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With weaned calves and light stores housed for winter, the focus for management should be on maintaining good performance in the coming months.
Most farmers will opt for a flat rate feed level of 1kg to 2kg/day of concentrate between now and spring.
While this works fine, there is a performance benefit to front loading meal feeding during the first half of the housing period.
This is extremely beneficial where calves will be sold live in the spring. It also increases weight gains in spring-born heifers which will go to the bull next June, meaning there is a greater chance these animals will meet target breeding weights.
Front loading concentrates during this period increases weight gain compared with a flat rate feeding period
When to front load feed
Light store cattle, and weanlings, tend to have higher weight gain during the first half of the winter housing period, partly due to be being younger and more feed efficient.
Therefore, front loading concentrates during this period increases weight gain compared with a flat rate feeding period.
Feed levels
Take a 300kg calf housed on 1 November with a target turnout date of 1 April, giving a 180-day winter feeding period.
Feeding a flat rate of 2kg/day of concentrate is a total of 360kg fed over winter. Front loading concentrates for the first 90 days at 3kg/day, then cutting back to 1kg/day for the next 90 days is still 360kg of ration used.
The higher feed rate in the first half of winter will support higher weight gain. The lower feed rate will help prepare cattle for grazing, as they are less likely to go to grass overfat.
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