Growung with corn

[ClinchValley86]

Breeding animals... both bulls and heifers. On average grazing with free choice 1st cut hay, would it be flirting with trouble to give them 0.5 to 1 percent bodyweight whole corn. Or cracked corn even.

Or would a 12 to 16% commodity feed make more sense? Not looking to push them. Just keep them happy and healthy and growing. Looking for longevity.

 

[kenny thomas]

Breeding animals... both bulls and heifers. On average grazing with free choice 1st cut hay, would it be flirting with trouble to give them 0.5 to 1 percent bodyweight whole corn. Or cracked corn even.

Or would a 12 to 16% commodity feed make more sense? Not looking to push them. Just keep them happy and healthy and growing. Looking for longevity.

Compare cost and predicted added gain for each. Check out the price of whole corn.

 

[ClinchValley86]

Compare cost and predicted added gain for each. Check out the price of whole corn.

I can get whole corn for the $14/100#.
$18 /100# i can get distillers/cracked corn mix.
$16/100# for 14% corn/gluten mix.

Im not sure how to go about doing the math involving gain.

I keep corn around fir the beefs. Was mores wondering if the corn would be a problem for breeders to be. Feet and repro fat deposits are my wonder.

 

[ClinchValley86]

What do yall use?

 

[Dave]

Grazing when available and hay when not. Only cattle that get fed grain in any form are the ones being fed up to butcher. Bred and fresh cows November through April get about 24 pounds of grass hay and 4 pounds of alfalfa and day. Heifers being smaller get less pounds and the ratio of grass to alfalfa changes from 6 to 1 by increasing the alfalfa so it is 5 to 1. April through October it is just pasture.

 

[SBMF 2015]

Graining cattle on pastures can be tricky. I don’t have the exact numbers but you have to train a cattle’s rumen. They either digest roughage ( pasture) or concentrates ( corn or commodity mix)

 

[kenny thomas]

Graining cattle on pastures can be tricky. I don't have the exact numbers but you have to train a cattle's rumen. They either digest roughage ( pasture) or concentrates ( corn or commodity mix)

Actually that is correct. It takes a while for the stomach to swap how it digests each.
As good as your grass is i wouldn't feed.

 

[Mountaintown Creek Ranch]

For the last 5 years, I feed them all the same. Just varying amounts.
it has worked really well.

14% developer from performance feeds up by your neck of the woods.
$850 for 3 ton

Wind and rain high mag mineral
Good protein tub
Decent pasture _ Ky Fescue with Bluestem

The breeding girls get high fat Accuration tubs.

Steers get sweet feed added and a
25% tub

 

[sstterry]

What do yall use?

For that scenario, I just use Butch's corn/gluten mix. I tend to use straight corn for finishing beef steers.