Maintain Energy in Finishing
By Dr. Steve Sachtleben, Beef Nutritionist
Corn price is up, and many cattle feeders are thinking about feeding more roughage to their finished cattle. Is this a good idea? Compare the performance and economic return of cattle fed the two types of finishing diets below.
|
Steers from 700 to 1200 Pounds
|
| |
Higher Energy
.62 NE g/Lb |
Higher Roughage
.47 NE g/Lb |
| Corn ($3.50/bu) |
19.0 |
13.0 |
| Mixed Hay ($100/ton) |
3.0 |
12.0 |
| Go-Pro™ 600B ($350./Ton) |
1.0 |
0.5 |
| |
|
|
| Daily Feed Cost |
$1.52 |
$1.50 |
| Daily Gain, Lb |
3.00 |
2.54 |
| Feed/Gain, Lb |
7.66 |
10.04 |
| Cost/cwt Gain |
50.67 |
59.06 |
Return would be $41.95/head more ($8.39 X 5 cwt of gain) for cattle fed the higher energy diet. Reducing energy in a finishing diet does lower daily feed cost, but cost of gain increases because gain and feed efficiency are worsened.
Maximum feed efficiency is especially important when feeding high-priced corn. This can be achieved by:
• Not cheating on nutrition. Make sure the diet is properly balanced and contains the right level of energy.
• Marketing cattle when they are ready. Cost of gain goes up rapidly as cattle finish, especially as corn prices increase.
• Keeping intake consistent and the cattle free from acidosis.
• Making sure additives like Rumensin® or Bovatec® are fed, and at the proper levels.
• Making sure the proper ear implant program is utilized. Implants dramatically improve feed conversion.
SS:sg
12-6-06
Rumensin® is a registered trademark for Elanco's brand of monensin.
Bovatec® is a registered trademarks of Alpharma, Inc.