Move both cows and calves onto the crop for a short period for the first few days. After a few days a creep gate is placed across the entrance and the calves are enticed through to the trough by placing a little hay or grain either side of the creep.Ī similar method can be used to creep calves onto a crop. Where a separate enclosure is used in the paddock, feed both cows and calves until the calves get used to coming to the trough. You may need to repeat this for a couple of days until the calves get used to moving back and forth through the creep before starting them in the paddock. A temporary calf creep is set up in the gateway so the calves can move back to the cows. Draft the cows out to an adjoining holding paddock, and feed the calves hay and grain in a trough. One successful method is to bring both cows and calves into the yards. Calves soon become accustomed to feeding away from the cows for short periods. Starting calves on creep feed requires the farmer to put in a little time and effort for the first few days. Creep feeding enables cattle to meet market specifications at a young age.After a few days the cows are moved away, with little, if any, setback to the calves.
At weaning time the creep is closed off, leaving calves on one side of the fence and cows on the other. Calves become accustomed to grazing away from their mothers in an adjoining paddock. Creep feeding can be used to wean calves, causing minimal stress and setback.Allowing only calves onto the crop extends the feeding period considerably, with young stock gaining maximum benefit from the limited green feed. Creeps can be put in place to utilise small areas of high-quality pasture/crop when such pasture is limited.This relieves stocking pressure in dry years when feed is short. Fed calves can be sold straight off the cows, leaving fewer surplus stock to be carried over for future finishing. The cow's milk production falls and the calves slip in growth and condition. The most common situation where creep feeding will be valuable is when the season finishes early and pastures hay off 2 or 3 months before weaning The pasture mass is likely to be below 2000 kg green DM/ha, and pasture quality is decreasing towards 60% digestibility.If calves are weaned and grown out on pasture, the chances of creep feeding being economical are greatly reduced because the calves may benefit from compensatory weight gains on pasture later on. Additional considerations are installation, maintenance and depreciation costs for self-feeding equipment, labour and stock husbandry.īig weight deficiencies to meet the desired markets will be difficult to economically overcome with short-term feeding, but small deficiencies in finish (fat depth) can be overcome, and a profit returned, if reasonable growth rates are being achieved.Ĭreep feeding is generally only economical for calves destined for slaughter and sale directly off the cow.Do you have the genetics in your cow herd to get the greatest benefit from the extra feed for the calves?.What is the pasture quality (digestibility) and quantity (kg green DM/ha) available now and over the next 10–12 weeks?.What is the estimated difference in value between 'fed' calves and 'not fed' calves?.What are the exact specifications for the alternative higher-value market you are targeting?.Carefully assess your present situation: what are your current sale weights, fatness levels, market options and likely prices?.To ensure profitability, careful planning and risk assessment is essential before feeding commences.Ĭonsider the following in the planning process: ProfitabilityĪdditional costs are incurred in creep feeding, so the value improvement in the calves needs to be greater than the additional cost before a net profit is achieved. This feed supplement allows calves to reach target market specifications and Meat Standard Australia (MSA) grading at a young age, even in adverse seasonal conditions. Calves gain access to the feed supplement through a 'creep', which is a fence opening or a gate opening large enough for calves to pass through but too small for the cows. This Agfact is an introduction to the purpose and methods of creep feeding beef calves.Ĭreep feeding is a simple management practice allowing calves unrestricted access to additional feed while they are still suckling the cow.
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