• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

To Honor and Protect the Ranching Way of Life

  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Why Join
    • Leadership
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • FAQs
    • Newsroom
    • Sponsorships
    • Employment
  • What We Do
    • Theft and Law
    • Issues and Policy
    • Education
    • Students and Young Professionals
    • The Cattleman Magazine
    • Disaster Relief Fund
    • Cattle Raisers Insurance
    • Cattle Raisers Trading Co
  • Events
    • Cattle Raisers Convention
    • Summer Meeting
    • Policy Conference
    • Ranch Gatherings
    • Ranching 101
  • Join
  • Member Center
  • TSCRA Store
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Cow-Calf Corner: Growth promoting technologies are more important now with high input costs

Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University State Extension Beef Nutrition Specialist

We have all noticed that input prices have increased substantially over the last year. Fertilizer, feed, and fuel have given us sticker shock, but in reality, prices for all necessities have increased with herbicides, seed, parts, tires, equipment and trailers all going up. 

Based on current Feeder Cattle futures prices in October (currently trading at $180/cwt), 550-pound steers could be selling right at $200/cwt (based on a $10/cwt slide) this fall. Now is not the time to stop spending money on inputs, but we need to be ready to spend our money on inputs wisely.

Growth promoting technologies provide even more impact on net returns when costs are high. As I stated in a previous article, implants administered when the calves are between two months and four months of age will increase preweaning average daily gain of calves by approximately 0.10 to 0.2 pounds per day. This will result in 20 to 30 pounds heavier weaning weight, worth $40 to $50 per calf.

If an operation is currently using creep feeding to increase weaning weights. Alternatives should be considered this year. With typical free-choice creep feeding programs we expect creep intakes of 6 to 7 pounds per day. Free-choice creep feeding normally requires 8 to 10 pounds of creep for each additional pound of gain. Also, if these creep feeds are fed for more than 60 days, calves may be discounted for excessive fleshiness at market. Limit-fed creep feeding programs targeting creep intake of 1% of bodyweight should be considered. The limited creep supplements should be designed to match forage conditions, we use a moderate protein supplement (20 to 25%) when calves are on bermudagrass pastures with adequate protein but energy deficiencies. On native pastures with inadequate protein and energy we use a high protein supplement (35 to 40%) to match the forage deficiencies. The supplements contain 8 to 10% salt to help limit intake and the targeted amounts can be fed in creep feeders 2 to 3 times per week. 

Limited creep supplements will increase gains by around 0.5 pounds per day requiring 4.5 to 5 pounds of supplemental creep per pound of added gain. Including an ionophore, such as monensin or lasalocid, in creep supplements will improve gains by 0.1 pounds per day on top of the creep feed, further improving supplemental efficiency to 3.5 to 4 pounds of supplemental creep per pound of added weaning weight. Providing a limit-fed creep supplement during the late summer with an ionophore will result in 50-to-60-pound heavier calf at weaning worth $100 to $120 more per calf. Depending on the cost of the creep supplement this should boost net returns by $50 to $60 per calf (I used $500 per ton of supplement in this example).

Now is not the time to completely pull back from spending money on inputs for our cowherd, but we do need to carefully consider the costs and impact on net returns for all management decisions. 

Dr. David Lalman discusses the safety of implanting cattle on a classic episode of SunUp TV.

Written by:
Jaclyn Roberts
Published on:
July 5, 2022

Categories: TSCRA Update

Recent Posts

Crime watch: Cattle missing in McCurtain County, Okla.

May 12, 2025

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Bo Fox, District 12 in …

Continue Reading about Crime watch: Cattle missing in McCurtain County, Okla.

Crime watch: Cattle missing in Houston County

May 12, 2025

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Darrel Bobbitt, District 14 in …

Continue Reading about Crime watch: Cattle missing in Houston County

TSCRA supports USDA’s necessary decision to close southern border amid threat of New World screwworm

May 11, 2025

In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Secretary Brooke Rollins’ recent announcement …

Continue Reading about TSCRA supports USDA’s necessary decision to close southern border amid threat of New World screwworm

Footer

Who We Are

Why Join
Leadership
Staff
Partners
FAQs
Newsroom
Sponsorships
Employment

What We Do

Theft and Law
Issues and Policy
Education
Students and Young Professionals
The Cattleman Magazine
Cattle Raisers Insurance
Cattle Raisers Trading Co.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Information

Cattle Raisers Blog
News Releases
Bereavements
Events
Sponsorships & Advertisement
Tip Hotline
Get Involved
Links

Membership

Membership Center
Membership Center Instructions
Join
Renew
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

PO BOX 101988
FORT WORTH, TX 76185

1-800-242-7820

© 2023 Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; All Rights Reserved.

COPYRIGHT | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE