Creep feeding for suckler calves — how can it fit into your system?

Creep feeding in the suckler herd should ideally commence when calves require additional energy to maintain target weight gains beyond the energy consumed from milk and grass

Growing top-quality grass and using a creep gate to forward graze calves while restricting the cows' grass intake is also a good way to maximise weaning weight.

As we all know, beef prices remain strong, and thankfully, suckler and beef producers are continuing to get rewarded for their hard work. Autumn-born suckler calves won’t be long before they will be weaned and heading for the sales rings around the country. 

Creep feeding should not just be used to achieve easier, stress-free weaning, and many suckler producers may look at creep feed for much of the grazing season this year to optimise weaning weight.