Cattle convert (pounds of feed per pounds of gain) at around 5.5 to 6.5 in the feedlot. That means you need to feed about 5.5 to 6.5 pounds of diet (assuming normal finishing diet) for an animal to gain 1 pound.
How many pounds does a steer gain per day?
Usually gains will range from 1.5 to 2.5 pounds per day.
How much feed does it take for a cow to gain a pound?
50-70% of a beef animal’s feedlot diet is forages and feed that humans can’t eat. These factors all contribute to the fact that it takes on average a mere 2.5 pounds of grain to produce 1 pound of delicious beef!
What can I feed my steer to gain weight?
To gain 2.75 pounds a day, a diet with 80% TDN will need to be provided. Steers need to be placed on a 70% to 85% grain diet to finish adequately. During the last 100 pounds of gain, the diet may approach 85% grain content.
How much weight does a steer gain in a month?
The range in daily gain can be anywhere between 1.0 and 4.0 lb. depending on the month. When the spring grass dries up, they are sold as 750 lb yearling feeder cattle.
What is the best feed to finish a steer?
10-15 lbs. per day of corn, oats or barley fed to grazing cattle is a good finishing ration. This fed to a 900-1000 pound steer for 3-4 months should will you a nicely finished animal. If you do not have access to pasture or if you are finishing during the winter, you might increase the amount of grain to 15-18 lbs.
At what weight should I slaughter my steer?
“Probably the 1,400 to 1,500-pound range is the premium weight at the auctions now,” Wert said. “When you get above 1,600 pounds, the carcass is getting too big for the rail in some cases. At the 1,100 to 1,200-pound range, you might not have the finish on the animal.”
What puts weight on cows fast?
1. Add Grain into Their Daily Diet. While your cattle likely make their primary diet of hay and grass forage, adding some healthy grains too can increase their weight substantially over time. Grain won’t from the basis of your herd’s nutrition, but the calorically-dense food can provide a boost to cattle weight.
What is the best feed to put weight on cattle?
FEEDING FOR WEIGHT GAIN
At the cow-calf level, when fed properly, whole cottonseed and corn are ingredients he recommends often because they are energy dense and high in fat.
How much grain should I feed my 700 pound steer?
The main goal for steers hand fed between 700 pounds through the finishing phase is three pounds per day, Weaber said. “To make that goal, the calf needs to be fed six pounds of feed for one pound of gain so about 2.1 tons of feed during that phase,” Weaber said.
Will corn fatten a steer?
Not only do cattle fed corn gain weight faster, but their meat contains more marbling, or fat, along with a more consistent taste. In contrast, meat from grass-fed beef contains fewer calories and far less fat.
How long does it take a steer to reach 1200 pounds?
They will stay on feed until they reach about 1200 lbs, approximately 14-15 months of age.
How long do you raise a steer before you butcher?
Butchering cows, however, is complicated and requires a specific skill set and tools, so it is important to know where you will process your beef. If you are raising a cow for beef, Robbins said that grass-fed cows will be ready to eat at around 28 to 30 months, while grain-fed cows can be ready by 15 to 16 months.
How long does it take a steer to reach 500 pounds?
In any project, goals and guidelines are helpful. A good steer should have these statistics: 1. Weigh more than 500 pounds at 7 months of age.
How much should you feed a steer per day?
The steer will consume roughly 15-20 pounds of hay per day or 2 percent of his body weight. Grain is added to the diet three months before taking the steer to the processor. The amount of time on feed can vary from 60-150 days.
Can you overfeed a steer?
Over-eating a forage will likely not hurt the cow, but will increase feed costs. Cows over-eating grains is not a good situation. This will usually result in acidosis, founder, reduction in performance, and sometimes death of the animal.
How long should a steer hang?
Beef should be aged a few days before cutting. The amount of aging will depend on the amount of fat covering, desired flavor and temperature. Carcasses that have only a thin fat covering should be aged three to five days; those with more fat, five to seven days. Very little tenderization occurs after seven days.
What is the best cut of meat on a steer?
So What are the Best Cuts of Meat From a Cow?
- Chuck roast.
- Bone-in ribs.
- Flat iron steak.
- Ribeye roast.
- Ribeye steak.
- Tenderloin (also called filet mignon)
- Sirloin steak.
- Skirt steak.
How long should you finish steer on grain?
The period of time needed to finish cattle will be dependent on multiple variables, including age of the animals and whether they are calf-feds or yearlings, and ration being fed. This time can range from 80-300 days.
How much is a 1200 pound steer worth?
Based on the 2019 budget, slaughter cows (1,200 pounds) are expected to average $50 per hundredweight, while 550 pounds steers and 520 heifers are expected to average $145 and $130 per hundredweight respectively.
What is the cheapest way to feed cattle?
“Corn residue is one of the lowest cost forages on a cost per pound of energy. That’s why mixing a high energy and protein feed like distillers’ grains with a low quality forage like corn stalks is so cost effective. Distillers’ is often a low-cost source of both energy and protein.