Any advice on low roughage feeding calves

[dbro]

I am thinking about trying the low roughage feeding programs (moormans) or possibly (purina) as those seem to be the ones I can get a hold of here in SW Texas. I was interested in knowing if anyone has tried this and with what type of success or failure. I was going to do this with just weaned Holsteins but could you do it with beef calves as well ? I am wanting to buy them as newly weaned as possible or possibly bottle feed the beef calves. I would like to feed to about 6 to 7 hundred pounds. Whole corn 225 a ton and about 8.00 a bag. Any advice

 

[snake67]

Before you jump into something, why not go to the place you are thinking on buying your feed and having their feed specialist actually come out to talk to you about this.

While there is a good number of people on this board that are up on nutrition, the best and in my opinion - the only way - to do this for sure - is to actually sit down with someone who specializes in this and actually formulate a ration that works.

We do this on a regular basis - it costs nothing but your time.

You will learn what your costs are going to be.

You will get an idea of the expected weight gain.

You can add in all the other costs that you will incur - meds, penning, bedding and such.

And you can estimate a potential profit.

By the end of the discussion with the person who actually SEES your operation you will be able to make an informed decision on whether or not it is worth taking the risk.

And further more, if you maintain this relationship, as the animals grow you can adjust the feed program - which you SHOULD anyways -by utilizing the expertise of that feed specialist - to actually create a better feed for the animal as it matures.

Or, you can simply wait here for someone to tell you their opinion on feed.

Like I just did.

LOL

Bez

 

[TexasBred]

Agree with Bez. Last thing you want to do is just start pouring straight corn to them. Don't know too much about Moormans but Purina should have a rep. that can come visit with you and give you a recommendation on which of their mixes to use. I'm sure you're probably talking about Accuration so check with them. Good feed but get your pocket book out.

 

[ChrisB]

I made some mistakes when I first started and one of them was leaving calves on a creep feeder to long without using some sort of limiter. My calves were on pasture at the same time but they really ended up getting too fat.

Now I wait until they are 8-900 lbs and then ramp them up to a high corn/low roughage diet. I feed free choice whole corn mixed with a dairy beef protein pellet. I don't think it is the best way, but it does work. With my setup I can feed 50 calves in about 20 minutes without starting any equipment other than dumping some cornstalks or poor quality hay out one a week. If I was feeding a few hundred I would probably roll the corn and use cheaper feedstuffs and use a tmr but until then I'll keep doing what I'm doing.

 

[Son of Butch]

My cousin [now deceased] was on Moorman's feeding program 20 years ago.
1st rate company, top notch service, excellent results, a bit expensive but he was pleased with the program and the results.

 

[TexasBred]

My cousin [now deceased] was on Moorman's feeding program 20 years ago.
1st rate company, top notch service, excellent results, a bit expensive but he was pleased with the program and the results.

Moorman's (ADM) has always made good products. Only problem around here is lack of feed dealers that handle their feeds and mills that make it....and price.