The Cattle Feeders part 2

back at Jim's farm his lot was ready for the cattle now the real work begins the most important phase of the cattle feeding program getting the cattle started on feed their weary need rest forage and plenty of fresh water during the next 1 to 3 weeks salt minerals should be provided at all times throughout the feeding program because they are fresh off the range who spread hay in the bunks to coax them to come up for feedings the Masters eye is necessary even with automation you keep your cattle in a separate feedlot you're proud of your facilities the Lots are concrete close to the barn clean with good runoff and there's room for the cattle to stand and feed this is the most critical period in getting your cattle off to good gains you start feeding with the corn and silage after a couple of days feeding the corn at the rate of 1/4 to 1/2 pound for each hundred pounds of body weight the bulk of your feet is silage which you'll gradually decrease as the cattle are brought to full feed conveyor belt main auger corn supplement silage you feed sufficient supplement to provide a ration containing not less than 10 percent total crude protein as recommended by your feed man this supplement is adequately fortified with vitamin A with 20 pounds of corn each time the Harper dumps it has to empty 22 times to feed your 135 head of 650 pound yearlings as the cattle moved toward full feed you increase the grain mixture decrease the forage by the end of 20 days or so you feed them 10 to 12 pounds of corn per head daily or about 2 pounds of grain for every hundred pounds of body weight that's four times as much as they started with the total ration contains a minimum of 10% crude protein in about three weeks your cattle should be on a full feet of grain and ready for dry lot feeding once they're on full feed any changes in the grain ration should be made slowly and cautiously in bringing them to market weight good-looking cattle know where they were raised know how they were raised how they were bred how they were hauled what they were fed maybe I should have had dr. mountain look him over when they arrived 135 head could use a few more I knew as much about these as I do my Western kettle one of these are named cattle now we denominated know we didn't own I didn't know I didn't know or maybe you're like Dave if you're Dave you're pretty careful about buying and feeding you have to be you went to the stockyards for some of your cattle you were pretty careful did you read something about worming cattle was there a drought in the mesquite range of Texas or was the drop further west maybe they came from further north in Oklahoma or the wheat pastures of Kansas any chance of red-nose what have they been fed you found some of the answers in one bunch was headed home when you stopped in to see the order buyer he had half a carload for you out of Canada thirsty they arrived thirsty whether they come from the stockyards order buyer or the sale barn you give them plenty of fresh water and hay as you hold them for a couple of days in an observation lot after a good close look at the cattle your veterinarian may worm them or place them on antibiotics for a certain period or may recommend a specific type of vaccination this is part of a special herd health program a system set up to prevent disease instead of waiting until the cattle become sick you turn them out on stalks until the first snows arrived your veterinarian was on hand again after they were back in the lot the overall transition from range to feedlot that's the crucial problem where do you start how fast do you feed in those critical first 10 to 14 days your objective is gains of two to three pounds a day age origin breeding health and condition these are the factors which determine the feeding program you and your feed man decide upon you feed much the same as Jim does a mixture of corn silage and a properly balanced supplement the veterinarian will see the cattle again just before they go on the self feeder when they will be eating about 2 pounds of grain daily 400 pounds of body weight you'll pull the self feeder into the lot and use bulk feed trucks to keep it filled but you'll still keep a close watch on how they are doing if you're Dave you depend on your banker for financing realizing that you're using other people's money you weigh carefully the advice from the banker extension specialist veterinarian and feed men yeah I could use more cattle in my lots and I have a pretty good idea how high to go you