Briar Ridge Angus said:
Ebenezer I want pounds to sell at the barn with feeders but with my registered cattle that I keep I want them functional. I usually try to sell 2-3 bulls a year that I don't want to melt when they go to work.
For functional development, the issue is gain per day. Too much is bad and will lead to fat heifers for less milk and melting bulls as you mentioned. If you have some grazing or hay then a grower supplement can be used and depending on the conditions and the genetics you can monitor the weight gain. Anything less than 1% BW will never be noticed unless the grazing is excellent.
Any percentage over that begins to accelerate the daily gain and the stopping point is when the gains go over the set limits (ADG). So there is not one answer. But a 14 to 16% feed would be a target and the price of the feed is the local question. CPC makes a wide range of feeds and are easy to work with here, too. The feeders could get a higher energy feed and do well.