The Ration for Calves After 6 Months of Age
By Saleh Kamal Al-Saleh, dairy farm and cheese factory owner, founder of Lebnara · Last updated:
After 6 months the road forks: the heifer is raised to become a milking cow, and the male calf is fattened for sale. The goals differ, and feeding them the same ration is a costly mistake. A fat heifer milks less, and a beef calf deprived of energy is sold later.
The difference between the two paths
Figures are indicative for dairy breeds and crosses, and are adjusted to breed and feed prices.
| Indicator | Replacement heifer (6 – 12 months) | Beef calf (6 months to sale) |
|---|---|---|
| Target daily gain | 0.7 – 0.8 kg | 1.2 – 1.5 kg |
| Total ration protein | 14 – 16% | 14 – 16% growing, 12 – 13% finishing |
| Ration base | Roughage | Concentrate |
| Daily concentrate | 2 – 3 kg | Rising from 1.5% to 2.5% of body weight |
| End goal | Breeding at 13 – 15 months | Sale weight 450 – 550 kg |
Feeding the replacement heifer
A heifer between 6 and 12 months builds her skeleton and udder tissue. Growth faster than 0.9 kg a day before puberty lays fat in the udder, which reduces the number of milk-secreting cells, and shows in her production for life.
A sample daily ration for a 250 kg heifer: 3 kg grass or alfalfa hay, 6 to 8 kg corn silage, 2 kg of 16% protein concentrate, 50 g minerals, and unlimited water.
- Make hay and silage the base of the ration, equal to about 2.5% of body weight in dry matter.
- Concentrate is a tool to control growth, not to fatten: 2 to 3 kg a day depending on roughage quality.
- Weigh the heifers or measure chest girth monthly, and compare to the target.
Feeding the beef calf
A beef calf enters the pen at about 180 to 200 kg, and the aim is the highest daily gain at the lowest cost per kilo.
A sample daily ration for a 350 kg calf: 6 to 7 kg concentrate (corn, barley, bran and soybean meal), and 1.5 to 2 kg straw or hay, or 5 kg corn silage in place of part of the roughage.
- Adaptation phase (two to three weeks): raise concentrate gradually, by no more than half a kilo every 3 days.
- Growing phase (to about 350 kg): concentrate at 15 to 16% protein, with 25 to 35% roughage in dry matter.
- Finishing phase (to sale): higher energy and lower protein (12 to 13%), with roughage only 15 to 20% but kept to protect the rumen.
Common fattening problems and how to avoid them
- Rumen acidosis and bloat: caused by raising grain too fast or grinding it too fine. Roll grain coarsely, and add sodium bicarbonate (1% of the concentrate).
- Urinary stones in males: keep the calcium to phosphorus ratio about 2 to 1, provide clean water at all times, and ammonium chloride can be added under veterinary supervision.
- Scours and falling appetite: often a sudden change in feed type or source.
Keep the accounts separate in Lebnara
In Lebnara you separate heifers from beef calves in the herd records, and follow the feed cost of each group and the weight of each head.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a beef calf eat per day?
- Dry matter of about 2.5% of body weight, that is 8 to 9 kg for a 350 kg calf.
- How much does a beef calf gain per day?
- Between 1.2 and 1.5 kg on a good ration, and the gain falls near the end of fattening.
- Should I fatten surplus heifers?
- Yes, but they grow more slowly than males and lay down fat earlier, so they are sold earlier.
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