Question: We have an 800 plus pound shorthorn heifer that our granddaughter is showing. We have had some bloat problems in the past with her, but feed her a mixed feed made with 4 Tfyer, corn, cottonseed and oats plus we add some extra Diamond V which has helped the bloat. We are careful about overfeeding her (recommended by our vet to use the extra Diamond V) because of her bloat. We are feeding her about 8 lbs of feed per feeding twice per day plus free hay and she does not eat all of this. She starts out eating like she is starved but there is always some left. She needs more gut. She is a great heifer but is not showing well because she lacks the fill (gut). Should we continue using our own feed mix or go to a complete feed? Is 4Tfyer to be used all the way through? I guess we started with this as we are farmers and have our own corn to utilize. We are also feeding our shorthorn plus steer this same feed. He is doing well, but want him to continue. Thanks for any help that you can give us.
Answer: Dixie,
Thank you for contacting the Honor Show Chow Website!
What is your current mix (percent corn, oats, HSC Grand 4T Fyer, etc) for this heifer?
We have the recommended levels of Diamond V Yeast in the HSC Grand 4T Fyer. I do not know that MORE will help.
You reference cottonseed. Is that cottonseed hulls? Are you adding 7.5 to 10%? That should help with body dimension.
Your corn: is it whole shelled, cracked, flaked or what? I was wondering if you had some fine material contributing to the bloat situation.
Is the bloat issue under control at this time?
What kind of hay are you feeding? I would avoid any legumes (alfalfa or clover).
With the harvest conditions this past year, are you feeding only good quality grains (no mycotoxin, alfatoxin, etc.)? That may affect her aggressiveness to consume the feed.
You can certainly feed your heifer a 4T Fyer mix her entire show career. The inclusion of the grain ingredients may need to be adjusted along the way to keep her in the desired body condition.
If you are seeking more fill, try feeding 2/3 of the grain mix and 1/3 of our Preconditioning/Receiving Chow (tag is attached). I think you will like what that does for her.
Depending on your current mix, you may/may not need to adjust the grain ingredient inclusion for the market steer to finish.
Please stay in touch, and let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Steven E. Myers, Ph.D.
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC
Consulting Beef Nutritionist
