Advice on feeding a steer

[4Rcattle]

My daughter's county fair steer currently weighs 984 lbs. He is currently eating 20 lbs a day - mix of finisher, oats, cotton seed hulls and calf manna. About a month ago we started subbing a scoop of oats for a scoop of finisher to try and slow him down (he was getting three scoops of finisher, now only gets two). I've got two questions - is it possible to "hold" him until March? I really don't want him weighing more than 1200 lbs but that just doesn't seem realistic to me - is it? If so, how? I don't want to starve him but I also don't want a 1500lb steer in March. Any and all advice is welcome!!
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[Cardinal_Crest_Shorthorns]

I would much rather have a 1500 pounder that is finished than a 1200 pounder that is under conditioned. You have a pic of him?

 

[DLD]

Our county and state shows are in March and we'd consider your steer to be right on track.  180 days at an average gain of 2 pounds a day is 360 - that would put you around 1350, which is a pretty ideal weight.  I'd even prefer to be a little heavier full, so you can pull a bit and still be in the mid 1300 range.  Here we show for sale order and one that weighs under 1200 will have little chance to make the sale in many counties and almost no chance at OYE. 

I can understand wanting him to be lighter if you're shooting for a particular class, but you may already be out of luck if your goal is under 1200.  Remember it's more important to get him full and finished - if you hold too much trying to shoot for a particular class you're liable to end up not fat enough.  Oats probably aren't the answer at this point, they're going to help him grow.  If you're trying to hold him and keep some look and freshness, cottonseed hulls are your best friend.

 

[4Rcattle]

Here is a picture - let me know what you think - good or bad. I guess I'm worried about the weight mainly because of my daughter - she's only 8. He's calm for the most part - gets anxious at shows but has done better recently with the help of the Cruise Control Halter and Focus - both helped tremendously from our first show.

 

[faycopa]

Keep feeding him... I'm sure the more your daughter works with him the calmer he will be

 

[vc]

Do you know what his ADG is right now, I'm with the others hold them later not now. to many thing can come up that set one back, I would rather have to cruise on in then push one to get back where he should be. Weather, illness, there are a host of thing that can set one back, watch his daily gain figure where he is at then go from there.

As long as she keeps up the work he should be fine as far as her showing, really they are big animals at 1200 or 1400, they're going to do what they want if they are so inclined.

 

[4Rcattle]

Over the last 34 days he has gained 4lbs per day. With that being said- we don't have our own scales set up yet so that calculation is from his weight at two different shows. I know different scales can weigh differently, also first show was a morning show and second show was at night.

 

[vc]

It is hard if you do not have access to a scale, I could weigh a calf in the morning and then weigh the same calf that evening a see a 30 to 40 pound swing, full in the morning empty in the evening. 5 gallons of water will add 40 pounds.
Our club had a electronic beam scale so we could weigh once a week, it really helped to know where the calf was, also came in handy when we were getting one right just before fair.
From the look of the calf he needs to keep eating, not sure he will be at his best at 1200.
Good luck,

 

[Jacob B]

Good looking steer. From the looks he will most definitely be finished at more than 1200. I agree with all the above. Let em eat.