|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
|
|
|
|
Q: How much water does a beef steer drink, either daily or annually? Is 8:1 still the feed conversion feed to gain?
|
|
A: Water intake estimates for cattle in the feedlot are in the following table and are dependent on weight and weather conditions.
Water requirements of growing and finishing beef cattle
(gallons per head per day).
|
|
| |
Growing Cattle |
 |
Finishing Cattle |
| |
|
|
|
| Month |
Avg.Temp. |
400 lb |
600 lb |
800 lb |
|
600 lb |
800 lb |
1000 lb |
1200 lb |
| |
(°F) |
- - - - - - - - - - gallons per head per day - - - - - - - - - -
|
|
|
| January |
36 |
3.5 |
5.0 |
6.0 |
|
5.5 |
7.0 |
8.5 |
9.5 |
| February |
40 |
4.0 |
5.5 |
6.5 |
|
6.0 |
7.5 |
9.0 |
10.0 |
| March |
50 |
4.5 |
6.0 |
7.0 |
|
6.5 |
8.0 |
9.5 |
10.5 |
| April |
64 |
5.5 |
7.0 |
8.5 |
|
8.0 |
9.5 |
11.0 |
12.5 |
| May |
73 |
6.0 |
8.0 |
9.5 |
|
9.0 |
11.0 |
13.0 |
14.5 |
| June |
78 |
6.5 |
8.5 |
10.0 |
|
9.5 |
12.0 |
14.0 |
16.0 |
| July |
90 |
9.5 |
13.0 |
15.0 |
|
14.5 |
17.5 |
20.5 |
23.5 |
| August |
88 |
9.0 |
12.0 |
14.0 |
|
14.0 |
17.0 |
20.0 |
22.5 |
| September |
78 |
6.5 |
8.5 |
10.0 |
|
9.5 |
12.0 |
14.0 |
16.0 |
| October |
68 |
5.5 |
7.5 |
9.0 |
|
8.5 |
10.0 |
12.0 |
14.0 |
| November |
52 |
4.5 |
6.0 |
7.0 |
|
6.5 |
8.0 |
10.0 |
10.5 |
| December |
38 |
4.0 |
5.0 |
6.0 |
|
6.0 |
7.0 |
8.5 |
9.5 |
|
|
Feed efficeincy for calf-feds would be about 6.2 lb of feed dry matter per pound of gain. Yearlings are less efficient and will be about 7.4 to maybe 8.0 lb of feed dry matter per lb of gain.
|
|
Dr. Rick Rasby, Professor of Animal Science
Animal Science, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
August 13th, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
Print this FAQ