1974 • AS-415
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, PURDUE UNIVERSE, WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA 47907
creep Feeding of Beef calves
L.A Nelson. Animal Sciences Department
Creep feeding is the practice of providing supplemental feed to calves (before weaning) in areas accessible to them but nottotheirdams. Generally, in the cow-calf operation, creep feeding is not an economical substitutefor bred-in rapid growth potential in the calves, good milk production in the cows or improved pastures. But in some situations, it may be advantageous.
This publication discusses when and when not to consider creep feeding, some problems associated with it, cost considerations, types of creep rations and facility requirements. A list of Cooperative Extension Service publications dealing with other aspects of cow-calf management is also provided.
DECIDING IF AND WHEN TO CREEP FEED
Creep feeding will likely be most profitable when: (1) dams are first-calf heifers, (2) calves are born in the fall, (3) pastures become dry in late summer, (4) feeder calf prices are high relative to feed prices, or (5) cows and calves are kept in confinement.
Creep feeding is not advantageous when: (1) forage is abundant, (2)dams are good milkers, (3) calves are to be wintered on a high-roughage growing ration, (4) feed prices are high relative to feeder calf prices, or (5) heifers are to be kept for herd replacements.
If practiced, creep feeding is usually done from the time calves are 3 or 4 months old until weaning. Up to 3 months after calving, the dam's milk production is generally adequate, so creep feeding is not recommended After that, however, her milk production declines while her growing calf's energy needs increase, sometimes making creep feeding desirable.
IMPORTANCE OF RESTRICTING CREEP FEED GAIN
Creep feeding can harm the lifetime productivity of a heifer calf if, because of it, she becomes fat. Typically, much of this fat will deposit in the heifer's
 
udder and inhibit formation of milk-secrefIhgT1ssue.
For this reason, calves from dams that were creep-fed themselves often weigh less at weaning than calves nursing non-creep-fed dams.
Unrestricted creep feeding may also cause overfattening of small-framed calves that lack bred-in gaining ability. Such calves generally bring less per pound as feeder cattle, gain more slowly the first 2 to 3 months in the feedlot and finish at lighter market weights than desired. This is why cattle feeders usually prefer calves that have not been creep fed.
Therefore, it is important that creep feeding be limited to supply only enough energy to meet the normal growth and maintenance requirements of young calves. Otherwise, too much of the extra gain will be as fat instead of bone and muscle growth.
COST OF CREEP FEED GAIN
Creep feeding can add 25 to 50 pounds to a calf's weaning weight. But each of those extra pounds of gain may have required 8 to 1 2 pounds of feed if the calf was self-fed. Thus, the decision to creep feed should depend largely on whether the added weight at weaning will more than pay for the added costs.
Table I shows what creep feeding gains will cost at various feed price levels and feed conversion rates.
For example, if it takes 10 pounds of feed, priced at $5.00 per 1 00 pounds, to produce an extra pound of gain, that extra pound costs $.50, not including added equipment or labor.
It is possible to improve creep feed utilization by hand feeding about 2 pounds of feed per calf per day.
But the disadvantage of this practice is the high labor cost of feeding the calves each day.
FORMULATING THE CREEP RATION
Use home-grown grains in the creep ration whenever possible Grain alone is generally adequate
animal sciences beef