How much grain?

[bluesky10]

How much grain do I need to feed my calves? They are anywhere from about 2.5 months to 4 months of age. Between the 3 they are getting about 10 pounds of grain a day. The youngest calf is still on one bottle a day the other 2 are off of milk. They are 2 heifers and one steer.

They are getting a multi purpose sweet feed. 14% protien, 3.5% fat. I can get a 14 % protien and a 5 % fat, or a 12% protien and 3.5% fat grain instead.

 

[tom4018]

General rule of thumb is 2-2.5% of body weight.

 

[tsmaxx47]

what is your goal ? plenty of info on search...

 

[bluesky10]

The steer will obviously become food. The one heifer calf I plan to get as beefed up as I can and butcher next fall. The other heifer is to be a breeder cow. I would guess the bigger ones weigh maybe 200 pounds or so.

 

[CottageFarm]

Are they also on grass or hay..or only grain?

 

[dun]

Young calves have a hard time processing grain, they can do it but not very efficiently. It also seems to me that the more corn (escpecially ground) causes a lot of problem with little calves and particularly in the heat. Not scientific just obsservations. Wouldn;t want to be accused of passing off as data something that is only anecdotal.

 

[bluesky10]

the two older ones have access to grass(which this time of year is mostly weeds now) and hay. The younger one gets hay, but no grass. She is blind and so far every pen I have made for her she gets out of and takes off so she is in a stall.

 

[bluesky10]

So here are some pics I took of the older two tonight. The Steer is about 3.5 months and the heifer is about 3 months.

 

[tsmaxx47]

personally; if those were my calves, i'd start them out at maybe a pound of feed a day and work them up to 3-4 lbs each in 8-10 months with plenty of hay or pasture. at that point (8-10 months) they should be well fed enough to go in any direction you want. to feed out that steer you can work him up to 1-2% body weight for 60 days, but there are plenty of guys on this forum that can give you more accurate information - good luck...

 

[bluesky10]

They get as much hay and pasture as they want. As you can see by the pics that their pasture is pretty much weeds at this point. I did mow it off last night and there is some grass left in it but not much.

 

[tsmaxx47]

fertilize and spray for weeds next year....

 

[bluesky10]

Not in that area. They will be in a different area next year. Where they are at now is ment to be a dry lot for my horses. Just need to get a goat in there.