Help with getting some weight on heifer

[Ethanj22005]

I got a 3 month old Angus/Maine heifer. I am showing her in August so I got 70 days to get some weight on her. Right now she weighs 300 lbs I am feeding her the Purina Fitters Edge mixed with 25% Precon. She is only gaining 1.69lbs a day. She is not filling out much. My question is can I add a high octane like champion drive to her or is she to young to start that? Thanks in advance

 

[HVF]

Did you already wean her? Is she double sucking?

 

[looking4champions]

I would switch her to Full Range.  In my experience, I've used Fitter's Edge for fine tuning before showtime to get good bloom and polish them off.  If I use it early it is one one that is easy feeding.  My experience with Full Range is it has enough enegy to get one going and to grow,  even with just 12% protein. 

 

[RyanChandler]

Whatever brand you go with, she needs to be on a finisher.  Throw those supplements in the trash or at least wait until she’s eating 3% of her body weight and putting on weight good before incorporating them

The current ration reminds of the girls in high school that would drink diet cokes with cookies

 

[Cada22]

I am new to the showing world, but is weaning this early normal?

 

[Ethanj22005]

I have seen a lot of post on here about people weaning calves early. The reason ours was done so early was because the momma died and the other cows wouldn't take her in.

 

[Ethanj22005]

I would switch her to Full Range.  In my experience, I've used Fitter's Edge for fine tuning before showtime to get good bloom and polish them off.  If I use it early it is one one that is easy feeding.  My experience with Full Range is it has enough enegy to get one going and to grow,  even with just 12% protein.

If I switch her to the full range do I do it gradually or can I just stop it and go straight to the full range? And do I still need to add the Precon or do away with it also?

 

[looking4champions]

Its always good practice to transition slowly over seven days or so
I dont have much experience with PreCon, but just for the sake of saving bulk I would take it away.  Plus give her hay and mineral as Purina suggests with the Full Range.

 

[cflem]

My experience with feeding little cattle is that the feed needs to be fairly nutrient dense.  Young calves lack the rumen capacity to handle large amounts of roughage and utilize it. I would probably drop the precon or at least decrease it.

 

[Lobatomy]

My experience with feeding little cattle is that the feed needs to be fairly nutrient dense.  Young calves lack the rumen capacity to handle large amounts of roughage and utilize it. I would probably drop the precon or at least decrease it.

I agree with the capacity of young cattle. The great thing about Pre Con is expands that belly and gives them the capacity to eat more feed later on in life. I feed pallet after pallet of Pre Con to build that ability for my cattle to consume enough feed later on. The way we do things here is a 50% precon ration (at a young age) but I'd sure suggest not going under 25% of the ration. She's awefull young to be eating to much grain. Remember end goal is to make a cow out of her.