Purdue researchers found that creep-fed heifers that were retained in the breeding herd weaned lighter calves than those that were not creep-fed as calves. Excess condition or fatness of heifers may influence subsequent development of desired maternal traits.Ī University of Illinois study reported that noncreep-fed females produced 28% more milk at 120 days into lactation than did those that had received creep feed. Creep-feeding can result in disadvantages in developing replacement heifers. Producers who raise their own replacement heifers should study the advantages and disadvantages of creep-feeding carefully. Some cattle producers figure if range conditions are such that a cow can’t wean a calf weighing more than 400 lb, it’s time to consider creep-feeding. Cull these cows!Ĭolorado State University reported that creepfeeding bull calves from dams 2 years old and 11 years or older had a greater response (60 lb and 42 lb, respectively) compared to calves from mature dams (5 to 10 years), which had a 23-lb improvement in weaning weight over bull calves that weren’t creep-fed.Ĭreep-feeding calves of 2-year-old heifers is a common practice on ranches and does result in a uniform sized calf crop. Creepfeeding calves from cows that are poor milkers isn’t a sound practice. Under most range conditions, calves born in the spring and creep-fed will weigh 30 to 80 lb more at weaning than calves not creep-fed.Ĭreep-feeding calves from first-calf heifers and old cows usually gives positive results. The milking ability of the mother, and the abundance and quality of the pasture or other feed available to her and her calf, largely determine how much extra weaning weight is gained with creep rations. However, an Oregon State University study showed creep-feeding male calves from August 9 to October 14 resulted in only 15 lb of gain, with 13.4 lb of feed required per lb of gain. However, some producers creep-feed grain to the calves through the last 3 months of the nursing period.Ī University of Florida study reported creepfeeding calves for 64 days increased calf weight by 48 lb, with 5.3 lb of feed required per lb of gain. It’s a common practice to allow beef calves to remain with their mothers on pasture throughout the grazing season without supplemental feed. It depends very much not only on the dam’s potential milk production but also on the forage available to the cow herd. However, creep feeding doesn’t always produce an advantage in weaning weight. Supplementing the calf’s diet should pay its cost in most commercial herds-in years of inadequate forage and in dry months when calves could use extra feed provided by creep feeding. It takes about 10 lb of feed per lb of gain.Īfter a beef calf is 90 days old, mother’s milk will supply about half the nutrients it needs for maximum growth. Here’s a good rule of thumb: Selling price per lb of calf should be greater than 10 times the cost of the creep.

The potential return of creep-feeding depends on the price of cattle and the price of feed. Supplementing the grass and milk available to unweaned calves with creep can be an economically sound practice, especially during a dry period when forage is short.Ī creep feeder that allows the calves to eat supplemental feed, while it excludes adult animals, will assist calves in growing more rapidly. Why feed supplements are importantįeed accounts for about 70% of the cost for raising beef cattle.

On a scale of 1 to 10, fertility rates 10, growth gets a 2, and carcass characteristics rate a 1. Research suggests that when it comes to determining annual gross income, fertility is five times more important than growth rate, which (in turn) is twice as important as carcass characteristics. Carcass characteristics, which influence the price you receive.Growth rates, which influence the weight at sale.Fertility, which determines the number of animals available for sale.Put another way, we can say that annual gross income from your beef herd depends on three areas of production:

Therefore, the primary criterion for evaluating a beef enterprise should be the total weaning weight per cow exposed. Gross income in the cow-calf phase of the beef industry depends on the production of calves with high weaning weights.

Creep feeder for cattle