Feedlot Nutrition – Using Technology to Get
Feeding Right
John McKinnon
2017
19th Western Canadian Feedlot Management
School
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
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Typical Western Canadian Feeder Cattle
Production Cycle
• Calves are born in spring (March – June) and
weaned in the fall / early winter (October –
December) at 6 to 8 months of age
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Three Types of Feeding Operations
• Backgrounding or growing operations
• Grass
• Confined feeding
• Finishing Operations
• Backgrounding and Finishing Operations
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Typical Western Canadian Feeder Cattle
Production Cycle
• At weaning depending on weight and frame size:
1. Backgrounded over winter for grass next spring;
2. Backgrounded over winter for feedlot finishing in
spring;
3. Sent directly to the feedlot for finishing;
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Typical Feeding Operations in Western Canada
• Backgrounding or growing operations
• Weaned calves (400 to 650 lb)
• Grow out to a defined target weight
•
•
i.e. 650 to 750 lb if destined for grass in spring
i.e. 850 to 900 lb if destined for feedlot in spring
• Goal is target lean and skeletal tissue but minimize
fat deposition
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Backgrounding Light Weight Calves for Grass
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Backgrounding for Grass
• Initial weight 400 to 500 lb in fall
•Target weight for grass: 650 to 750 lb
• Target gain over winter: 1.5 lb / day
• Go to grass May through Sept
• Target gain on grass: 1.7 to 2.0 lb / day
• Target weight: 900 to 1000 lb
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Backgrounding Calves for Grass
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Backgrounding for Grass
• Initial weight 450 to 550 lbs in mid/late winter
•Target weight for grass: 675 to 750 lb
• Target gain over late winter: 1.75 lb / day
• Go to grass May through September
target gain: 1.75 to 2.0 lb / day
• Target weight: 900 to 1000 lb
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Backgrounding Cattle for the Feedlot
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Backgrounding for Feedlot
•
•
•
Initial Weight 550 to 650 lb
Target weight
850 to 900 lb
Target gain
Large Frame Steers: 2.5 to 2.7 lb / day
 Medium frame steers 2.0 to 2.25 lb / day

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Western Canadian Finishing Operations
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Typical Feeding Operations in Western Canada
• Finishing operations
• Heavier weaned calves (600 to 700 lb)
• Backgrounded Yearlings:
•
•
i.e. Short yearlings in spring ~ 850 to 900 lb
i.e. Long Yearlings in fall ~ 900 to 1000 lb
• Goal is promote rapid efficient growth that results
in optimum carcass composition
•
•
i.e. 3.5 to 4.0 lb / day
i.e. Feed conversions < 7.0: 1
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Considerations Impacting Value of a Finished Animal
Marketing
Considerations
• Method of selling
•
Live vs. carcass
weight basis
Carcass Characteristics
•
•
•
Carcass weight
Marbling Score
Yield Grade
• Marketing date
• Live weight & yield
• Risk management
strategies
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Carcass Weight
Typical Range 750 to 950 lb
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The Canadian Beef Grading System (revised
2002)
Marbling score
Prime – Slightly abundant amount of marbling
Grade AA – slight amount of marbling
Grade AAA – Small amount of marbling
Grade A – Trace of marbling
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The Canadian Beef Grading System (revised 2002)
Yield Grade or Lean Meat Yield
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Feeding Program Design
Considerations:
• handle all classes of cattle
• regulate rate of gain
• consistent predictable performance
• minimize digestive / acidosis disturbances
• simple and easy to implement
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Step - Up Feeding Programs
• Series of rations (5 - 8)
• Receiving to high end finishing ration
• Energy content increases with each step of the
program
• Substituting grain for forage at each step
• Protein, mineral, & vitamin levels set at each
step
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Step - Up Feeding Programs
• Built around energy content of the diet
• Total digestible nutrients
• Net energy of maintenance / gain
• Achieved by altering the Forage to Concentrate
ratio of the diet
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Example of a Commercial Step-up Program
Ration
Forage %
Concentrate %
Calf
55
41/4.0
RTN 2
44
52/4.0
RTN 3
35
61/4.0
RTN 4
25
71/4.0
RTN 5
17
79/4.0
RTN 6
10
86/4.0
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Example of Commercial Step-up Program
(% As Fed Basis)
Ration
Calf
2
3
4
5
6
6A
Barley Silage
54.4
Green feed
15.0
Barley
28.0
22.2 28.1 33.6 38.9 45.2 45.2
Wheat
0.0
9.5 13.5 18.5 24.5 30.0 30.0
Supp.
2.6
2.4
66.0 55.8 45.1 33.5 21.5 21.5
0
0
2.6
0
2.8
0
3.1
0
3.3
0
3.3
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Step-up Program for Growing-Finishing Cattle
Ration
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
TDN, %
CP, %
Ca, %
P, %
67
69
71
73
75
77
79
13.5
13.5
13.0
13.0
12.5
12.0
12.0
0.60
0.55
0.55
0.50
0.50
0.45
0.45
0.40
0.35
0.30
0.30
0.30
0.25
0.25
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Step-up Program for Growing-Finishing Cattle
Ration
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
TDN
%
67
69
71
73
75
77
79
NEm,
Mcal/kg
1.55
1.60
1.66
1.72
1.78
1.85
1.91
NEg,
Mcal/kg
0.95
0.99
1.05
1.11
1.16
1.21
1.27
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NRC Energy Requirements – 500 lb Cross-bred
Steer
Rate of Gain
• 1.5 lb / day
• 2.0 lb / day
• 2.3 lb /day
• 2.5 lb / day
TDN %
59.5%
63.5%
65.5%
67.5%
NEg Mcal/day
1.81
2.50
2.83
3.18
• NEm = 4.5 Mcal/day
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Advantages of Step-up Feeding Programs
• Natural Progression in Energy Levels
• Minimize Digestive Disturbances
• Performance Based on NRC Value
• Specifications for all Nutrients
• Least Cost Ration Formulation
• Simple / Detailed as required
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Management becomes key to success!
• Group and feed cattle according to target
expectations
• Move cattle through the program
• Predict performance on specific steps of the
program
• Knowledge of when to move cattle through
program
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Technology and Ration Formulation
• Feed Management
• Feed Formulation
• Ration & Performance Evaluation
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Technology and Ration Formulation
Feed Management
• Variety of programs
•
•
•
Digi*Star – Beef Tracker
SSG Fusion
ITSGlobal - feedIT
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Technology and Ration Formulation
Feed Management
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bunk calls
Create loads / manage pen delivery
Inventory management
Animal health records
Track feed and health costs
Pen closeouts / billing
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Technology and Ration Formulation
Feed Formulation Software
• Examples: Brill (FMS), Agridata (CFC)
• Typically used by feed mills/feed manufacturers
• Automate and Optimize
• Feed formulation – least cost rations
• Ingredient pricing / ordering / inventory
• Labelling / traceability
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Technology and Ration Formulation
Ration Balancing & Performance Evaluation
• Variety of software programs designed for cattle
feeders and professional nutritionists
• Least cost capability to building rations by trial and
error
• Examples Dalex (Consulting Nutritionist); Brill
Ration Balancer; Alberta Agriculture’s Cowbytes
• Excel spreadsheets
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Modeling & Evaluating
Beef Cattle Performance &
Requirements
WCFMS 2017
http://www.nap.edu
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NRC Model Evaluation
Main Functions:
1. Predict nutrient levels (i.e. energy and
protein) supplied by the feed
2. Predict voluntary DMI
3. Predict animal requirements for
specific nutrients (i.e. energy, protein)
4. Evaluate environmental effects on
performance
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NRC Model Evaluation
DMI
Nutrients supplied by feed
CP
Energy
NRC
Model
Animal Requirements
CP
Energy
Ration
Evaluation
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Technology and Ration Formulation
• Alberta Agriculture’s Cowbytes Program
• Balance for all major nutrients as well as most
minor nutrients
• Ration nutrients based on nutrient content of
selected feeds and amount fed
• Predict animal performance under
varying environmental conditions
• Use as a tool for economic decision
making
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