1- Ear Tags along with tattoes are the most used forms of ID in beef cattle. The tags shown are one example of designing tags that give you quite a bit of information but are no means the only way.
2- The first data listed is the year, followed by the Sire's name ( abbreviated ), followed by the Dam's number, followed by the calf's official number. Example Y1 means the calf was born in 2011 and was the first calf born on the farm. The letter Y is the alphabet letter used for calves born in 2011.
3 - The Y3 calf was born in 2011, sired by Sure Bet, his dam was S4 and his number is Y3. If this was a heifer and retained as a replacement this information would stay with her for life. On the back of these tags is the actual birthdate and the calf's official registration name.
01-12-2012
Limit Creep Feeding
1 -- Milk production in lactating cows begins to decline when calves reach 3 - 4 months of age . Calves then depend on forage or feed to meet their nutritional needs .
2-- Limit creep-feeding is a way to get extra protein and energy in calves when they are 3 - 4 months old . Limit feeding them keeps feed-costs under control .
3. If you are a seedstock producer weight per day of age is an important factor in marketing yearling bulls so a little extra feed can push calves along .
4. A creep gate can be built from materials on the farm . Usually 2 inch galvanized pipe is used . Vertical bars need to be 22 inches apart . An adjustable , vertical bar is also handy as it can be adjusted to keep yearling heifers or older cattle out of the creep area . Old farm gates or panels can be used to make the feeding area .
5. Rations for calves can vary but Bull Test feeds are good and some use soyhull/corn glutten pellets . Feed about 1% of the calves body weight and adjust as the calves get older and/or the desired condition and gains desired . If you full-feed you are defeating the purpose of having a Limited Creep Feeding system .
