Tend-R-Leen Training Manual Module 2 Module 2: Why the Tend-R-Leen Program Works

Why the Tend-R-Leen Program Works

Dr. Herb Rebhan

Energy is first used for maintenance in an animal and once this requirement is met, any excess energy is used for gain.  Every day a producer keeps an animal, the maintenance requirement must be met.  A 200-day feeding period versus a 120 to 140-day feeding period has 60 to 80 days more in expenses for maintenance.  This involves more yardage and/or depreciation, interest which affects return on investment, taxes and of course, income.

Feed required for one steer gaining from 600 to 1,000 pounds for one day is shown below.  The average weight maintained is 800 pounds.

FeedMaintenanceFor Each 1 lb. Gain
Hay11.8 lbs.11.8 lbs.
Corn Silage27.0 lbs.26.5 lbs.
Grass Silage32.0 lbs.36.0 lbs.
Corn6.8 lbs.5.0 lbs.
Barley7.7 lbs.5.0 lbs.
Oats8.1 lbs.8.1 lbs.

None of the above alone are total balanced rations, but these figures illustrate that roughages are like lettuce salads and grains are the mashed potatoes.

To gain one pound on an all hay diet, this steer has to eat over 25 pounds a day.  This same steer eating 25 pounds of corn and Tend-R-Leen mix would gain nearly four pounds.

Consumption is the key to average daily gain as shown below:

Amount ConsumedAverage Daily GainFeed per Pound Gain
6.8 lbs.0
11.7 lbs.1 lb.11.7 lbs.
16.6 lbs.2 lbs.8.30 lbs.
21.5 lbs.3 lbs.7.16 lbs.
26.4 lbs.4 lbs.6.60 lbs.

Energy Comparison of Feedstuffs

Energy comparison of various feedstuffs (DM basis Mcal/cwt)

FeedstuffNEM% of cornNEG% of cornNEL% of corn
Whole corn96100%64100%90100%
Barley9296%6195%8797%
Oats8184%5281%7887%
       
Corn silage (well eared)7578%4773%7482%
Alf haylage (mid bloom)5557%2133%5561%
Timothy hay (early bloom)5961%2844%5965%

Oats has 81% of the NEG that corn has.

Effects of using oats instead of whole corn on ADG in steers from 1,000 – 1,400 lbs.

Amount of oats in mixADGDifference in ADG
No oats2.5 lbs.
10%2.39 lbs..11 lb. less
15%2.33 lbs..17 lb. less
20%2.28 lbs..22 lb. less


THE EFFECT OF DIETS WITH VARYING ENERGY DENSITY ON FINISHING HOLSTEIN STEERS, Minnesota

Item9060255 
 Percentage of corn silage in diet 
ADG, lb.2.472.913.263.5 
Days on feed244206184171 
Feed/gain7.966.685.85.17 
      
Feed35.9832.5632.8730.66 
Nonfeed16.2713.7312.2711.33 
Total52.2546.2945.1441.99 
Steers fed from 500 lbs. to 1100 lbs. 
      

EXPECTED PERFORMACE OF HOLSTEIN STEERS AT VARIOUS WEIGHTS, Minnesota

 Tend-R-Leen® Projection
Weight, lb.ADG, lb.ADFI, lb.Feed/gainADG, lb.ADFI, lb.Feed/gain
400-5003.1614.204.483.2313.094.06
500-6003.1415.104.823.5715.244.27
600-7003.0816.505.373.7016.704.53
700-8002.9918.406.143.5717.264.97
800-9002.8720.507.133.4518.485.36
900-10002.7222.608.323.3319.465.84
1000-11002.5324.609.733.0320.206.70
1100-12002.3126.2011.362.5620.367.94
400-12002.8519.707.173.3017.605.50

Source:  “Now There’s Dairy Steers on the Farm:  What Do You Feed Them?”

Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, April 1998