The Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast: Creep Feeding: Will it Pay Off?

Creep Feeding: Will it Pay Off?

To creep feed or not to creep feed. That is the question many ranchers ask themselves during the summer. Feed of any kind is always an added input, so what should ranchers consider to ensure this practice is profitable? Mark Johnson – Professor of Animal and Food Sciences at Oklahoma State University – shares several creep feeding pointers in Season 8, Episode 22 of the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast.

Before you can determine if a practice is profitable, you must first ask yourself the purpose of the practice. Johnson says, “The bottom line of creep feeding is to put additional weight on calves through additional nutritional resources that only the calves have access to.” This is done by providing feed to calves that their mothers do not have access to.

A secondary benefit to creep feeding is that it acts as a pre-weaning aid. Calves become used to eating out of a feeder, which will reduce stress and offer some familiarity in diet and routine once weaning comes around....



Click Here to listen to Shaye's Podcast











  Casual Cattle Conversations: Catch all the conversations here.