May 06, 2025

Fit feed to cattle needs

By Martha Blum

Feeding different supplements will impact calves in different ways, explains Kirk Stierwalt at the Purina Animal Nutrition booth during the Illinois Beef Expo. Before adding supplements, Stierwalt says, it is important to start with a good feed foundation. (AgriNews photo)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Cattle rations should start with a good feed foundation before tweaking them with supplements.

“When it comes to getting the best out of supplements, you need to add them to a good feed,” said Kirk Stierwalt, Honor Show Chow Ambassador for Purina Animal Nutrition.

“Supplements have produced a lot of advantages for people in the show cattle industry,” Stierwalt stated from the Purina booth at the trade show of the Illinois Beef Expo.

“When we look at supplements, the Purina High Octane line has lots of options and what makes them unique is most are multiple species,” he said.

Stierwalt encourages exhibitors to sort their cattle to feed them according to their needs. “When you sort them you can dial them in for your target show, that’s where the supplements come into play,” he added.

All cattle feeders should know the protein, fat and fiber content of the supplements going into the ration. “Protein needs to be between 12 to 14% to grow a calf; fat can vary from 1 to 5% and fiber from 15 to 20%,” he said.

“Precon is a feed that has 1% fat, 12% protein and 26% fiber for starting calves,” he said. Precon is a feed I recommend you start them on early.”

For a steer that needs more rib shape and condition, Stierwalt recommends the Ultra Full supplement. “Feed Ultra Full at about 3 pounds per feeding,” he added.

Depth Charge supplement helps promote a full physical appearance for show day. “We don’t feed this supplement long term, we save it for the shows,” he noted. “It’s going to be the fastest reacting supplement that you can feed and it can complement beet pulp.”

Power Fuel contains 31% fat. “Feeding 1 pound of Power Fuel per day is equivalent to 7 pounds of corn for fat consumption and 4 pounds of corn for energy,” he said. “Most people don’t feed this supplement long enough, so don’t wait until 60 days before the fair because you’ll get the biggest advantage if you feed it longer.

“Feed Champion Drive when you’re trying to get some definition of muscle and tone them up,” he advised. “Champion Drive has non-fat burning protein and it is good for multiple species.”

One of Purina’s newest products is Alleviate. “If your calves have bloating, consumption problems, heat stress or they are nervous, I strongly recommend putting them on Alleviate,” Stierwalt stated.

“Alleviate balances the pH in the gut,” he said. “When cattle stress, the pH goes down and acid comes in and Alleviate will fix that.”

For heifers, Stierwalt said, consider feeding Fitter 35 or Fitter 52. “These supplements have fat-burning protein that is designed to take fat out of the calf’s necks,” he explained. “If you’re worried about your heifers getting too fat, add Fitter 35 as a prevention.”

Feed these supplements at 2 pounds per day, he said. “Give the supplement time to work,” he added. “It has nutritional value so it will keep the body shape of the heifers.”

For more information on Purina Animal Health, go to www.purinamills.com.