A recounting of errors from the September 2025 print editions of Grainews, details of which are painful to the editor.
Tag Archives creep feeding
Editor’s Rant: Resistance is not futile
It was a rough September for errors
Beef calf creep feeding pays good profits in 2025
Better Bunks and Pastures: With calf values high, creep feeding makes even more sense
Better rainfall has meant more feed on much of the Prairies, but creep feeding beef calves still pays well in 2025.
It’s not too late to creep-feed spring calves
Better Bunks and Pastures: Analysis says this could be a highly profitable year to creep-feed calves
A friend of mine operates a 300-cow-calf operation. This year, he put out his creep feeders during the end of July and his March-born calves really haven’t eaten much creep-feed in the last month. That’s because his pastures are still lush and his cows are milking well. He joked that he is ready to lock […] Read more
Creep feeding shows a profit in 2023
It may be well worth your while to get an extra 60 pounds of gain on this year’s calves
Spring on the Prairies is a great time, because the snow has disappeared and pastures are turning green. Whenever I drive past the occasional drylot, I see a lot of beef cows waiting to be released on pasture. It reminds me that with record cattle prices on the board, it might be a time to […] Read more
How does creep feeding pencil out for 2022?
There may be a profit, but producer needs to decide if it is enough
Spring calves can be creep-fed in several ways, from home-made grain rations to well-balanced commercial feed pellets. All can be directed into a traditional creep feeding program, which can add extra saleable weaning weight by fall. Unfortunately, this premium growth may not always be nutritionally necessary or profitable. A little homework is necessary to calculate […] Read more
Creep feeding may be a necessity
With dry growing conditions, supplemental feed may be needed to make up for milk and grass shortfall
Bridging the nutrient gap between mothers’ milk and pastures has always been the traditional purpose for creep feeding spring calves on many commercial cow-calf operations. Some producers put creep feeders out during the late summer when pasture is mature and milk of the average cow can only meet 50 per cent of her growing calf’s […] Read more
Five benefits of creep feeding calves
Always an ROI, some years better than others
Over the years, I have discovered that there are three types of beef producers who are creep feeding spring calves. 1. Those who don’t creep feed. 2. Those who sometimes creep feed if it makes economic sense, and 3. Producers who routinely creap feed as a matter of course. Although, I have heard almost-convincing arguments […] Read more
Creep feeding spring calves pays dividends
This program pencils out to a $23 per head net premium in 2019
It’s always heartwarming to see the twitch of a spring calf’s tail as it nurses its mum. As this calf approaches three months of age, the brood cow’s milk production decreases, only supplying about half of the calf’s nutrient requirements. The rest must be delivered by sprouting pastures. But that could spell trouble to calf […] Read more
Start creep-feeding calves with the first blades of grass
This farm example nets an extra $21 per head
By the time the first blades of grass shoot up in pasture, I will have asked about of a dozen beef producers whether they plan to creep feed their spring calves in grazing season of 2018. I believe in providing a fresh batch of calves with extra nutrients that complement the essential nutrients taken from […] Read more
Provide calves a place of their own soon after birth
Animal Health: Calf hutches or creep areas help in disease prevention
Calf hutches are used by many producers at calving season and for very good reason. They are especially important if calving early in inclement weather. With the increasing size of our herds, young calves need to get away from the crowded stress of the herd. Even summer-calving herds will find hutches used for shade and […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
