How Long Should One Grow (Background) Cattle?
There is no definite length of time needed for a growing program. Factors involved in making this decision are listed below:
- Sex
Since heifers will be marketed at lighter weights than steers, they will need to be switched to high energy finishing diets at lighter weights. In general, heifers should be grown until they weigh 600to 650 pounds, steers until they weigh 700 to 750 pounds.
- Frame of cattle
Rugged, heavy-framed cattle can be grown longer than smaller, more compact cattle, since they can be marketed at heavier weights.
- Breed of cattle
One of the functions of high energy finishing diets is to produce adequate fat deposition within the muscle marbling to make a desirable selling grade. English breeds usually require less time on a high energy diet than other breeds to produce adequate marbling.
- Feedstuffs available
Since a growing program will be built around homegrown supplies of roughage (primarily corn silage, oatlage, haylage and hay) the length of time one can grow cattle may depend on the amount of roughage available.
- Use of stalk fields, pasture, etc
In many cases, calves will be grown on pasture, or allowed to glean stalk fields. Normally, gains will be somewhat lower on this type of program, but total costs will also remain low due to the relatively low cost of the roughage and reduced labor in feeding them. However, interest and other overhead costs continue daily.