graining steers

Anonymous-0 · May 28, 2013

We sold a 1200 # steer and they want it finished on corn how long should I put corn into it?

pete black · May 28, 2013

Will be interesting to see answers. What is purpose of corn and stall fed? Weight, taste, or tenderness.

rrlund · May 28, 2013

Too late. Should have been on grain since 700-800 pounds. Get a smaller one and start over.

Ronald Anderson · May 28, 2013

Feeding corn in pens will give a little fat and marblying rather then the animal having to walk and graze the grass in pasture.
There is a difference in flavor and possible tendernous. But the hanging, ageing in the processing will tenderize the meat too.
Having said that you can do all you want but a 1200lb butcher steer will always be better then a canner unless you have good teeth and like to chew.

caseyc · May 28, 2013

Agreed with others, 1200# is too late for corn. I calve in April, spend all summer on grass with mama, no grain or creep. I wean around Thanksgiving. Start with straight grass hay, slowly work in alfalfa within a month or so. Start slowly with corn after Christmas. By that time they are around 700#. From that point the corn and alfalfa are rationed and grass hay is free choice. Feed till December and haul to the locker, usually weighing in around 1200-1300#. Leave them hang for 28 days. My steaks cut with a butter knife, roasts fall apart and rarely have to drain the hamburger.

Casey in SD

Nathan (SD) · May 28, 2013

Start at 650-700. Supplement with alfalfa, or DDG, or soybean meal to get some protien. If you are just doing one, a protien lick tub might be not too bad price wise. Just depends how fast you want him finished. I go a little slower cuz I just can't afford digestive problems.

retired farmer · May 28, 2013

You are too late.

Nick m · May 28, 2013

I get mine at 550+/-lbs and feed them all the fanned corn and soy meal they'll eat. About 200lbs of soy meal/ton of corn. I also let them have all the grass hay they want, which isn't much. They typically are finished out at 13-15 months old. They hang from 750-950 cold pounds, depending on the critter. Those are beef breeds. Holsteins are about 18 months old. It costs more to feed them that way, but it's worth it.

Lazy WP · May 28, 2013

I disagree with everyone else. I would put him on corn for 90 to 100 days. You have to build him up to it, but I try to get mine eating 20 plus pounds of corn. Takes me a couple weeks to get there. About the only thing you are going to gain is some flavor, which I like, and you might get him up over 1400 pounds. If you already have him sold, and they still want you to feed him corn, how is the money gonna work? It will take right at 60 bushels of corn to finish him out "right", and here it costs $7/bushel.

NEKS · May 28, 2013

I always grabbed a grass fed 800 lbs calf out of pasture to butcher. Seemed like not much taste. This time I ask the guy at the co-op and he said feed them corn and 30% oats pellets and give it all it will eat for 90 days. I even ground 25% hay in it. First time for me hope this works.

graining steers

Anonymous-0

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pete black

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rrlund

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Ronald Anderson

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caseyc

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Nathan (SD)

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retired farmer

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Nick m

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Lazy WP

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NEKS

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