MF135":11ssglcr said:
I purchased 12, 200-250lb beef calves at the sale last Friday and have had them on free choice hay and commercial creep up in the corral. I have ~5 acres of good quality common bermuda fenced off that I plan on running the calves on for 4-5 months. I am wondering what my options are regarding a feed that I can feed free choice while the calves are on pasture and have free choice hay? I have a 1 ton creep feeder I'd like to fill, do you suggest feeding a commercial creep or a mix?
Thanks!
MF
For that size calf you will need a 16% ration. Shop around for the best 16% mix you can find. Probably a small feedmill operation may be more flexible on smaller amounts of feed. Buy in bulk if possible or if you can haul & handle the 1ton super sacks should be cheaper than 50# bags. Bovatec or Gainpro will be cost effective additives for this ration and should increase adg by about .2#/day .
I would advise selling these calves before labor day for 2 reasons:
1. If given free choice creep they will get too fleshy, probably after 60-75 days at most. Fleshy calves will get docked when sold.
2. At least 19 years out of 20 calf prices fall between labor day and thanksgiving. As most calves are born in the spring they are sold in the fall creating more supply than demand.
You are probably thinking about the grass that will be left on Labor day. Let it grow and stockpile for winter use. In early Feb buy some more calves let them graze the grass (think standing hay) as roughage and use the same creep. They will be ready to sell as 4wts in April which is the peak of "grass fever". Let your grass recover and repeat the process next June.
BTW If you haven't already done it give them a shot of a long acting antibiotic as this heat is really stressful. In my experience it is money well spent. My favorite for this is Excede. Should cost less than $6.00 hd. Also have either Draxxin, Baytril or Nuflor on hand if one gets sick after the Excede wears off. I usually have to treat 2-3% of calves the second time at this time of year.
Just my 2 cents worth. Hope this is helpfull.