How to Feedout a Cow

Feeding a cow or steer for slaughter is a practice that more and more people are doing, as they can have more control over what goes into their meat and what they will eventually be eating. Knowing how to feed out a cow in an efficient and productive manner is critical.

Things You'll Need

  • Pen
  • Feeder
  • Grain
  • Hay
  • Sweet Feed
  • Dewormer
  • Water
  • Mineral Block
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Instructions

    • 1

      Separate your cow from other livestock, and place it in a pen or small feeding area with a shelter. De-worm the cow with a commercial product made for this purpose - you can purchase them at any feed store. This is also the time to treat the cow for any skin parasites. Follow the instructions on the label to know how to use the product and how far in advance of slaughter you need to use it.

    • 2

      Provide the cow with a mineral block, fresh water, and free choice hay. The better quality the hay, the better quality your meat will be.

    • 3

      Start feeding the cow a concentrated ration, such as sweet feed or cattle cubes, to add calories and fatten it up. Usually you feed twice a day, but can offer the cow free choice as long as the feed is covered from the elements and is kept fresh. Increase the feed gradually until you are feeding about three pounds of feed per 100 pounds of weight of the cow per feeding.

    • 4

      Adding corn to the diet can make the meat of the cow richer and marble it with fat, which makes it taste better. Most corn is fed crushed or cracked, as this increases digestion and absorption of the starches, making more calories go towards meat and fat production.

    • 5

      Restrict the movement of the cow - keeping it from running around and burning calories. Some room and exercise is necessary for good health and muscle development, but by keeping the calorie burn to a minimum, you shorten the time it takes for the cow to get to a slaughter weight.