There are three main finishing methods for bullocks and heifers over the winter months. The first is a 50:50 silage/concentrate diet. The length of the finish will depend mainly on the diet offered, animal type, weight and fat cover at housing.

The target daily liveweight gain over a 100 to 120 day period should be approximately 1kg/day. With 50:50 (silage:meal) feeding cattle are housed and offered ad-lib silage along with 5kg of concentrates right through to slaughter.

Ad-lib concentrate-based diet

The second feeding method which is commonly practiced is an ad-lib concentrate based-diet. The length of feeding on the ad-lib diet for steers and heifers should be approximately 80 days for steers and 70 days for heifers.

In the first 21 days, there is a gradual build-up to ad-lib concentrates in order to avoid digestive upset and get the animals acclimated to the housing environment.

On ad-lib concentrate cattle will eat approximately 2% to 2.2% of their bodyweight. Always remember to supply l-l.5kgDM of long fibre to maintain digestive function.

Stepped supplementation

The third method, which is not too commonly operated, is the stepped method of supplementation. In this method, cattle are housed and fed ad-lib silage and 2.5kg concentrates per day for the first 30 to 40 days.

The concentrate levels are then stepped up to 5kg/head/day for the subsequent 30 to 40 days and then again to ad-lib silage and 7.5kg for the remaining 30 to 40 days of the finishing period.

The same level of concentrates is used in this method compared with the flat-rate feeding or ad-lib feeding options. In addition, it has been proven that the same level of average daily gain can be reached with no effect on kill-out percentage.

However, fat scores are a half unit lower than in the flat-rate feeding method, which could be an issue for young lean steers and heifers.

Essential reminders for winter feeding

  • At housing, cows should be grouped in three, thin cows (BCS <2), lean cows (BCS 2.25-3.25) and fat cows (BCS >3.5).
  • Changes in BCS should be made gradually from housing onwards.
  • All cows should be in the target BCS of 2.25 to 3.25 by 60 days pre-calving.
  • From 60 days pre-calving, all cows in target BCS should be fed ad-lib average quality silage.
  • Replacement weanling heifers will require 2kg concentrates per day along with ad-lib average quality silage.
  • If growth rates of over 0.7kg/day are required, then an additional 1kg to 1.5kg of concentrates will be required.
  • Weanlings need to gain at least 0.5kg liveweight per day during the winter months.
  • Weanlings being fed average quality silage will need 1.75kg to 2kg concentrates per day.
  • Finishing steers and heifers on a 50:50 silage concentrate diet requires good quality silage and 5kg to 6kg concentrates for a period of 100 to 120 days.
  • If silage quality is poor, then ad-lib finishing should be considered.
  • Ad-lib finishing cattle will consume 2-2.2% of their body weight for an 80-day finishing period.
  • Stepped finishing is where cattle are fed average quality silage and 2.5kg concentrates for 30days, 5 kg for the next 30 days and 7.5kg concentrates for the remaining 30 days of finishing.

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    Focus: Winter indoor management

    A first version of this article was published on 9 November 2013