Need advice on finishing steer

SSacres · #1 06/08/13, 09:32 AM

After getting rid of the horses and goats mowing the pastures became a chore, so last year decided to to get a Holstein bottle calf. Ended up only getting one (1) and he is now 13 months old. (No previous cattle experience, so completely new venture)
Would like to have him processed this fall and avoid feeding through another winter, intention was to have meat in the freezer for us and our daughter.
Currently feeding 5 lbs of 50/50 mix of Purina stocker pellets & 12% sweetfeed, pasture, hay is offered and has access to minerals, he's growing but not filled out to where I think he should be.
What would you recommend, thinking about adding corn and increasing feed, but how much????

Any advice is greatly appreciated, really want to be sucessful and raise two the next time!

sammyd · #2 06/08/13, 12:51 PM

I'd run him on full shell corn and tendrlean, forget everything else.
At least get rid of the 12% sweet feed and leave the 14% stocker uncut. And give him a bit more of that, closer to 10 lbs a day.

FarmerDavid · #3 06/08/13, 05:16 PM

What's tenderlean?

SSacres · #4 06/08/13, 05:48 PM

Ok, picked up some corn today and increased the amount of feed to a total of 7 lbs, I'l keep gradually increasing to the 10 lbs a day. Forgot to mention I also have beet pulp in the mix, only because I buy it for the one old goat left here and figured it would not hurt him any.

Sure hoping the meat is better than store bought and we get more than just a big sack of bones for the dogs.

Thanks!

sammyd · #5 06/08/13, 07:36 PM

tendrlean is a pellet designed to alleviate the need for roughage in cattle diets.
It allows the animal to utilize straight whole shell corn. This allows rapid weight gain and good carcass yield.
According to the info you can reach market weight in 12 months if you follow the program from calfhood on.
We did 2 for the last 6 months or so. Ate one and shipped the other. They looked good. And the one we ate was incredibly edible...

http://www.tendrleen.com/

SSacres · #6 06/09/13, 06:39 AM

Closest Tendrlean dealer would be in WI, so I'll continue with the stocker pellets, corn and pasture combination for now.
After looking at some other photos, he has a long way to go to reach finishing condition and only 4 1/2 months to get there, hoping for the best!

CCCC · #7 06/09/13, 06:55 AM

You should not need the tendrlean if he has enough grass there for roughage. Agree with Sammyd on getting him on corn and nothing else, except maybe a protein pellet. If you do that he should be fairly good size in 4 months.

tinknal · #8 06/09/13, 09:01 AM

I would put him on a good finisher (while still on grass) Work the amounts up slowly until he is on full feed for the last 90 days.

CIW · #9 06/09/13, 11:13 AM

We get a grind from our local mill that runs 14% protein. Its a combination of corn, barley, and has a little rice hull. I added some sprouted cotton seed to the ration of the last pen load of steers. Its the best meat we've had.
They were slick and clean. Any manure would just fall off.

SSacres · #10 06/23/13, 05:27 PM

I have a follow-up question. I added whole corn and increased the 14% stock pellets, but the corn appears to be a waste. I was out mowing a small pen area and it became obvious that the corn is going in one end and straight out the other.

Should I be adding cracked corn, so it is easier to digest?

topside1 · #11 06/23/13, 05:50 PM

The whole corn is not a waste, it's getting absorbed into the digestive tract, only the outer portion (hull) is wasted. I always use cracked corn, it's generally absorbed to near 100%. You will pay more, but yet get more growth (fat) in return....Topside

topside1 · #12 06/23/13, 05:57 PM

I feed my bottle calves a high protein ration up till they reach 6 months old, then put them on pasture only until 90 days before slaughter. At the 90 day mark I begin feeding them corn or other high energy fat producing feeds. All my slaughter animals meet their maker between 18-24 months old, usually 24 months old. At that age I believe the animal has reached maximum meat yielding potential....Topside

SSacres · #13 06/23/13, 07:33 PM

Thanks Topside1, I left him on the calf starter pellets for 8 months and then switched him over to the 14% stock pellets. I added the sweet feed to try to go cheap, but he always had unlimited hay or pasture.

topside1 · #14 06/23/13, 08:06 PM

Just remember to focus on energy type feed a few months before slaughter, proteins based rations are pointless at that stage in their life. Topside

FarmerDavid · #15 07/10/13, 03:12 PM

I just started finishing two steers and have a few questions. I'm wanting to pen them up in a smaller area, how important is shade? It's 3 right now and there's shade where I want them pinned but won't be much later. Ive started feeding ground corn, I've heard others say finishing on prairie hay is the best. Any opinions on that? They will start baling prairie here next week so it will be available. I also have some 3 yr old small squares of red clover in the barn would they be good?

Right now one has been grass fed his entire life. The other has been getting a ration for the past 3 months, if that has any impact. The grass fed one is for us the other for a neighbor. What is a fair price right now? I'm guessing the one that's already been getting a ration will be about 1200 lbs in 45 to 60 days. Should have probably settled on this prior but haven't. I'm wanting $150, he's wanting to give $120 cwt what's a fair price, going rate.

G. Seddon · #16 07/10/13, 04:59 PM

Can't help you with the hay question or pricing.

But I would say YES, shade is very important, as is a steady supply of clean, fresh water. It's mid summer. Read about heat stress here:

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/e-newsl...159477455.html

francismilker · #17 07/10/13, 06:04 PM

Start him on corn or another high energy type grain and gradually build him up to full feed for at least 60-90 days prior to slaughter. I personally prefer to worm before starting the grain regiment to avoid feeding parasites but it's up to the individual.

Appalachia · #18 07/10/13, 07:23 PM

Is the neighbor paying for the ration that his steer has been getting? That would affect the fair price.

FarmerDavid · #19 07/10/13, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G. Seddon

Can't help you with the hay question or pricing.

But I would say YES, shade is very important, as is a steady supply of clean, fresh water. It's mid summer. Read about heat stress here:

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/e-newsl...159477455.html

I paid close attention and if I make the pen slightly bigger there is a limb that hangs out and gives shade till late evening so I don't think that will be a problem.

I hadn't thought about worming but that's a good idea.

He'd be paying for the ration due to the increased weight from it. He's probably 150 lbs min heavier then the grass fed one so its money my way.