Nutrition and Feeds for Growing

1
Nutrition and Feeds for Growing Finishing
Cattle

• Starting calves on feed
• 1. Provide sufficient bunk space for all calves
  to get
• to bunk (i.e. 18-24)
• 2. Better to give dry feed before water,
  especially if
• long haul
• 3. If not preconditioned

2

• Feeding schedule for 450 lb. calves during
• first week

Hay Corn silage Corn 36 all-natural
--- lb. as fed --- --- lb. as fed --- --- lb. as fed --- --- lb. as fed --- --- lb. as fed --- --- lb. as fed --- --- lb. as fed ---
Hold at 2 for about 3 days, keep a little hungry is best About 70 concentrate Hold at 2 for about 3 days, keep a little hungry is best About 70 concentrate Arrival day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 8 8 7 6 5 4 4 5.0 5.0 7.5 7.5 10.0 10.0 10.0 17.5 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 3.0 .30 .50 .75 1.00 2.00
3
Nutrition and Feeds for Growing Finishing
Cattle

• Starting yearlings on feed
• Much easier than starting calves
• Day 1 hay or corn silage
• 2 about 4 lb. corn plus hay or corn silage to
  appetite
• increase corn about 1 lb. every other day
  and lower hay or corn silage accordingly
• continue to desired CR

4
Nutrition and Feeds for Growing Finishing
Cattle

• Feeding programs

5

• Performance of yearling steers fed ad libitum
  levels of energy

Percent energy from corn silage corn grain 937 7426 5644 3763 1981 0100
Days on feed Starting weight, lb. Slaughter weight, lb. Daily ME intake, Mcal. Daily gain, lb. Energetic efficiency Mcal.ME/lb.gain Quality grade Yield grade Semimembranosus musclea Juiciness Flavor Tenderness 199 694 1160 22.98 2.36 9.79 Ch- 2.71 5.59 5.54 5.42 178 696 1138 25.15 2.49 10.12 Ch- 2.56 5.42 5.33 5.24 199 694 1154 25.81 2.32 11.16 Ch- 2.89 5.42 5.26 5.44 174 696 1161 28.31 2.69 10.57 Ch- 2.98 5.34 5.31 5.42 174 693 1162 29.86 2.72 11.05 Ch- 2.84 5.01 5.34 5.25 194 697 1114 25.45 2.17 12.18 Ch- 2.54 5.26 5.19 5.36
aOn a 1 to 8 scale 1 extremely dry,
undesirable flavor or tough 8 extremely juicy,
flavorful or tender
6

• Performance of steer calves fed ad libitum levels
  of energy

Percent energy from corn silage corn grain 937 7426 5644 3763 1981 937 1981
Days on feed Starting weight, lb. Slaughter weight, lb. Daily ME intake, Mcal. Daily gain, lb. Energetic efficiency Mcal.ME/lb.gain Quality grade Yield grade Rib steaksa Juiciness Flavor Tenderness Overall acceptability 273 502 1114 18.52 2.25 8.30 Ch- 2.70 5.5 5.5 5.3 5.3 269 501 1122 20.15 2.33 8.73 Ch- 2.89 5.7 5.5 5.3 5.3 273 499 1121 20.76 2.31 9.07 Ch- 2.96 5.8 5.7 5.8 5.5 266 492 1119 21.92 2.37 9.28 Ch- 2.87 5.5 5.5 4.8 5.4 280 503 1115 21.79 2.20 9.94 Ch- 3.20 5.5 5.3 5.3 5.2 268 499 1117 20.38 2.33 8.79 Ch- 2.89 5.3 5.4 5.3 5.2
aOn a 1 to 8 scale 1 extremely dry,
undesirable flavor, tough or unacceptable 8
extremely juicy, flavorful, tender and acceptable
7
Nutrition and Feeds for Growing Finishing
Cattle

• An ideal feed for feedlot cattle is ground whole
  ear corn
• Coproducts can be used up to 40-50 of the ration
  without detrimental effects on performance
• Feeding calves vs. yearlings