When should I creep feed beef calves?

When should I creep feed beef calves?

You can introduce creep feed to calves at an early age. However, a calf’s rumen isn’t capable of breaking down feed until it’s 2 months old. Assuming a 30-day weaning period, creep feeding calves at 3-4 months old gives them about 80-120 days on feed prior to weaning.

Should I creep feed my calves?

Insufficient forage is a significant contributor to poor weight gains in calves. This can be due to poor forage quality, drought conditions, time of year, or simply overgrazing. As a rule of thumb, creep feeding should be considered if the crude protein content of available forage drops below 5%.

Does creep feeding calves pay?

The difference between these two averages is the average net effect due to creep feeding, which was $14.63/calf. This value represents the available money to pay for creep feeding, which was far less than the estimated average total costs of $91.87/calf.

Under what conditions does creep feeding have the most benefit?

Creep feeding has been most effective in drought situations or whenever quantity or quality of pastures does not meet the growth requirements of the calf. Daily intake of creep feed can affect feed efficiency.

How much grain does a 300 lb calf need?

pound calf will need to consume in the neighborhood of 7 to 8 pounds of grain daily. Small amounts of hay will compliment the grain ration for these 8 to 12 week old animals.

Can you wean a calf at 3 months?

In extreme conditions, it is possible to successfully wean calves from 4 – 6 weeks of age without a milk replacer, provided appropriate management is applied. Calves 3 – 4 months of age are easier to feed and manage than younger calves.

When should I feed my calves grain?

In early weaning systems calves need to begin eating some grain by 2 weeks of age to allow enough rumen development to occur before weaning at 5 or 6 weeks of age. If we do a good job of managing grain intake, it is possible to wean calves at 6 weeks, even when milk feeding rates are high.

Is creep feeding cost effective?

Although creep feeding can significantly increase weaning weight, costs associated with creep feeding can result in minimal economic benefit.

What does creep feed cost?

“Depending on the type of ration being used, creep feed can cost from 13 cents per pound [some custom rations] to 22 cents per pound. If it’s taking an average of 4 pounds of feed to get 1 pound of gain [on smaller calves], the breakeven cost would be between 52 to 88 cents,” Watson says.

When should I introduce calf pellets?

Feeding solid feed. The calf should have access to hay and concentrates from one week to stimulate rumen activity. The rumen is usually functioning well by 10–12 weeks. They can be fed high quality baby calf meals or pellets after about five weeks of age.

How does a calf creep feeder work?

A creep feeder provides a physical barrier that only allows smaller animals access. They typically have a pen with narrow vertical bars and adjustable horizontal bars protecting entry to the feeder. This allows smaller animals to enter and feed on precious and expensive minerals while keeping adults out.