Recently weaned calves should be given a few pounds of the diet each day to acclimate to eating from a bunk and transition their rumen onto a grain-based diet. (CP) provided on an as-fed basis is ideal. A diet consisting of 60 percent grain or concentrate and 40 percent roughage (hay or grass) and containing 60 to 70 percent TDN and 13 to 14 percent crude protein Weaned calves should be fed to gain around 2 pounds per day until reaching approximately 800 pounds. Common ionophores include monensin (Rumensin), lasalocid (Bovatec), and laidlomycin (Cattlyst). An ionophore is often included in many available mixed feeds and mineral supplements, or they may be purchased and mixed with a given diet. Ionophores are common feed additives that manipulate rumen microbial populations to increase feed efficiency and prevent bloat. Adding an ionophore to the diet will support increased daily gains. Post weaning, calves will be fed a grower diet until they reach approximately 800 pounds, followed by a finishing diet until harvest. This roughage is needed to maintain rumen health and avoid conditions such as acidosis or bloat. Add roughage, such as hay, to this diet to achieve adequate energy density for each stage of growth. Quality grain-based feedstuffs will contain a total digestible nutrient (TDN) value ranging from 70 to 90 percent. This weight gain is most easily achieved utilizing available energy-dense grain-based feedstuffs. Feed calves post weaning until they reach a finished weight target of between 1,100 and 1,300 pounds. Nutritional Managementīeef calves should be weaned between 7 and 9 months of age, weighing between 500 and 700 pounds on average. Efficiently raising calves to be finished for harvest requires attention to detail, and if done correctly, should yield a quality end-product for the consumer. Other things to consider are adequate cattle handling facilities, cattle breed differences, and harvest timing considerations. Proper nutritional management is paramount to finishing and harvesting beef cattle locally.
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