Creep feeding can be a very useful tool for producers raising young calves. Using this tool can both improve your overall bottom line as well as your profitability. Not to mention also helping calves in being more productive.
What this tool is able to do is add a few more pounds on your calves which can translate to more dollars for you when it comes to sale time. Also, it has been shown to make weaning a little bit less stressful for them. It can almost seem like creep feeding is a no-brainer but unfortunately, like with everything else with ranching, it is not always that simple.
Like with everything there are pros and cons to using it. It is up to each producer individually to decide if it is something that will work for them or not. Not only must you look if it will work from a production standpoint but you must also see if it will make sense financially. Here are some things to consider:
With fall and cooler weather right around the corner it is important to giver your cows their best chance going into winter. Good winter management practices contribute to healthy and productive cattle. It also plays a part in keeping feed costs reasonable.
Hard to believe that we are already in September. which means that summer is over. The temperatures are getting cooler (somewhat) and the days are getting shorter. This is certainly a time of year where a lot of transitioning will be going on.
Though the weather may not feel like it, still in the high 90s here, but the fall season is upon us. The soon to be changing weather reminds us of the changing season. Along with a new season comes a new need for supplementation for your pasture cattle.
Many producers out there unknowingly sabotage their mineral program by providing sulfur salt blocks to their cattle in the pasture. The general way of thinking in providing this is that it is for the purpose for external parasite control. The trouble with this is that although applied externally has shown to do this somewhat. As far as I have been able to find there is no proof that ingesting it does this.
Protein tubs have been gaining popularity here lately with producers of all sizes. People that use them like the convenience of having a supplement that is designed to be self-fed in the pasture. They can deliver supplemented nutrients that does not require extra labor.
Seems every year Mother Nature wants to wreak havoc on some regions with drought. Drier than desirable conditions cause problems for livestock producers who depend on forages for grazing during the summer months. But on a positive note using proper planning both your cattle and your bank account can survive the drought.
Sulfur for cattle tends to be a bit of a dividing subject for most producers. When it comes to this subject it generates a love/hate relationship with cattlemen. There are ones who love them as well as swear by them, then there are others who feel they are a waste of money.
Salt as you may know is one of the important building blocks for cattle. This, along with other minerals, are necessary for cattle to perform at their best.
Having to feed supplements is necessary sometimes in cattle operations. That being said it is not something that most ranchers like to do. Feed costs remain the single largest expense for any cattle producer. The amount really depends on different things but it can easily be half of the total annual expenses.
