Riverina Stock Feeds - The Beef Makers

Feeding grain based feedlot rations to cattle gives farmers the flexibility to finish cattle quickly, to take advantage of good opportunity cattle and/or feed prices.

In order to take advantage of these opportunities, small and large feedlot operators MUST look at all the factors involved with feedlotting and in particular the management of cattle being fed high grain diets. Adaptation of cattle onto these high grain diets is of critical importance and may often determine the success of feedlotting ventures.

Listed below are some animal husbandry information to help small opportunity feedlot managers get the most out of feeding RIVERINA FEEDLOT RATIONS to cattle.

Adapting cattle to RIVERINA FEEDLOT RATIONS:

1. When cattle enter the feedlot yard it is necessary to have grassy or cereal hay or straw available (NOTE: DO NOT USE LUCERNE HAY OR OTHER LEGUME HAY). The cattle MUST have access to cool, clean water. It is advisable to have your Veterinarian check the animals to ensure that there are no health problems that may reduce their performance in the feedlot.

NOTE: Not all cattle will perform well in a feedlot. There will always be a certain number of cattle that will not start and thus will not grow well. If these animals can be identified early, they can be culled from the yard and fattened as grass fed. If left in the feedlot, these animals will reduce profitability by wasting feed.

2. For the first three (3) to four (4) days start by giving the animals small amounts of RIVERINA FEEDLOT RATIONS. If using a self-feeder, ensure that the slides are wound down so that the cattle have to work hard to get any feed.

It is important to ensure that the cattle have access to grassy or cereal hay or straw at all times.

3. Over a two (2) week period, gradually increase the amount of feed so that after the two week adaptation period, the animals have unlimited access to RIVERINA FEEDLOT RATIONS. It is important that the cattle have access to grassy hay or cereal straw at all times. This roughage should be no less than 10% of the total feed intake.

NOTE: It is important to check animals at least twice daily. Animals that show signs of scouring, poor performance, droopy condition, rough coat and lameness should be removed from the feedlot. These animals are probably suffering from acidosis. Once removed, these animals should be put into a sick pen. They should only have access to the hay or straw. Allow three (3) to four (4) days for the animals to recover. Once recovered the animals may be restarted, similar to new cattle.