W
hether or not to use creep feed is a question that many producers ask themselves. There are many advantages as well as disadvantages so producers must assess financial variables with production goals to determine if it is a valuable option for them. Creep feeding has been shown to be beneficial when high quality pastures is either inadequate or not available. Here are 3 factors to consider when making your decision:
Is it worth it?
First thing you must consider is if the extra weight the calves will add on will mean more profits. Normally you would think more weight would mean more dollars but if the calf is “too fleshy” they could be discounted. Creep feeding has been shown to improve carcass quality though. If you can capitalize on higher quality grades that could offset the extra expenses.
Time of year
What time of year it is and what stage of milk production the cow is in could have a bearing on whether to feed creep or not. If an early lactation cow is on a lush, green spring pasture she is more likely to be able to meet the calf’s requirements on her own. The calf will also be grazing the higher protein grass thus also helping to meet it’s requirements. If it is in the middle of summer the pasture won’t provide as much nutrients as before. The cow could also be past it’s peak milk production stage. A 500lb calf would require 50lbs of milk per day to meet it’s requirement but she could only be producing 10lbs per day.
What type do I use?
There are many creep options available for all different needs. The most common creep feed is a grain based with oats, barley and salt being the most common ingredients. Salt is a good ingredient to use if you are wanting to limit the calf’s feed intake. A forage based creep is available and could work better that the grain one in some situations. Most rations will contain between 13% and 16% protein so you will need to determine what works best for you. If you would like to read more about deciding which feed would work best for you I discuss that here.
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