Winter rations for beef calves

"Stocker calves, weighing from 350 to 500 pounds, are wintered on a variety of rations on Missouri farms. The feedstuffs available and the desired rate of gain on the calves determine the ration. The first step in formulating a winter ration for your calves is to decide upon the daily rate of gain you want the calves to make. (Remember, weight gain is the product you have to sell.) Calves weighing 350-500 pounds will cost more per pound than calves will bring when sold at a heavier weight. The only way the higher purchase price per pound can be offset is by putting on weight gains that cost less per pound than the selling price. Thus, you will likely want around 1.5 to 2.0 pounds daily gain on these calves during the winter. This is especially true if the calves are to be sold without going to grass in the spring. It takes less feed for a pound of gain at faster rates of gain because a smaller portion of the daily feed intake is used for body maintenance. Also, faster rates of gain help reduce the cost of high interest rates and other nonfeed costs."--First page.Homer Sewell (Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture)New 1/84/8