Creep Feeding Calves

[rain]

It has been about 11 years that I have been away from the cow calf business. It looks as if the practice of creep feeding has taken a surge in in interest again. Is this because to the poor pasture conditions the last few years.

What are people using for creep feed now?

[pattylea]

I have been creep feeding calves since moving to Sask. 5 years ago. I start them off on a calf ration mixed with whole oats and diatomaceous earth soon after birth. Stops them eating dirt and helps prevent scours. I creep feed all summer which makes it abit easier on the cows, replacing the calf ration with chopped oats and by fall the calves are just eating chop. I find creep feeding makes the weaning process alot easier on everyone and the added lbs are an extra benefit. It also cuts down on your shrink if you ship the calves right off the cows.

[Muttley]

I have tried creep feeding over the years and found moderate success. My Angus calves tend to get a little over fat if I don't watch the ration. Also I have had calves on first calf heifers that grew nicely and added pounds but they also drank more milk and pulled my heifers down in fall.

[TJM]

We also creep feed our calves, and also have to be careful about the heifer calves getting too fat. They tend not to milk well if they do. So, around the time we pull the bulls in mid July, we split the calves three ways. The bull calves and mothers go into one group, steered calves into another and the heifer calves into the final group. They all get an oat based ration with the bull calves getting a little boost in the energy with around 10% corn.

But still the best ration going is good pasture and lots of it. Heres to a great growing season, both bovine and forage, and ceral and oil seed crops as well....it sure looks promising with the moisture that has been falling!!