Nutrition for Show Steers Jim Sprinkle Area Extension Agent, Animal Science University of Arizona American Hereford Association

Growth Curve for Cattle Time Units Growth Units Castration Bulls Steers Heifer Window of Acceptability. For cattle this is meat with a fat content of 3.0 to 7.3% or Select- to Choice+. Puberty Maturity

USDA Quality Grades PrimeChoiceSelect

Show Animal Nutritional Requirements **A 40 day adjustment period is required to bring to full finishing ration. Starting Weight Finished Weight Days on Feed Grain % Steers (Med. Frame) 750 lbs.1100 to 1150 lbs.140** 70 Steers (Lg. Frame) 850 lbs.1250 to 1350 lbs.140** 70 For more information on Feeding Management for Show Steers, see

Receiving Period Shots: 4 Way Respiratory (IBR, BVD,PI 3, BRSV) 7 Way Clostridial Monitor Feed and Water Intake (get up to 2% of body wt. intake) Grass hay only for 3 days (unless used to alfalfa) Change over to alfalfa hay (if desired) over a week  After 3 days, 25% alfalfa, at 5 days, 50%, at 7 days, 75%, at 9 days, 100% 2 lbs. grain on day 4, feed for 3 days 3 lbs. grain on day 7, feed for 3 days 4 lbs. grain on day 10, feed for 3 days Watch for off feed Droopy ears Eye and nasal discharge Fever Blood in manure

Goal for Growing Ration Get up to 50% grain/50% hay ration –Stepup Rations: After eating well the receiving ration (slick feed bunk) then increase grain in ration by no more 10% per week until 50% grain growing ration is being fed. Allow at least 40 days from the time calf is received to get to the finishing ration (70% grain diet). Watch for off feed Droopy ears Eye and nasal discharge Fever Blood in manure

Finishing Rations Feed for 140 days to get proper finish For 4-H steers, 70% grain in diet is usually adequate. If more grain is needed to get gain desired, then need to add Rumensin R or a similar product to the ration If a steer goes off feed, reduce the grain and evaluate for sickness Which feed intake history is best?

What do I feed? What does your steer weigh now? What will the steer weigh at the fair? How many days until the fair? Is the steer a large or medium frame breed? How much weight does the steer need to gain? How many lbs. per day? How many lbs. per day will your steer eat (adjust for moisture in feed)? –2.0% of body weight? –2.5% of body weight? –3.0% of body weight? What TDN % needs to be in the ration to gain the weight desired (Table 2)? What percentage grain do you need to get the TDN% desired (Table 1)? What percentage protein should you have in the ration (Table 2)? How much will it cost you to feed your steer out? Can you estimate weight of the steer with a tape measure? See page 4 of “Feeding Management for Show Steers and Tables 1 and 2. Available at:

Estimating TDN and CP for a ration TDN for a 50% grain, 50% hay ration: .50 portion grain x 74% TDN = .50 portion hay x 50% TDN = Total CP for a 50% grain, 50% hay ration: .50 portion grain x 12% CP = .50 portion hay x 16% CP = Total

Determining a daily ration How much does the steer weigh?  Example 750 lbs. How much will it eat (Table 2)? What percentage of grain (Tables 1 and 2)? Calculate the ration: Example 70% grain, 30% hay  20 lbs. feed intake x.70 portion grain =  20 lbs. feed intake x.30 portion hay = Total

Measure length and heart girth in inches. Wt. In lbs. = (HG x HG x BL)/300

Speeding Up ADG Increase the grain % Add higher energy grains (corn) Increase the amount fed Slowing Down ADG Decrease the grain % Substitute lower energy grains (oats) Reduce the amount fed Exercise

Energy Content of Different Feeds Feedkilocalories/lb. feed* Alfalfa Meal1020 Oats1220 Barley1275 Corn1500 Animal Fat3550 * 1 human calorie = 1 kilocalorie or 1000 calories

USDA Yield Grades Quantify the ratio of fat to lean YG 1 Lean & heavy muscled YG 5 Fat & light muscled ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

USDA Yield Grade Step 1: Determine back fat – starting point for determining Y.G. 12 th rib depth inchesPreliminary Y.G..0”2.0 Most desirable.2”2.5.4”3.0.6”3.5.8” ”4.5Least desirable ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

USDA Quality Grades Prime Choice Select Standard ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

Visual Indicators of Finish ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

Visual Indicators of Finish ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

Visual Indicators of Finish x x ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

Visual Indicators of Finish ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

Visual Indicators of Finish ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

Visual Indicators of Finish ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

Visual Indicators of Finish ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

Practice Comparisons 1100 lbs ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

Practice Comparisons 1330 lbs ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

USDA Quality Grades PrimeChoiceSelect ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

Practice Comparisons Heifer – 1365 lbs ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

Practice Comparisons Steer – 1350 lbs ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

Practice Comparisons Heifer – 1365 lbs DP % HCW- 828 Back fat -.90” (PYG 4.3) RREA – 13.7 AREA (add.9) KPH fat – 3.5% (no adjustment) Final Y.G. 5.2 ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

Practice Comparisons Steer – 1350 lbs DP % HCW- 864 Back fat -.30” (PYG 2.7) RREA – 14.2 AREA – 16.2 (subtract.8) KPH fat – 2.5% (subtract.2) Final Y.G. 1.7 ars.sdstate.edu/ classes/AS101/01%20Beef%20Evaluation%20and%20sheep%20eval.ppt

For more information about feeding show steers, see: Questions?