Question: We have a simm x angus heifer that we are feeding to show. She has alot of belly to her which makes her look really deep but yet she does not look full. She looks like she needs more water to be filled out, we have taken the beet pulp out of her diet and most of her grass hay. We use grand fortifier because we hand mix our feed for individual calves. What ration would you recommend we use to keep her full for shows yet keep her building frame and growing?
Answer: Neal,
Thank you for contacting the Honor Show Chow Website!
What is the birth date of your heifer?
How are you mixing (% of each ingredient) your current HSC Grand 4-T-Fyer ration?
Why did you remove the beet pulp?
Why are you restricting the amount of grass hay fed?
I would stay with the HSC Grand 4-T-Fyer if that is convenient for you. Regarding the ration…
32.5-37.5% Corn
30-35% Oats
2.5-5.0% Beet pulp
7.5-10% Cottonseed hulls
~ 5% Molasses (adjust this based on the amount of fine material from your grain processing and personal preference)
20% HSC Grand 4-T-Fyer
I would feed 15 to 20 lb/hd/d depending on the age and weight of the heifer plus FREE CHOICE grass hay.
If this does not work to your liking, offer 2/3 of the grain mix and 1/3 of our Preconditioning/Receiving Chow (non-medicated; tag is attached).
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Thank you!
Steven E. Myers, Ph.D.
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC
Consulting Beef Nutritionist
Question: Creep for 2 month old calves, what percentage should the protien be?
Answer: Pat,
Thank you for contacting the Honor Show Chow Website!
Creep feeding, an interesting subject now.
We typically do not recommend offering creep prior to 3 to 4 months of age. However, I know lots of producers that offer creep at a younger age, like the 2 months you mention in your initial message. It is important to consider the quantity of milk from the dam and forage quality during this time. Most of the beef cattle creep feeds we offer are a 12 to 14% Crude Protein (as fed basis). Again, these would be offered from 3 to 7 months of age. Creep feed consumption prior to this time is typically LOW in a pasture situation. If you have the calves in a confined area, then consumption might be better.
Thank you,
Steven E. Myers, Ph.D.
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC
Consulting Beef Nutritionist
Question: My steer is on Honor Show Chow and he keeps bloating, we add baking soda to it and probis. He does get a flake of alfafa a day.
Answer: Melissa,
Thank you for contacting the Honor Show Chow Website!
What are you feeding - a breeding heifer, prospect steer or market steer?
Which Honor Show Chow product are you feeding?
How many pounds of Honor Show Chow are you feeding per day?
Based on past experience, have you tried feeding something other than the alfalfa hay? I would start there. Please feed a medium quality grass hay (or straw) before alfalfa. I think that will help the situation.
Please let me know if that does not help you.
Thank you,
Steven E. Myers, Ph.D.
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC
Consulting Beef Nutritionist
Question: I have heard alot of good things about Grant fortifier. After looking at the PDF on feed rations, I have some questions about the rations. I used to always adjust energy and roughage for gain and cover. The biggest problem I have is what to use to hold and keep cattle fresh. Is there a Purina cattle feeding seminar coming up anywhere? I would like to know how to use Gran-T-Fortifier with our wasting money. We a market heifer thats really good that we do not want to get over fat.
Answer: Jon,
Thank you for contacting the Honor Show Chow Website!
The HSC Grand 4-T-Fyer product offers a great deal of flexibility. I assume you are aware that it is used at a 20% inclusion. Your energy and roughage levels can be managed quite easily depending on your inclusion of the corn, oats, barley, cottonseed hulls and/or beet pulp. If you are unable to achieve the desired look and freshness when “maintaining” or “holding,” I would ask you to consider the use of our HSC Full Control. As you are aware, when holding you cannot simply reduce the feed intake. That is when they start loosing their muscle shape. You can feed ~12-14 lb of the HSC Full Control plus free choice hay and keep market cattle in a “steady” mode (and keep them looking full and fresh).
I have copied Mr. Tracy Coffland on my response. He is a Show Feed Specialist for Land OLakes Purina Feed based in Iowa. He can share some information with you on any upcoming events. I’m sure he and some other representatives will be attending the Iowa Beef Expo. I would also encourage you to visit the Events portion of our HonorShowChow.com website. You may/may not find something there of interest.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns. We would appreciate the opportunity to work with you and your family.
Thank you,
Steven E. Myers, Ph.D.
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC
Consulting Beef Nutritionist
Question: My daughter has a Shorthorn/Semital cross show steer that weighs 935 pounds. We are feeding Fitters Edge at a rate of 1 1/2% of his body weight along with about 3 pounds of grass hay. We have been feeding this ration for about 3 weeks with no trouble and now all of the sudden he started bloating on this. What can we do?
Answer: Gary,
Thank you for contacting the Honor Show Chow Website!
935 lb * 0.015 = 14 lb of grain * 0.90 = 12.6 lb on a dry matter basis
3 lb of hay * 0.90 = 2.7 lb on a dry matter basis
TOTAL - 15.3
If your steer was gaining ~ 3.0 lb/hd/d, his nutrient requirement is over 20 lb of dry matter. My point, you are not over feeding him.
It should take him 10-15 minutes to consume his grain. How long is it taking?
Is he aggressive when eating?
Does he act hungry at feeding time?
I would offer free choice medium quality grass hay. AVOID any legumes.
Any loose stools?
Is he for sure bloated or just “full?”
Is this steer in a drylot or a grass trap?
How many times per day are you feeding? I would recommend at least 2.
Have you increased the feeding rate recently?
Are you adding anything else to his feed - supplements, beet pulp, etc.?
Are you feeding at the same times of the day?
Are you weighing the feed each time you feed?
What was the steer eating before the use of our HSC Fitters Edge 3 weeks ago?
Any problems with digestive disturbances with this steer in the past?
Are you feeding from a feed pan on the ground or an elevated feed bunk?
Has the feed been consistent?
I apologize for all of the questions. I will respond back to you once you get back to me. I hope the free choice grass hay will take care of this issue.
Thank you,
Steven E. Myers, Ph.D.
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC
Consulting Beef Nutritionist
Question: I have a beautiful hereford heifer. She looks awesome shes got the perfect structure and I am feeding her beef finisher supreme about a third of a five gallon bucket and a few flakes of prairie morning and night but she just wont gain any hip or rump in her I have tried everything and nothing seems to work. This is my first year with cattle I usually show sheep so I have no clue what to do.
Answer: Shannese,
Thank you for contacting the Honor Show Chow Website!
Beef Finisher Supreme - I am sorry, but I’m not familiar with that product. Can you share some additional information?
How many pounds of feed are you feeding exactly?
What is the age and/or weight of your heifer?
Cattle are not drastically different from sheep. Muscle is genetic, and regardless of what you feed there is a good chance that you will not improve her width from hooks to pins. With that said, if she is not consuming enough feed for her age, or if she is not consuming a properly balanced or fortified ration, she may not be “expressing” the muscle potential that is bred into her.
You may/may not consider a feed change. If you deem necessary, I would recommend that you take a look at our Honor Show Chow Fitters Edge. This is an excellent product for breeding heifers. You can find the features and benefits of that product at www.HonorShowChow.com if you have interest.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions or comments.
THANK YOU!
Steven E. Myers, Ph.D.
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC
Consulting Beef Nutritionist
Question: I have two Brahman heifers, they are really good heifers they just need more depth and weight on them. I am feed the club calf impact and they seem to get bored eating that, I have a hard time getting them to eat. I was just wondering what to do to help them fill out.
Answer: Kelsey,
Thank you for contacting the Honor Show Chow Website!
A few questions for you.
What is the age and weight of the heifers?
How much of the Impact Club Calf are they consuming each day?
Are you feeding any hay? If so, how much per head?
How long have they been on the Impact Club Calf?
Is the feed available 24 hrs/d?
I assume you are aware that this particular feed uses some proprietary technology to make the cattle consume this ration in small snacks throughout the day. I would not expect them to be as aggressive at the bunk, or as interested in eating, if the feed is available free choice.
I will reply back to you again after you respond to my questions.
Thank you,
Steven E. Myers, Ph.D.
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC
Consulting Beef Nutritionist
