Digestive issues in our Show Steers?

[hill321]

We have 2 of the 3 show steers we are raising with loose stool and we are stumped as to why.  They eat great, are not sick and are growing, but they have had loose stool for a couple weeks now and their butts have to be cleaned off every day.  Does anyone know of a good product out there that can help us with this issue?  We are adding beet pulp to there feed tonight to see if it helps.  Thanks for any advice or opinions you can lend.

 

[simtal]

cotton seed hulls will tighten them up. Really if the steers are fine otherwise a loose stool doesn't mean anything terribly wrong. But it is an inconvience

 

[cowflusher]

We have 2 of the 3 show steers we are raising with loose stool and we are stumped as to why.  They eat great, are not sick and are growing, but they have had loose stool for a couple weeks now and their butts have to be cleaned off every day.  Does anyone know of a good product out there that can help us with this issue?  We are adding beet pulp to there feed tonight to see if it helps.  Thanks for any advice or opinions you can lend.

Depending on what you consider a "loose stool" it is typically caused by a lack of effective fiber in the diet.  I agree that cotton seed hulls will help.  I would also use a probiotic and maintain them on one to prevent grain overload/ rumen acidosis.  There are many products out there that provide live culture probiotics. One common brand name is probios, but like I said there are many good products out there.

 

[CAB]

  Are you feeding any of the Ethanol by-products? They can seem to make stools looser than other feedstuffs. What is the % protein of your ration. Higher protein levels lend to looser stool also.

 

[hill321]

We feed Honor Show Chow and our own ration 50/50

 

[dutch pride]

We had that issue and just started feeding more hay and that took care of it. Just some 1st cutting grass hay, they are still doing well gain wise.

DLZ