How to Feed Steer Dairy Calves

Dairy farmers typically maintain steer dairy calves until they are large enough to be sold at market. Steers cannot be used for milk production on the dairy since they are males and, therefore, are not useful to the farmer as part of the dairy herd. The process of feeding a steer dairy calf is very similar to feeding a heifer dairy calf until the calf reaches eight weeks of age. Once the animal reaches eight weeks, the method of feeding and feed components changes drastically as the steer needs to gain a significant amount of weight prior to going to market.

Things You'll Need

  • Milk replacer
  • Starter feed
  • High protein feed
  • High energy feed
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Instructions

    • 1

      Keep steer calf with the mother for the first three days of life. It is very important that the calf feed from his mother to obtain the necessary colostrum. Colostrum provides antibodies to the calf to build his immune system and provide resistance to disease. Colostrum is most readily absorbed by the calf within the first 24 hours of life, so it is critical that he stay with the mother during this time. If is not able to suckle properly, colostrum should be hand fed to the calf.

    • 2

      Start the calf on milk replacer after 24 hours have passed and the calf has obtained colostrum from the mother. Milk replacer diets can consist of whole milk, formulated milk replacer or waste milk and colostrum. If using a milk replacer, make sure that the formula includes 20 percent protein from milk sources, 10 percent fat and a low amount of fiber. Avoid replacers that use soy as the primary source of protein.

    • 3

      Feed 8 to 10 percent of the calf's weight in milk replacer twice each day until it is weaned.

    • 4

      Provide calf starter dry feed once the calf is three days old. Dry feed should be specially formulated as a starter ration, and should be coarse in texture and appealing to the calf. Offer feed and clean water to the calf on a free choice basis.

    • 5

      Wean the calf off the milk replacer at around 8 weeks of age. At this point, the calf should consume about 1.5 pounds of starter per day. Avoid weaning if the calf is not healthy or the weather is extremely cold.

    • 6

      Continue feeding the calf a dry ration of high energy crude protein once it is weaned, such as 34 percent cracked corn, 33 percent oats and 33 percent protein pellets. Continue feeding in this manner until the calf reaches 400 pounds and 20 weeks of age. At this stage, the calf is likely consuming 2 to 3 percent of its body weight each day and should be gaining 2.2 to 2.4 pounds per day.

    • 7

      Change the feed ration to reduce the protein to 16 percent and increase the high energy feed to 51 percent once the calf reaches 400 pounds with supplemental hay. At this stage, the calf's rumen has developed enough to sustain hay feed. Continue this feed regimen until the calf reaches 750 pounds.

    • 8

      Modify the feed rations once the calf reaches 750 pounds to a high energy diet of approximately 90 percent corn with the remaining percent made of high protein feed. Continue feeding in this manner until the steer reaches 1,150 to 1,300 pounds and is ready for market.