beef finishing question

J. Heikk

New User
I know it isn't a green and white question, but I need some advice on grain finishing a steer (for myself) and I figured some would have a good opinion. I have a beef steer (nice) about 1200 lbs. Only been on pasture and hay. I just isolated him and started giving him about a five gallon bucket of mostly rolled corn a day. How long should I go with this? month, two months? What do you guys recommend on finishing for personal use of beef? Looking at flavor, adequate fat, etc.
 
If you started him out with a 5 gallon pail full of corn you're lucky he didn't die on ye from grain overload.
You you got to start them out slow with a couple pounds a day increasing a lb a day till he leaves some, after that you can give him as much as he wants.
If he is 1200 lb and in good shape i would butcher him now.(can't get better flavor than grass fed).
The corn is only gonna grow extra fat.

my 2 ct
 

Thanks for the input. I give him half a bucket in the morning and half at night, so it isn't all at once.
 
Just a little anecdotal info. I was in Iceland recently and all the lamb and beef seems to grass fed only. The flavor was amazing! I never thought I would say that a bout a burger. However, I am more of a lamb fan and had three lamb dinners while I was there.
 
Dad used to finish out several hundred head a year. The best weight to finish a steer was 1350 lbs. He always got top dollar for his cattle. The neighbors were always trying to market theirs at 900 to 1100lbs and always complained about the price they received. Its just like paint, they didn't put the finishing coat on them. I MUST DISAGREE with the people who say grass fed is better. I've eaten both, grass fed is tough and has NO taste. Doesn't make any difference how it is cooked. Try eating French or South African beef, nothing but tough strings, its no wonder the French have to come up with all their different sauces. They try to cover up or add to the taste of the beef. put some corn in them you cant go wrong
 
(quoted from post at 06:28:50 10/10/14) Dad used to finish out several hundred head a year. The best weight to finish a steer was 1350 lbs. [b:f3444dece6]He always got top dollar for his cattle.[/b:f3444dece6] [b:f3444dece6]The neighbors were always trying to market theirs at 900 to 1100lbs [/b:f3444dece6]and always complained about the price they received. Its just like paint, they didn't put the finishing coat on them. [b:f3444dece6]I MUST DISAGREE with the people who say grass fed is better[/b:f3444dece6]. I've eaten both, grass fed is tough and has NO taste.
[b:f3444dece6] Doesn't make any difference how it is cooked.[/b:f3444dece6]

Try eating French or South African beef,[b:f3444dece6] nothing but tough strings,[/b:f3444dece6] its no wonder the French have to come up with all their different sauces. They try to cover up or add to the taste of the beef. [b:f3444dece6] put some corn in them you cant go wrong[/b:f3444dece6]
eah right!,...pull my finger :roll:

That is called baby beef and is usually produced for a niche market, selling them mainstream is always gonna hurt.

It is your right to disagree,..it don't make you an expert on meat.

Maybe you should take cooking lessons cause it does make a difference how it is cooked.

You'll find tough or stringy meat in animals of every breed.

Barley is better,...corn is for chickens.
BTW,.cows were never designed to eat grain,..nature says so.
 
Before I give advice we need to know a few things first. How old is the calf, breed or composite, has he started to lay down fat deposits in his brisket and tail head? If he has begun to lay down some cover and his ribs aren't visible then I would be feeding between 3-4% of the calfs body weight. Straight corn is not going to do the trick in my opinion.
 
They can be tricky to judge so this is what Grandpa taught me; Whenever you feel like the calf has adequate covering and is ready to butcher mark the date down. Feed for an additional 30 days and he will really be good to go. Grandpa was an Oliver man and fed out 1000's of calves and hogs.
 
I was pulling 800lb calves off of grass and butchering them. Give some to the kids and they didn't like it. Wife didn't either. Now feed them for at least 90 days. Everyone is happy.
 
I heard cows cannot digest whole corn. So I always feed half corn meal and half horse and mule feed. About 1/2 gallon a day for 2 or 3 months. The butcher always tells me the meat is just right in fat content and buyers tell me its the best they ever eat. been doing this for years. Also hay and grass all they will eat.
 

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