed hard then at 1200lb start feeding barley based feed to put on the cover. You want to be 1250-1350 I would say with 1300lb ideal. If you have an cool room your calf could gain more per month, but it is hard to put on the pounds when it gets hot, they dont eat as much.
 

LittleHeifer

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Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
210
he is a nice steer. good wide butt and straight over his top. I would keep pouring the feed to him. fairs do look for the hevier steers around fair time and they tend to bring more money. Judges look for a market ready steer around 1250-1350 steers this gives them a nice fat coverage yeilding them higher. good luck
little heifer (angel)
 

Telos

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 4, 2007
Messages
2,267
Location
Dallas, Texas
Looks like he is coming along nicely. Just keep doing what you are doing. It is hot, and if you get the ration too hot he might go off feed.  

Just keep him coming along until the weather cools a bit. Then you might want to push him a little harder on a hotter ration.

 

Rock_N_Roll_Ranch

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 10, 2010
Messages
178
Location
Wisconsin
if it is the calfs last show ? Well if it is i  would say keep the calf cool and try to give him tree times a feeding to put the weight on because you always can take the weigt off the calf but you cant put enough on a calf usuallyperfect weight is about 1225-1350lbs
 
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