Steer appetite

[RankeCattleCo]

Background:
750 lb Monopoly steer that will need to be 1325 by mid August.  He is on Sunglo finisher feed. He is only eating about 15-17 lbs. per day.  He is up and down, some days he'll eat 10 lbs, other days he'll clean up 20 lbs. and be looking for more.  9 days ago he got some oral B12 as an appetite stimulant.  He is in a pen by himself with a 1/2 acre outside run.  Grass is kept down in run so he isn't filling on that.  2 more calves of same age will be joining him before long and he has had calves in the pen with him before, separated to feed, didn't have much of a difference in intake.  Dumped him a large square of 80% grass hay that he has free access too.  Pen is clean and dry.  Auto water is cleaned out once a week.  Any suggestions?

 

[GoWyo]

Feed the same amount every day.  Start with the amount that he will always clean up within 25 minutes or so.  I would start him at 6 lbs. twice per day.  Give him 25 minutes to eat and put whatever is left back in the bucket.  When he is consistently eating that amount within 25 minutes, increase it by one half lb. per feeding.  Increase it every 2-3 days with a half pound increase at each feeding, but always pick up any feed he doesn't clean up in 25 minutes.  Bunk management is key to them having consistent intake.  It may take a month of being careful and consistent to get them to the desired consumption.  I like them on free choice grass hay to help develop rib depth and shape.

 

[vc]

Consistency is key as well, feed at the same time each day, the rule of thumb is 6 and 6 but even if it's 7 and 5, as long as you are consistent it helps. If your inconsistent on your feeding time, he may just go fill up on hay if your late, or stress over it and lose his appetite.

 

[iJosie]

Heat also causes them to not want to eat, and some steers love to eat liquid molasses and you can find it at most feed stores.

 

[diamonddls]

Consistency is the biggest thing. Same time each day same quality each day. Clean bunks and dry ground are beneficial. Feeding a monesin product such as rumensin promotes a grazing mentality and helps keep the guts happy and healthy. Implants create appetite as well if that fits with your program. When all else fails get in touch with your local nutrionalist.
Good luck

 

[Tallcool1]

Getting other calves with him, and feeding them together will make a big difference...in my experience.  It promotes competition, and they will all eat because the others are eating.

I wouldn't mess much with what you are feeding him.  Get him some company and see what happens.

Good luck.