Fillable 4-H Market Beef Planning Guide - Virginia Tech (Page 3 of 4) in pdf

C. Now that you know the Frame Score of your calf you

IV. Feeding To Get the Needed Gain

can convert this to estimated finished weight. This is

The nutrition contained in the ration is what makes

shown on the following chart.

cattle gain. The two most critical nutrients are energy

and protein. In feeds, we often use TDN as a measure

of energy. It stands for Total Digestible Nutrients, and

Table 2. Frame Score and Expected Finished

a higher value means more energy. Crude Protein is the

Weight of Cattle

measure of protein in feeds. Protein is needed at high

enough levels to fully utilize the energy in the ration.

Frame

Thus, a higher TDN ration needs to have a higher crude

Score

Steers

Heifers

protein level.

Cattle need a minimum amount of roughage (hay,

882

750

silage, or other high-fiber feed) in order to maintain nor-

955

812

mal digestive system function. This should amount to

1030

875

at least 10% to 15% of the total dry diet. Amount of en-

1103

937

ergy determines how fast a calf will gain weight, and

1175

999

grain is a source of lots of energy. Hay, pasture, and

1250

1063

silage do not have a high level of energy.

1323

1125

Cattle will eat 2% to 2 1/2% of their body weight in

1396

1186

dry feed each day. For example, a 1,000 pound market

1471

1250

steer or heifer will eat from 20 to 25 pounds of dry feed

daily. This is total feed, including hay.

Here are a few feed mixtures for growing or finish-

This is an estimated weight to be used as a guide.

ing market cattle.

Actual weight may be more if you use an aggressive

implant such as Revalor-S or -H or Synovex-Plus. It

may be less if you feed a high-grain diet beginning

High-Energy Ration –

when the calf is just weaned. However, actual fin-

For Maximum Rate of Gain

ished weight should not vary more than 75 pounds

• 1/2% of body weight as hay (3-5 pounds of hay per

from the estimate derived from this process.

head per day)

• 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of soybean meal per head per day

III. Required Rate of Gain

• Rest of the mixture is shelled corn (Whole shelled or

coarsely cracked)

A. Calculate Pounds of Gain Needed

This ration will provide around 80% TDN and 13%

crude protein

Estimated Finished Weight

(from table in Section II C)

_______________

Medium-Energy Ration –

Starting Weight

For Growing Lighter Cattle or Finishing at a

(from Section I)

_______________

Slower Rate

Weight Gain Needed

_______________

• 1% of body weight as hay (6 to 12 pounds of hay per

(Est. Finish Weight – Starting Weight)

head per day)

• 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of soybean meal per head per day

B. Calculated Average Daily Gain to Reach

• Rest of the mixture is shelled corn

Estimated Finished Weight

A mixture of 60% corn and 40% oats can be used in

place of all the corn in this mixture

Weight Gain Needed /

Days Calf Is on Feed =

_______________

This ration provides around 72% TDN and 13% crude

protein

Example:

450 pounds of weight gain needed / 150 days on feed

= 3.0 pounds per day

Grains used should be at least coarsely cracked, and

whole grains are better than grains that are finely

ground.

4-H Market Beef Planning Guide - Virginia Tech Page 3

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