How To Bulk Up A STeer By August

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To all you beef owners, this ones' for you! My 13 yr. old daughter took her first polled hereford steer to a spring preview show today. At 13 months he now weighs 1,245 lbs. but has a tall and long frame. The judge felt he was too thin and ended up getting a bad placement. Although he did say he has alot of potential come August (when the county fair is). Wasn't until today at the show that we were told he can be over 1,300 lbs. because he had a large frame.(and was encouraged to try putting on at least 200 lbs. on him) All along we were lead to believe they wanted them around 1,250 lbs. Question is, he's been getting 19 lbs. of mixed grain a day, with as much hay as he wants. Do I need to add more corn, feed out more grain, or what? My daughter figured out since Feb. 5th at the first "weigh in" for 4H, he has gained just over 3 lbs. a day. He comes from a real nice registered line of beef. What would you recommend? Thanks, Pat

-- Pat (pmikul@pcpros.net), June 10, 2000

Answers

IF you are sure that he doesn't have a parasite load, you might try Calf Mana, by Purina. I know that it put weight and a nice shiny coat on my kids, and they loved it--it has a licorish or fennel taste. Maybe alfalfa hay, or alfalfa pellets? Introduce the stuff slowly, tho. I thought that they were breeding for the very qualities that your steer has, though--the long, lean, tall look, so the meat will be lean...!!!

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), June 10, 2000.

Pat, you have to have a major livestock show in your area. Find out what feed dealer the winners are using! Though you won't get any secrets from the folks you are competing against, in fact you need to be down right leary about getting any information from them at all! But the feed dealers are in it for the buck and will tell you every trade secret they know. Make all changes slowly! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), June 11, 2000.

Seems strange what happened. Can you trust the person who told you he could be over 1300#? Just make sure that whatever rules you're following truly allow for it. Hate to see your daughter invest all the time and money putting weight on the steer and then get nailed in August.

The others are right in what they've suggested. I'd add possbily (and slowly) corn and molasses. Check with your supplier for what grains you can get cheaply vs a prepared feed or supplement. They want to sell you something, so they should be willing to help. Make sure the flies don't get him hot and bothered. Lots of shade. Lots of water. And free access to a good salt/mineral block. Lots more water.

At 13 months the steer should be slowing down in the growing up and begin to start saving up excess feed as fat. It wouldn't hurt to contact the breeders he came from and get some advice from them. They know their particular line of cattle better than anyone. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), June 11, 2000.


I bought the mother of this steer already bred with him from a local vet who raises these larger, registered beef. He is the one who told me even before the judge did, that he needs more weight on him. This vet has had his children and now grandchildren show the same line of herefords for years, so I believe what he told me is honest & true.

-- Pat (pmikul@pcpros.net), June 11, 2000.

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