How To Feed Longhorn Cattle to Market Weight

Properly feeding cattle is as much of an art as it is a science. Providing cattle with a blend of food that they will find palatable while simultaneously bringing them up toward market weight is a task that many veteran farmers find challenging. However, through constant adjustment of macronutrient proportions and feed types, you can ensure that your cattle reach market weight with the correct distribution of lean mass to body fat in order to fetch the highest possible purchase price.

Instructions

    • 1

      Begin to increase your cattle's overall weight for the purpose of increasing lean mass while minimizing the accumulation of fat mass. Accomplish this by allowing them to graze as required (or by providing them with hay in the winter), and supplementing that intake with a meal mixture that is roughly 16 percent protein concentrate. The high protein content will facilitate the addition of extra body weight and muscle, even throughout the winter, steadily bringing your cattle toward market weight.

    • 2

      Manipulate the amount of supplemental feeding as required to keep lean mass high while avoiding fat gain. While you should not be able to see all of the bones of your cattle's skeletal structure, you should be able to at least feel them when pressing against their ribcage or spinal column. Slowly cut back on feed if you cannot feel your cattle's bones, or increase feed moderately if you become able to see their ribs and spine.

    • 3

      Decrease the protein content of their feed slightly as they approach market weight by dropping the standard 16 percent protein feed to 14 percent protein feed. This will allow the cattle to put on a slight amount of "finishing" weight from fat mass, increasing the overall worth of the animal. You need not worry that this will impair their condition, as long as you were careful to avoid allowing them to overfeed by using the tips in step two.