Intake should be limited to about 1 pound per day or feed conversions will be much poorer. Intake can be limited by including 10 to 15 percent salt in the creep feed. Salt is corrosive to metal type creep feeders. Wood, plastic, or rubber type feeders are more acceptable for feeding salt-limited creep feeds. Generally fields adjacent to pastures which the cow-calf pairs will graze are planted to annual forages and calves are allowed access through creep gates.
Creep gates allow calves to enter but restrict access by cows.
Research indicates that high quality green creep will result in increases in weaning weight similar to grain based creep feeds. Commercial Creep Feeds. Many different commercial creep feeds are available and can give excellent results. Commercial formulations generally include vitamins and minerals as well as medications and feed additives which may increase efficiency. Pelleted creep feeds will generally result in increased consumption since dust and fines are less of a problem as compared with ground feeds.