Calves getting too fat???

[USAxBrad]

Recently I had a local Cattle guy tell me these calves come October will be too fat if I continue to creep feed. What is your alls opinion?

 

[wbvs58]

It really depends on the specifications of your target market. By the pasture in the background it seems you have had a pretty good season I suspect what you are getting out of the creep feeding may be a bit wastefull. When conditions are good I think a few weeks on creep prior to weaning merely to acclimatise them to eating feed so they don't get any setback is all that is required.

Ken

 

[USAxBrad]

Okay thanks, I get what you mean about it being wasteful, but now that they have been on it for 3 months will pulling them off stunt their growth. Looking to wean between September 9th and 12th.

 

[Katpau]

I think what your local cattle guy may have been trying to tell you is that the expense of making them fatter may end up costing you profit. Creep feeding is more likely to pay off in years when calf prices are up and feed prices down. Cattle prices are down sharply from the last 2 years, so you are unlikely to recoup your investment In that creep feed. You need to remember that lighter calves bring more dollars per pound than heavier calves.

Here is an example :
Say that you can wean 7 month old 500 pound calves on your grass, but if you creep feed for the last 90 days you can increase weaning weights to 650 pounds. We will assume the 500 pound calves bring $1.50 a pound or $750. The 650 pound calves will not bring the same pound price. Depending on your local market you may even find it more difficult to sell the heavier calves. If you are now selling to a stocker buyer, he may want them lighter because he makes his money on the weight they gain for him before they hit the feedlot. If we assume those 650 pound calves bring $1.30 they would be worth $845. That is $95 more or $.633 per pound for those extra pounds. In this example, unless your costs in feed and labor are less than $95 for those three months of creep, you are losing money by creeping.

If you are selling registered cattle as breeding stock, then fat sells, and creep feeding may pay off. If you can put together a set off uniform calves to fill a pen at a feedlot maybe those extra pounds that you put on with creep could also pay off. If you are direct marketing beef you can get them finished faster with creep and that might increase profits. If you sell your calves at weaning, in most years creeping calves will not be cost effective.

 

[Katpau]

The rumen needs time to adjust to any change in feed. I am not sure what I would do when I was that close to weaning. A sudden change in diet will have an impact.

If you have enough grass, don't creep next year and see how much impact it has on weaning weights and your costs of production.

 

[USAxBrad]

Thank you, yeah going to try something different next year for sure. I am just trying to find the right balance for calves to take to market. Just a small operation with only 40 cows but they are very nice cows, blacks are off the Vermillion Ranch and put a Lucas SimAngus Bull on them. Just would like to be able to sell calves that bring top dollar at the market. So if they are too fat I will drop weight, if they are doing just fine and just going to big that is fine as well. I will always wean them for 4 to 6 weeks before taking them to market as well. Anyways here's a look at my target market.

Windsor Livestock Auction Market Report 7/20 490HD 10% Cows

Compared to last week S&H sold mostly steady to 5 lower. Weigh Cows steady.

STRS
4-500#150-170
5-600#147-165
6-700#138-156
7-800#130-144

HFRS
4-500#140-163
5-600#138-154
6-700#125-140
7-800#120-135

But thank you Katpau for your help. Will definitely try all grass and milk next spring if market stays close to where it is this year. But this year will prolly ride out the creep feeder unless you think they just look to damn fat and won't sell come November. Then will back them off.

 

[Stocker Steve]

I think what your local cattle guy may have been trying to tell you is that the expense of making them fatter may end up costing you profit. Creep feeding is more likely to pay off in years when calf prices are up and feed prices down. Cattle prices are down sharply from the last 2 years, so you are unlikely to recoup your investment In that creep feed. You need to remember that lighter calves bring more dollars per pound than heavier calves.

Creep returns are very variable. Market aside - - you have to supplement, not substitute for forage.
We creep some but don't buy any. We use local grains like low test weight oats.

 

[USAxBrad]

Thank you but judging from the pictures do these calves look too fat, or just right or not big enough for 5 months of age? I am personally very happy with their size and growth at the moment....70% them are that size, the other 30% wereally born late March early April and are a few weeks behind.

 

[Stocker Steve]

Thank you but judging from the pictures do these calves look too fat, or just right or not big enough for 5 months of age? I am personally very happy with their size and growth at the moment....70% them are that size, the other 30% wereally born late March early April and are a few weeks behind.

OK
Heifers will get fat before steers.
Short heifers will get fat before growthy heifers.

 

[jltrent]

You might want to think about selling them before late fall as they will probably bring as much now as then or more.

 

[USAxBrad]

You might want to think about selling them before late fall as they will probably bring as much now as then or more.

Why do you say that? You don't believe the market will continue its small growth or stay steady?

 

[SoILcattle]

Fall is when a large amount of feeders will hit the market from the spring calves. Usually prices drops a bit

 

[TexasBred]

You might want to think about selling them before late fall as they will probably bring as much now as then or more.

Why do you say that? You don't believe the market will continue its small growth or stay steady?

The markets have been falling here for months.

 

[angus9259]

Calves look fine. If they were mine I would leave them on creep (but I creep bin run oats so nothing fancy) and start weaning now and sell before labor day because prices will likely drop thereafter more rapidly.

 

[milkmaid]

Fat calves are worth less because you've already gotten the good growth out of them that the feedlot wants. Especially if they're fat and don't have the frame they need. Sell before you get yourself in that predicament.

The calves in the pictures look really nice though. If they stay in that condition and put on frame you'll be fine.

The best calf for a feedlot to buy is generally a rangy spring yearling.

 

[USAxBrad]

Okay thanks guys going to ease them off of creep a bit.....let the frame catch up