Thinking aobut Using Purina Power Fuel Top Dressing. Good or Bad Idea?

[Sambosu]

I recently posted a couple pictures of my daughters Q-Dog heifer.  We have been feeding Purina Fitters Edge to it every since we bought it.  Just recently started to add Full Tank to the feed because she needs more volume and I don't want to get her fat.  In an effort not to burn out the calf I think it would be a good idea to keep feeding Fitters Edge instead of a finisher and add a top dressing for a while since she doesn't have an ounce of fat on her.  Purina has one called Power Fuel. It is 31% fat and 12% protein.  Is this a good product to use or would I be better off using something else as a top dressing like Rice Bran, change from fitters edge to finishing touch, etc? I will be monitoring her very closely so she doesn't get too fat and hurt her chances to becoming a good cow.

 

[twistedhshowstock]

Heifers can be kind of difficult, you want just enough fat on them to soften them up, but you dont want to get them gobby fat.  We have found that our heifers sometimes need a little more than the developer will give them, but not quiet as much as a finisher gives them.  In the past I have sometimes mixed the Developer and Finisher or just top dressed like you are talking about.  I think either way will work, just like you said keep a close eye on her to keep her from getting to fat.  I probably would start by feeding about 1/2 the recomended power fuel and watching her. 

 

[Sambosu]

I thought the same thing about needing something between the developer and finisher.  From what I can tell the one feed I am using is supposed to be just that.  Thanks for replying twistedshowstock.  I was concerned the product would only give her more energy and I don't need a heifer with so much energy my daughter can't handle her.

 

[rackranch]

Since you stated she doesn't have an ounce of fat on her, I would make the transition to a finisher and get her going in the right direction then start backing off to a mix of feeds.  I don't know how soon you are going to show her but as far as a show ring look a little to soft is going to be better than a little to skinny.  I think for the most part the heifers that are the fattest(without being to fat) are the ones who do best in the show ring.  This being said, we still have to get her bred.  So if she is young enough, put it to her and then just turn her on pasture the last 30 days or so before you breed her.  If she is getting close to breeding age at this time then you just soften her up for the ring and get her bred.  After she is bred you can fatten her back up for the ring. 

 

[Sambosu]

She still has a ways until she is bred.  She is just now turning 7 months old.  Would it be a bad idea to do both, change her to the finisher and add the Power Fuel top dressing?

 

[angus88]

I have used both the Power Fuel and Fitters Edge before, the power fuel did put the weight on our heifers that we needed, but had to take them off so they weren't too fat.  Just as you said a close eye on her, and with just one heifer the cost won't be so terrible.  I switched from the power fuel because of the cost, my kids end up showing to many to justify the cost and we were going through it way to much. But I think it will do what you need it too. Good Luck with it all!!

 

[WJ Farms]

I think with the finisher and power fuel you take the risk of gettin her too fat!!! And if she is just now turning 7 months old you still wanna let her grow........putting her on finisher could cause her not to grow the way she should and also get to fat and cant get her bred......I mean it is nice to win shows but its even nicer for them to turn out and be good cows for several years after their show career!!

 

[twistedhshowstock]

We are having a feed mixed that we refer to as a "hot grower" it is a little hotter than a grower, but not quiet as hot as a finisher. Steers and heifers are both eating it and everything is rockin and rollin on it.  We have one angus steer for county that came out of the exhitors grandparents herd, he is getting rolled corn, barley, and powerfuel on top of it, but only because he is a little young and doesnt come from the best genetics, and we are trying to get him to finish for a terminal county show at 13 months of age. Everything else is right where we want them, except a 21 month old Angus heifer that has been butter ball fat from day one, I swear she gains weight on dirt. So she gets the cheap stuff generally, but she calved last weekend, calved pretty fast, went in for about an hour came back out and she was getting up to clean the calf, but he was still in sack and was dead, just dont think she got up and cleaned him fast enough.  But we got a 3 week old orphan heifer on her that she is doin a fine job of raising at the moment, so I will let her be a little fat if she wants to be cause she is doing her job.

 

[Sambosu]

I will keep feeding the fitters edge and just add the Power Fuel to see how it goes for few weeks.  If I don't see any changes/improvements, I will change to the finisher with the top dressing.  I hope the stuff will work fine with Fitters Edge like you said Angus88.  That will save me a few dollars since the finisher is quite a bit higher per bag.  WJ Farms, I definitely don't want to get her to fat and stunt her growth.  I will be watching her closely and soon as I get a little cover on her I will reduce the amount of top dressing and eventually quit feeding it.  Steer World, you <rock> <rock>

 

[feeder duck]

I use fitters edge and top it with Power Fuel when I need bloom or condition. This is one product that flat out works. Love it. I have fed several winners on it in the last yeaqr in the Red Angus shows.

www.showsteer.com/cornell

jeff