Page 18 - MWC 8-6-20s
P. 18
The Midwest Cattleman · August 6, 2020 · P18
Creep Feeding Calves
By Steve Niemeyer, Nebraska Extension Educator; Travis Mulliniks, UNL Beef Cattle Nutritionist, Range Production Systems
Keeping a tight grip on feed
costs is a priority for every
beef producer. Creep feeding
calves can be a good return on
investments in certain situa-
tions. Maintaining the calf’s
efficiency at an early age is
becoming much more criti-
cal with modern market re-
quirements. The gross income
of the cow/calf enterprise is
partially dependent on the
weaning weight of the calves.
Outside of changing weaning
date, there are management
strategies that can increase
calf weaning weight. However,
chasing increased output or
calf weaning weight can have
some negative downstream
implications to profitability
of the cowherd. Strategies to
increase calf weaning weight crease in forage quality con- reserved for specific market data shows that creep feeding
could include increased se- sumed by the calf, and creep and management situations heifers will lower their long-
lection for maternal milk feeding the calf to increase such as high calf prices, low term productivity by decreas-
production, increased genet- nutrient intake. Creep feed- feed prices, dry lot operations, ing lifetime milk production.
ic selection for growth, in- ing of beef calves usually is fall born calves, and purebred Some of the items that need
bull calves. Creep feeding to be considered when decid-
suckling calves can increase ing whether to creep feed are:
market weight of the calf at 1. Nutrient requirements
weaning. Creep feeding must and ration composition
take into account the econom- 2. Feed conversions of differ-
ics of the cost of gain, poten- ent types of creep feeds
tial market endpoint, and the 3. Post-weaning calf perfor-
influence of sale price of the mance and bunk-break-
calves. For instance, the cost ing calves
of the gain from creep feeding 4. Retaining replacement
has to be less than the value heifers
of the gain to be a profitable 5. Challenges of starting
nutritional strategy. Because calves on the creep ra-
there is data that suggests tions
non-creep fed calves catch up 6. Creep feeding design
with their creep fed mates 7. Location of creep feeder
post-weaning, the highest re- 8. Benefits of bunk-breaking
turn is realized if calves are calves for post-weaning
sold at weaning. Under se- 9. Calculating return from
vere drought conditions, creep creep feeding
feeding can be used to sustain
minimal calf growth. A risk of University of Nebraska-
creep feeding is getting calves Lincoln
too fat, resulting in price dis-
counts. In addition, long-term
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