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Creep Feed as a Factor Influencing Performance of Cows and Calves^{1 ,2,}

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907

Abstract

A 21-year study was conducted to evaluate the effects of creep feeding on growth of male and female calves and on subsequent cow productivity. The study involved 831 Angus calves that were either creep-fed or not creep-fed and 1,306 Angus calves from 210 cows that had or had not been creep-fed as calves. Both weanling and yearling weights were higher (P<.01) for male calves that were creep-fed. Creep-fed heifers were heavier (P<.01) at weaning, but lost the weight advantage by 1 year of age. Creep feeding adversely affected (P<.01) postweaning gain by heifers and had no significant effect on postweaning gain of bulls. Creep feeding of replacement heifers had a detrimental effect (P<.05) on their performance as cows, as measured by number of calves weaned, calf birth weight, calf 120-day weight, calf 210-day weight and lifetime productivity. Progeny of creep-fed cows were significantly lighter at weaning when the calves were not creep-fed and tended to be lighter when the calves were either creep-fed or early weaned at 120 days of age. Progeny weaning weights were lighter at all ages of dam when the cow had been creep-fed as a calf.

¹ Journal Paper No. 8249 of the Purdue Univ. Agr. Exp. Sta., Dept. of Anim. Sci.

² Data were taken from the Purdue Univ. contribution to the NC-1 Regional Project, "Improvement of Beef Cattle Through Breeding Methods."

³ Present address: Extension Agent, Shelby County Extension Office, 408 Tompkins St., Shelbyville, IN 46176.

⁴ Present address: INIA-CRIDA 01, Apartado 10, La Coruna, Spain.