Page 19 - MWC 8-6-20s

The Midwest Cattleman · August 6, 2020 · P19
Creep Feeding Options:

Will it Pay? By Julie Walker, Professor, South Dakota State University Extension Beef Specialist

Creep-feeding should be However, as the amount of trients for optimum gain. In feed ingredients are added
evaluated on a yearly basis milk produced by the dam these situations, creep-feed- make sure the creep feed will
to determine if it will provide decreases, forage quality de- ing may be a viable option. flow through the feeder.
production and economic ben- clines as it matures, and the Additionally, first-calf heifers Energy creep-feeds can be
efits to the operation. Nutri- calf gets older it becomes and older cows may not pro- made up of on-farm grains,
ents required for calf growth more difficult to meet the duce enough milk to support such as corn, oats, or bar-
are met through its dam calf’s nutrient requirements. the desired calf performance, ley (either whole, cracked
milk and forage. Typically, Decreases in forage quality hence creep-feeding may be a or rolled). Table 1 provides
adequate weight gain occurs (energy and protein) or quan- benefit in these situations. some examples of common
with milk and grazed forage. tity creates insufficient nu- creep-feed rations. Free
Creep-Feed Selection choice high starch feeds can
Selecting the optimal
creep-feed is important for cause digestive disturbances,
so use caution when selecting
the best economic benefit.
The two most feedstuffs. Calves consuming
common types
of creep feeds
used in South
Dakota are en-
ergy or protein
creep feeds. The
most common
is high energy
creep. Creep-
feeds can be
mixed on the
farm/ranch or
purchased.
The ration
must be ener-
gy and protein
dense, because
You’ve got to ‘hang around’ the rumen of
the calf is small,
in the right places if you so the calf will not eat a large quantities of starch in
grain-based creep feeds may
large amount of feed. Addi-
want to get attention... tionally, the feeds must be experience acidosis. Limiting
creep intake can prevent aci-
palatable. Most commercial-
Your Ad ly available creep rations dosis. Delivering high starch
creep feed daily allows pro-
are pelleted and highly pal-
ducers to limit intake; how-
atable. Non-pelleted creep
Could be Here! feeds must be dust-free and ever, this is a very labor-in-
tensive option. Intake of
uniformly mixed to prevent
creep feed can be limited by
calves from sorting ingredi-
ents. Additionally, if liquid
continued on page 31

Standing
Apart Stock Cow & Bull Sale! Sale starts at 1ale starts at 11:00 a.m. every 1:00 a.m. every TTues. ues. 1:00 a.m. every Tues. Feeder Cattle Sale!
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W
Stock Cow & Bull Sale!
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Feeder Cattle Sale!
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S Sale starts at 1
Starts at 9 a.m. every Mon.
Starts at 9 a.m. every Mon.
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Starts at 8 a.m. every Wed.
Special Sale 4th pecial Sale 4th TTues. of each month.ues. of each month.
from the Herd Can Be Starts at 9 a.m. every Mon. S Special Sale 4th Tues. of each month. Starts at 8 a.m. every Wed.
A Very
Good Thing

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417-869-950017-869-9500
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E Exit 70 • I-44 & Hwy MM •
3 Mi. Mi. WW. of Springfield & 1 MNi. E of . of Springfield & 1 MNi. E of
3 3 Mi. W. of Springfield & 1 MNi. E of
J James River Hwy
James Riverames River Hwy Hwy