August 29, 2002

Using Salt in Creep Feed Diets Prevents Over-Consumption 

Creep feeding can help beef producers relieve nutrient deficiencies in forages, increase weaning weight and increase profit. However, over-consumption can make the cost greater than returns. Research at North Dakota State University’s Dickinson Research Extension Center looks at using salt to limit the intake of supplements. 

The purpose of the study is to determine supplement intake, diet acceptability, calf growth and efficiency and economic return when pea/wheat midd diets limited with salt were offered to grazing suckling calves. According to Doug Landblom, NDSU animal scientist, diets high in concentrates can cause cattle to overeat resulting in a wide range of problems including acidosis, founder and bloat, the concept of restricting intake with salt has been used for years in cattle feeding but not in creep feeds.  

“Other methods have been used at NDSU to limit over-consumption, but based on supplement intake, average daily gain and adaptability, the most consistent limiting agent in self-fed pasture diets was salt,” Landblom says.  

The study used field peas and wheat midds in the diets as they are readily available and high in nutrient quality. The diets were comprised of  33 and 67 percent pea treatment with wheat midds consisting of the remainder of the diet. A diet consisting of 100 percent pea treatment was also used. The control calves in the study received no creep feed.  

The salt was introduced into the creep diets in a step formation. The first 35 days of the study the calves were offered the creep diets without salt and then were given 8 percent salt for 28 days. An additional 8 percent of salt was added for the remaining 49 days of the study.  

According to Landblom, the intake for calves on the creep diet was steady during the different treatments and the calves receiving the creep diets gained at a faster rate than those without creep feed. The gain was highest at the 67 percent diet, where the creep consumption per pound of gain was 4.76.  

“Limiting the intake of the supplement to minimize over-consumption can reduce costs provided the animal is allowed to grow to their full genetic potential,” Landblom says.  

Economically the diet with 67 percent pea was the most successful. The total creep diet cost per head was $22.93, $24.90 and $23.91 for the 33, 67 and 100 percent diets. The net return of these calves over the control calves that received no creep feed was $13.33, $24.91 and -$4.65 respectively for the three diets.

“The study shows that regulating creep intake using a salt limiting protocol has the potential to effectively deliver nutrients without over-consumption,” Landblom says.

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Source: Doug Landblom, (701) 483-2072, dlandblo@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Writer: Stephanie Renner, (701) 231-8371, srenner@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu