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Creep Feeding Beef Calves | UGA Cooperative Extension
Each system generally produces increased growth, which may or may not be profitable. Creep feeding, like any other supplementation practice, must be analyzed based on estimates of expected increases in performance and income compared to the costs of these improvements.
This publication discusses the advantages and disadvantages of creep feeding. The first factor to consider is the cost of the added gain. It is futile to spend more than the market price to produce additional weight gain. The conversion of feed to gain can vary from 3 to 12 pounds of feed for each pound of gain above non-creep-fed calves.
In a creep grazing system the increase in calf weights would have to be evaluated against the cost per acre of creep forage, the number of calves carried per acre and the amount of extra weight produced per acre of creep grazing.
Producers generally assume that creep feeding is more valuable when calf prices are high. However, the higher the calf prices, the greater the discounts as calves increase in weight. Creep feeding grain for days should add approximately 60 pounds of weaning weight to a calf. The relationship between feed conversion and feed cost determines the cost of gain Table 1. Cost of gain is calculated by dividing total feed costs per calf by added gain per calf.
For practical purposes, use a conversion of 9 pounds of feed per pound of added gain when determining how much can be paid for creep feed. One factor that greatly affects creep feed consumption and efficiency is the quantity and quality of available forage. If high quality forage is available, forage intake will be reduced and the benefits in animal performance over the no-creep system will diminish. Creep feeding has been most effective in drought situations or whenever quantity or quality of pastures does not meet the growth requirements of the calf.
Daily intake of creep feed can affect feed efficiency. Protein-based creep feeds are often fed in limited amounts by including salt in the feed. An Illinois study compared limited or unlimited intake of corn or soybean hulls Faulkner et al. There was no difference in feed efficiency between the supplements or intake level, which were 2.
The response to creep feeding will be less when abundant high quality forage is available until weaning. Growth rates will be less restricted in non-creep-fed calves when high quality forage is substituted for grain in creep-fed calves. A more fibrous creep feed such as soybean hulls will not decrease forage intake and forage digestion as much as a high starch feed such as corn. One trial showed that calves fed about 7 pounds of creep feed per day consumed about 50 percent less forage when fed corn and 40 percent less forage when fed soybean hulls.
In the same study, forage intake was decreased by 12 percent when creep feed was limited to 1. During a drought, calf gains are limited by poor quality forages and a lack of forage availability, so creep feeding should be most beneficial in drought years. Creep feeding can mask the poor milking performance of cows. Calves of poor milking cows may consume more feed to make up for receiving less milk from the cow.
If culling and selection are based on weaning weight, weigh calves prior to the creep feeding period to obtain an estimate of the cow? Another point to consider is whether or not the calves will be marketed following a stockering program.
If calves are heavily fed and fat at weaning, creep feeding could decrease performance during the stockering period. In this situation, use a creep grazing or limited protein supplement. This should decrease creep feeding gains but allow for normal growth rates in case of a drought or poor forage quality.
Creep feeding is more beneficial if calves are marketed following or through slaughter. Creep feeding familiarizes calves with grain and results in greater intakes of grain and reduced stress at and after weaning.
Calves that were creep fed have been shown to have fewer respiratory diseases during the preconditioning period compared with calves that were not creep fed.
Creep feeding will benefit calves retained through slaughter by increasing marbling and avoiding the price discounts that may be applied to heavier, fleshier calves when sold at weaning. Creep feeding has been shown to increase marbling scores in many research trials. Some have estimated that marbling scores increase approximately 0. Therefore, creep feeding a calf for days could increase the final quality grade by one score for example, low choice to average choice.
Other studies have shown lower increases in marbling scores Table 2 , but the bottom line is that creep feeding a grain-based diet will enhance carcass marbling provided calves are fed at least 80 days Tarr et al. To retain the benefits of increased marbling, calves should continue being fed a grain-based diet immediately after weaning and adjusted to a feedlot finishing diet within 28 days after weaning.
In most situations, creep feeding future replacement heifers is not recommended. Research shows that high-energy supplementation and subsequent high daily gains of heifers, prior to weaning, decrease mammary development and subsequent milk production. Creep feeding will reduce milk production by approximately 25 percent.
Milk production should not decrease unless heifers are gaining at least 2 pounds per day. Creep feeding heifer calves can decrease milk production in their first lactation and result in a lower weaning weight of their calves. Replacement heifers generally need to gain only 1 to 1. At such low growth rates, much of the added weight gained from creep feeding will be lost.
Separate potential replacement heifers from the calves that are creep-fed. Creep feeding heifers has been shown to decrease the age at puberty. If weaning weights are severely restricted by poor forage, then creep feeding can allow heifers to obtain normal growth and reach puberty to calve at 2 years of age.
Supplementation with concentrate feeds is the most widely used creep system. Under most circumstances, this system produces the most additional gain. Creep feeding can be accomplished using a self feeder with a creep gate attached, or by using a creep gate to divide off a separate creep area and placing a trough inside. Locating feeders around loafing areas and spreading hay in creep areas helps the calves find the feed.
The efficiency of a grain creep system usually varies from to In other cases, feed efficiency has ranged up to , clearly an uneconomical level. A good average to use is 9 pounds of feed for each additional pound of gain , which is a safe assumption for calculating the amount one can pay for creep feed. Success with this creep system fluctuates with cattle and grain prices, available forage, type of cattle and management system.
With the high grain creep system, many ration combinations can be used to achieve satisfactory results. Example rations are shown in Table 3. Ingredients and ingredient amounts can vary according to feed cost. Mix the ration thoroughly to prevent the calf from sorting feed particles. Whole or rolled grains make a simple, satisfactory creep feed and are more palatable than finely-ground grains.
In addition, larger feed particle sizes reduce dust and may decrease waste. Adding 3 to 5 percent molasses can reduce dust, reduce separation of feedstuffs and improve palatability.
Creep feed intake is important when evaluating the efficiency of an unlimited grain-based creep feed. A 4,lb capacity and sliding lid make filling from an overhead bin a breeze. All 3C Creep Feeders have a 2-ton capacity. One man can fill it and one man can set it up. Each 3C Creep Feeder has easy fold-up gates that lock in position, a removable tongue, and a sliding lid.
Call Us Bruce Lindsey. Shad Beebe. Research has reported feed to gain with calves fed high energy creep feeds to be range to This means it takes 8 pounds of creep feed on a dry matter basis to gain one pound.
Another way of looking at it is calves fed high energy creep feed typically gain 0. Soybean meal, canola meal, dehydrated alfalfa pellets, or a commercial protein supplement without urea are all potential high protein creep feeds. Creep feed should not contain urea for young calves since they do not have a fully functional rumen. Commercially available, nutritionally balanced, creep-feeds in a pellet form can be more convenient to use and often will be of similar or lower cost to those made up on the farm.
Data suggests that the feed to gain conversion with high-protein creep feeds averages , which is better than the conversion with high-energy creep feeds. Additionally, calves normally consume less creep feed and gain less weight over the creep feeding period. Adequate supply of forage is important when using a high-protein creep feed.
Although creep feeding can significantly increase weaning weight, costs associated with creep feeding can result in minimal economic benefit. Therefore, when evaluating the financial benefit of creep feeding, it is important to understand the relationship between the cost of the creep feed consumed and the value of the additional weight gained.
Table 2 shows an example budget for calculating returns per head for creep feeding. In this example, it costs more to provide the creep feed than the value of the added weaning weight. Columns are provided below within table 2 for you to use to evaluate the returns from creep feeding in your situation.
In a recent research project, a Super SmartFeed Producer was used in conjunction with two SmartScales for precision heifer supplementation and development.
3 ton creep feeder free -
Studies show that creep feeding is one of the most economic ways to add 80 to pounds to the weaning weights of calves. The creep panels are removable to further utilize as a self-feeder. Advanced design facilitates high bulk feed ration flow featuring our dual agitators to keep feed moving through the feeder system.
Apache Equipment has designed and developed a "Rain shield" for additional protection. Home Apache Creep Feeders. Creep Feeders 8' Bushel Creep Feeder Video Studies show that creep feeding is one of the most economic ways to add 80 to pounds to the weaning weights of calves. Available in 8', 12', 16' lengths ranging from 35 to Bushels All 8' feeders are portable up to 3 tons Available primed, painted, or hot dipped galvanized "T" Frame with heavy-duty steel axle and tongue Full frame construction for durability Wrap around corners for greater strength 12 gauge pan and floor for long life Heavy duty 2" spindles New 9.
Specialty Feeders are designed to accommodate extremely bulky rations Available in various sizes Available primed, painted, or hot dipped galvanized Dual agitators Tall, steep center cone to keep course feed flowing Wider feed bunk for more head room Creep Feeder Accessories Rain Shields Apache Equipment has designed and developed a "Rain shield" for additional protection.
Rain shields are available for all sizes of Apache Creep Feeders With the exclusive Apache design and proper user management, rain shields are seldom needed. All rights reserved. Web Design by Cazarin Interactive.
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