How Much Supplement to Feed with Growing Rations?
Rations utilizing various combinations of grains and roughages are outlined in the Kent PNP Precision Plus® Cattle Feeding Guide These rations also show the amount and kind of supplement required to balance other feedstuffs.
See the Kent Beef Breeding Herd Program for pasture backgrounding rations.
Finishing Cattle
Rations for finishing cattle are outlined in the Kent PNP Precision Plus® Cattle Feeding Guide. High energy diets, utilizing little or no roughage, are recommended.
It is suggested that heifers be fed high energy finishing diets after they weigh 600 to 650 pounds. Steers should be fed finishing diets when they weigh 700 to 750 pounds.
Review the starting pages of this section for instructions on switching cattle to high energy diets.
The following recommendations are presented to aid in increasing profits and reducing problems with finishing cattle:
- Switching rations
Too rapid changing of the diet may lead to digestive disturbances, and cause cattle to go off feed and scour. This results in loss of several days of gain.
- Feeding complete rations
Some cattle are “hay burners” and, if allowed free-choice access to roughage, will eat more than they should. Roughage should either be hand fed on a limited basis or mixed with the grain and supplement portions to eliminate this problem.
- Appetites of cattle determine their ability to gain
Since a large portion of the daily ration is used for body maintenance, the feed consumed above this maintenance requirement can be used for gain. Obviously, the more cattle eat, the more feed available for the production of body weight gain. Finishing cattle should consume enough feed on a dry matter basis to represent 2 to 2.5 percent of their body weight. If cattle are not consuming this much, use appetite stimulants. Molasses in liquid or dry form works well for this purpose. Check the ration for proper protein level, since a low level of protein will cause a reduction in feed consumption. Also, do not rule out the possibility of a disease.
- Mineral feeding
Mineral can be provided “free-choice”, however the rations outlined in the Kent PNP Precision Plus® Cattle Feeding Guide do not require extra mineral. New cattle in the feedlot will sometimes benefit from extra-free choice mineral, since they may be depleted from previous poor nutrition.Finishing cattle on Go-Pro™ or NRB® do not need extra mineral. However, if 34 Baby Beef™ or Baby Beef™ 44 are used with high levels of grain, extra Feedlot Mineral is required (See the PNP Precision Plus® Cattle Feeding Guide for details).
- Use of urea in finishing rations
Urea has been a common addition to ruminant rations for many years. When balanced properly with other nutrients, and fed with some understanding of possible dangers, it will reduce cost of gain.
The following factors should be considered:
- Older cattle tend to adjust to urea-containing rations more rapidly than calves.
- Sick or unhealthy cattle suffer more from stress if they are on a high urea diet.
- An adequate amount of energy should be fed with urea to assure adequate conversion of the urea in to protein. We prefer to have one pound of grain or more per hundred pounds of body weight fed with roughage, if the supplement contains much urea.
- Proper mineral balance is important for efficient utilization of urea, particularly sulfur. Kent urea-containing feeds contain the proper amount of sulfur for maximum urea utilization.
- Use of No Roughage Rations
Kent NRB is a time-proven, successful method of finishing cattle without roughage.
Major advantages of Kent NRB rations are outlined below:
- Labor savings – Kent NRB can be mixed with corn and fed through self feeders. It eliminates the need for the daily labor problem of loading and feeding roughage.
- Fast gains – since no roughage is fed, the intake of energy with Kent NRB diets allows for fast rate of gain.
- Carcass quality – high energy diets low in fiber produce finished cattle that yield a high percentage of well marbled beef.
- Lower overhead costs – due to faster turnover of cattle, and less investment in facilities.
- Use of Liquid Supplements
Kent liquid supplements have several advantages as outlined below:
- Reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
- Convenience - Liquid supplements require little physical work, since the material can be pumped directly into feeding equipment.
- Palatability - Rations that include Kent Liquid Supplements are palatable and usually increase daily feed and water intake.
- Less dustiness in feed, reducing feed wastage.
- Cattle clean up feed in bunk more thoroughly.
Kent liquid cattle supplements may be fed in accordance with directions for similar protein levels as outlined in the PNP Precision Plus® Cattle Feeding Guide. Consult Kent Liquid Programs for more details.
- Use of Dry Supplements
Rations and recommendations for various Kent dry cattle supplements are outlined in the PNP Precision Plus® Cattle Feeding Guide. These supplements are highly fortified and are made specifically for particular feeding programs.