How to Feed Beef Steers

Beef steers are fed to reach 1,100 to 1,200 pounds by 15 to 18 months of age. Cattle are ruminants, animals with four-part stomachs. Because of this digestive tract, beef steers consume roughage feeds such as hay and pasture. Grains are added to increase the energy level. Vitamins A, D, and E are necessary in the diet. Calcium, phosphorus, potassium and salt are important minerals. An economical and palatable diet that produces desired weight gain is critical to feeding beef steers.

Things You'll Need

  • Hay or pasture
  • Cereal grains
  • Protein supplement
  • Trace mineralized salt block
  • Fresh water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place newly weaned steer calves on good quality pasture. Calves are often weaned at six to eight months of age, when they weigh 400 to 600 pounds. Good quality pasture provides an economical, balanced diet for young beef steers.

    • 2

      Feed good quality hay if pasture is not available. Growing beef cattle require a diet with 11 percent protein. The steer calves consume 2.5 percent of their body weight as dry matter feed. For example, a 650-pound calf is fed about 16 pounds of dry matter feed per day. Beef calves should gain 1.5 to 2.0 pounds per day. If lower quality hay is fed, supplement the diet with cereal grains or a protein supplement.

    • 3

      Place the beef steers in a feedlot when they reach 800 to 900 pounds. To produce desirable beef, feed a high-energy diet. Feed a cereal grain such as corn, milo, wheat, or barley. Add a protein supplement such as soybean or cottonseed meal, if necessary. Feed a low level of hay or silage. At this age, beef calves gain about three pounds per day and consume a minimum of 20 pounds dry matter feed per day. A typical diet consists of 19 pounds shelled corn, 5.5 pounds alfalfa hay and .5 pound protein supplement.

    • 4

      Feed by-product feeds to steer calves, if available. By-product feed may be cheaper sources of protein or energy. Typical by-product feeds include distillers grains, corn or oat bran and poultry litter.

    • 5

      Provide fresh, clean water at all times. Feed the steer calves in feed bunks or troughs. Provide sufficient bunk or trough space so all calves can eat at once. Supply a trace-mineralized salt block to beef calves.