Feeding

[j4qtrhorse]

How does one know how much to feed beef cattle?

 

[Isomade]

Where are you located? Are you feeding cows? Cows with calves on them? Stocker calves? What kind of cows? What do you think the cows or stockers weigh?

 

[msscamp]

How does one know how much to feed beef cattle?

The rule of thumb for feeding is 1-2% of their body weight. So, if you've got a 1100 lb cow, 2% of her body weight is 24 lbs of hay or forage per day. Now, since that is only a rule of thumb, you need to watch them and adjust up or down depending on their body score. You also need to adjust the rule of thumb depending on how mild or severe your weather is, what you're raising, and what their nutritional needs are. For example, an open cow is not going to need as much feed as a heavy bred cow will, etc, etc.. Generally speaking, when it comes to grain, you want to start them out at 1% of their body weight because it gives them more time to build up the necessary microbes to digest the grain. Does that clear things up a bit?

 

[j4qtrhorse]

ok now what do you mean by body score

 

[dun]

ok now what do you mean by body score

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=67442&hilit=BCS