SCRUBS620":36tt8a1o said:
Your right there is a big difference between 4 and 6 weights. I am just going to keep a few through each winter. I like to buy them at 300 to 400 lbs, grow them modestly through the winter and then sell them in March or April. I am not looking to put a lot of flesh on them but I woulf like for them to be 500 to 600 lbs when I sell them. Do you think 2 lbs ADG is too much? Will this hinder them down the line? The root of my question is does it really pay to feed mostly hay when I can get good quality gains on a ration based more upon grain.
*No, 2lbs ADG is not too much. I like a 2 to 2.5lb ADG off my holstein calves; you ought to get at least that off your beef calves.
*If you buy in the fall (October?) at 300lbs, and sell in March, that's 5 months, so you'd want them at least 600lbs with a 2lb ADG.
*Will a 2lb ADG hinder them down the line? no -- they're more likely to be hindered by a lower ADG, as their growth would be stunted, and poor growth caused by poor nutrition leads to a poor immune system and poor health.
*If you can get grain cheap -- and cheaper than hay -- and it would make your pounds of feed per pounds of gain ration cheaper than feeding hay, then get the grain. Remember they would need hay too, and free choice.
You can feed grain up to 3% of an animal's bodyweight -- personally, I'd feed grain at 2% of their bodyweight and give free choice hay. On a holstein calf, I can get a 2-2.5lb ADG off that, sometimes even with less grain.
The more weight you can put on them at the lowest cost in the fastest amount of time, the quicker you get your money back and the more money you make.