Steer not eating

[Weaverv3]

My Hardcore steer is not eating. I figured that down in the south it may be the heat. We put him under the misters and fans and it is starting to cool off, but he still is not eating like my other steer. He should be around 900 or so pounds, but he is only 723. Maybe it is the feed, or the heat still. But I really dont know what to do. He really needs to gain some weight before GA nationals. Is there a supplement or a top dress that can help encourage him to eat? We are about to give him a b12 shot, but that we only last so long. This is only my second year showing cattle  ;D My other steer is a little tank that is chowing down close to 23 lbs a day , but the Hardcore steer barley eats half of his rations.

 

[kobo_ranch]

I'm gonna reply since no one has yet, but certain a few more on here can answer much better.  But here goes...
I know it has alot to do with the heat.  I'd recommend rinsing him down really well for 10-20 minutes prior to feeding.  Also if you're feeding twice a day maybe cut back to one feeding or even take off feed for a day totally.  You can give some probiotics also might get him going, did for us.  Also whatever he doesn't eat be sure and remove if you can out of the feeder after about 20 minutes.  Keep him as cool as possible and maybe this heat will again leave us soon!  Good luck!

 

[Showcattle21]

I would suggest Appetite Express

 

[oakie]

ivomec injectable, btw what are you feeding him in poundage? You may be feeding him stuff that is too hot

 

[Ms Ray]

make sure he has been wormed,  maybe feed hay a few feedings and then try, if it is hot make sure you feed early in am before it gets too hot and a little later in evening after it starts to cool off. 

 

[shufly]

You can try calf manna.

 

[pjkjr4]

Same thing happened to my daughter's Leroy Brown steer back in June. Fans, misters, rinsing, nothing would work. I went to the vet, and got 40cc of long-lasting penicillin mixed with B12 and gave that to him, along with 5 daily doses of probias. Still nothing. We finally slick-sheared him. Within 36 hours, he was fine. We've had a hot, hot summer here in Oklahoma, and we haven't had any more problems with this steer since then. You'd swear that we never touched him with clippers when you look at him now, but he was slowly acclimated to the long hair.

If you have the time for re-growth, shearing may be the option. I know that good hair is preached, but I'd rather have a live animal, with not much hair, than a dead, hairy one.

 

[rackranch]

Slick'em and give him a Revalor S implant....

 

[vc]

How long has your animal not been eating well since you got it or or just recently?
You are now about a month behind based of your current weight and what you think he should weigh.
Does he eat hay well or pick at that? Is his stool normal dry or loose?
Does he seem to be healthy clear eyed and alert, or head down and lethargic?

If he is healthy, active, and eats hay well. I might try a different feed. do it slowly but he may just not like your feed.

But if he is acting lethargic or looks like he is under the weather there could be a host of reasons he has a lack of appetite.

Have you wormed him, as mentioned in a prior post, or taken a temp just to see if it is normal?

 

[beefmasterboy24]

Vitaferm sure champ will make him beller waiting on feed

 

[Weaverv3]

We weighed him this morning. He weighed 735. He is on a total pelleted feed. Maybe I could add some oats, calf manna, and I have heard of Fast Fuel or fuel. I heard it is expensive, but I heard it makes them eat great and beef up. Has anyone ever used it?

 

[oakie]

what is in his pellets

 

[doublestuff]

Get him off the pellets and find a mixed ratiion. Purina, showmaster, fullopep, hi pro, just to name a few.

 

[BCCC]

A supplement that I have used is oxy explosion, and it makes them gain weight like crazy, that's the only reason I use it for anymore. Also making sure you feed him early in the morning before it gets hot will help a lot. Rinse him for 15 minutes or so before you feed, and in the middle of the day, to keep him cooled off. All that in addition to a good feed should help you out a lot.