creep feeding calves

[poorboy]

I am short of grass and am thinking about buying a mobile creep feeder for my cow/calf herd. The calves will come off of grass in early october and go into my feedlot where they will be fed to slaughter weight. I do not have any oats and am wondering if I can feed straight barley or if the calves will just too fat in the fall and the fat will vanish at the stress of weaning and just cost me more money. Has anyone fed barley and how does it work. These are crossbred calves about 350 lbs now. Thanks

[chalmers]

Hi Poorboy, Alberta Agriculture has a great fax sheet on Creep feeding calves that will answer some of your questions. It can be accessed at http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/agdex/400/400_50-4.html. Hope this helps.