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How to Raise Feeder Steers on Grass

To raise cattle that will be eaten as beef, you have a variety of options for feeding: you can place it on pasture, supply a growing ration in confinement or supplement grass with additional concentrate such as corn or barley. Growing cattle need about 10 lbs. of roughage for every pound of gain. Raising cattle on grass requires feeding it on the diet about a year longer than if you raised it on grain; however, the result is a heavier animal, with less tallow. Devotees of grass-fed beef also insist that the meat is tastier and more tender.

Instructions

- 1
  Opt for, if possible, a pasture that combines grass with legumes; the latter will provide additional nutrients such as calcium and magnesium, as well as protein, than grass alone. Also, mixing forage types adds variety and is more pleasing to the cattle. Combine the two so that the animals do not get bloated from eating just legumes.
- 2
  Have the steers work on the pasture until it is whittled down to 2 inches; then move them to a different part of the pasture. Know the cyclical nature of the pasture, where the grass first grows modestly, then vigorously, then matures and contains fewer nutrients.
- 3
  Provide adequate water, salt and mineral block supplementation while the steers are on pasture.
- 4
  Manage the feeding of your grass-fed steers on a seasonal schedule. Get weaned calves on grass at least a month before cold weather conditions and thereafter, in the winter, feed them on hay. Continue with grass the next summer, then hay again in the following winter, with a final summer fattening on grass.
- 5
  Account for differences in the nutrition requirements during the summer and winter. Avoid overfeeding your cattle on grass during the summer and not providing enough feed in the winter. Make sure the steers get enough vitamin A during the winter.
- 6
  Ensure that the grass-fed steers do not contract the disease known as grass tetany, which is caused by magnesium deficiency due to mineral imbalances from eating grass containing fertilizers. Prevent this early on through magnesium supplementation administered as magnesium oxide. Make sure the steers get at least 6 grams of magnesium daily.

Animals & Science