.70 cents for 5 wts. help

[Central Fl Cracker]

I had 30 calves that I did not sell this summer because of weight and need help. 2 or 3 of my mentors have suggested that I pulled the calves (450 lbs) and place them on a 40 ac. parcel we own. Here are my questions
1. How much feed should I feed per head
2. Once or twice daily
3. What kind of feed
4. Should I give them any kind of shots for the stress
5. I will be putting out molasses and hay
6. Do I have to grain feed the the whole time or will they eventually gain weight on just hay and molasses
Prices in florida are running .70 for 5 wght steers and .60 for heifers so I would take a beating if I sold right now. :help: :help:

 

[dyates]

How much do you want them to gain? If I were you, I wouldn't try to push them. Hay, molasses, couple pounds of grain apiece. They won't gain much, but they won't cost you as much either. Keep their condition and put maybe a pound and a half a day on them. You'll generally make more money that way vs. throwing grain at them pushing for 3 pounds a day. There are so many people in the same situation you are right now, its' not even funny. Try to figure what everyone else is doing, and do something different.

 

[VAStocker]

My first question is how much grass have you got? If the grass is good feed them 1/2 % of there body weight something like a 14% stocker ration is good or a corn glutin soy hull 50/50 every day till spring time and unload them then. But since you are feeding hay I'd say grass is not on the good side and is fair-poor if this is the case maybe 1-2% once a day. As far as the vacinations if you haven't worked these calves yet this is a good time to do so you will max your profit out in the spring. If you are lucky, on grass and free choice hay without feed maybe 1lb. a day. With a 14% stocker ration good hay and pasture 2-2.3 lbs. per day. Keep in mind what you will be trying to market in the spring and make that your goal you may even consider buying a few calves to finish out the load and market a truck load of precon. 7wt. steers in March.

 

[jedstivers]

If you are in a area with whole cotton seed they are 20-21% protein and other good things think about feeding them.

 

[kenny thomas]

Question on feeding molasses. Are they not very low in protein?

 

[Stocker Steve]

Good calves will gain 1 to 1.5 lbs/day on grass hay with a couple pounds of protein and ionsopore.
DDG works wonders up north. Not sure what you have available in Florida.

 

[dun]

Question on feeding molasses. Are they not very low in protein?

All molasses does is help with palability and reducing dust

 

[Arkieman]

If you are in a area with whole cotton seed they are 20-21% protein and other good things think about feeding them.

Jed - you buy that straight from the gin? If so, how much they charge?

 

[Brute 23]

Just keep them in decent shape until we see how things look next year. Don't invest a bunch of money banking on cattle prices going up.

 

[jedstivers]

If you are in a area with whole cotton seed they are 20-21% protein and other good things think about feeding them.

Jed - you buy that straight from the gin? If so, how much they charge?

Yeah, from the gin,$ 230 ton but it depends on the spot price for the day.