Grazing and Delayed Feedlot Entry Effect on Small-Framed Steer Economics
|
|
Authors:
Songul Senturklu, Douglas Landblom, Steven Paisley,
Cheryl Wachenheim, and Robert Maddock
Long-term research has evaluated the effect of management on subsequent profitability from selling small-framed steers. Calves can be managed for marketing ranging from selling directly off the cow as bawling calves, after backgrounding 45 to 90 days, as yearlings following backgrounding and grazing until August or September, or retaining interest through backgrounding and finishing to slaughter.
|
|
When comparing smaller framed cows to cows of larger frame, less grazing forage per animal unit is required to maintain smaller framed cows. Efforts to modify cow size can be occur over multiple selection generations or rapidly by mating smaller frame size sire breeds (frame score 3.5-4.0) to larger frame size cows (frame score 5.5-6.5). Marketing calves from smaller frame size cows can be problematic due to marketplace bias and discounts levied toward smaller framed heifers and steers.
Previous research at the Dickinson Research Extension Center reported that a retained ownership yearling steer grazing system combining grazing of native range with grazing of annual forages (pea-barley mix, corn, and cover crop) grown in a diverse five-crop rotation (spring wheat, cover crop, pea-barley mix, corn, and sunflower) had enhanced economically important grazing growth, muscling, marbling, and profitability following extended grazing and delayed feedlot entry, when compared to a traditional growing finishing protocol (Senturklu et al., 2018).
Capturing greater beef value and profitability is challenging in the beef cattle business. One approach to capturing greater beef value is to reduce risk before the first point of sale. An approach evaluated in this research was to reduce cow size and subsequently retain ownership of calves in a vertically integrated system of backgrounding and grazing native range and annual forages from birth to slaughter. In lieu of selling small framed steers at weaning and retaining ownership, the management technique thereby delayed feedlot finishing until after the steers grazed greater than 200 days creating a first point of sale at slaughter.
What was the result? Small and large framed steers either grazing native range and annual forages or were placed directly in the feedlot. During the grazing period, steers grew at a slower rate than steers placed directly in the feedlot after winter backgrounding. Days on feed for the feedlot control steers was 218 days and the grazing steers grazed for 212 days before feedlot entry and were in the feedlot 82 days. A difference of 136 less days on feed in the feedlot. The small frame steers grew more slowly during grazing compared to their large framed counterparts; however, the small framed steer grazing cost per kg of gain was reduced 7.8%. Grazing steers did not grow to their full genetic potential due to varying forage conditions during the 212-day grazing period from May to December. Nonetheless, the steers grew structurally and grazing marbling score increased (measured with ultrasound). Slower gain during the grazing period created a robust compensatory feedlot finishing growth response. Overall, grazing steer performance exceeded that of the feedlot control steers such that large framed steers had the most robust ADG and the lowest feed cost per kg of gain. Comparing finishing of the grazing steers to the control finishing steers, small and large frame finishing steer feed costs were reduced 176.9 and 165.3%, respectively. From a carcass perspective, grazing steers had greater hot carcass weight and the small framed steers had greater dressing percent and marbling score than the large framed steers. Between the feedlot control steers and grazing steers there was no difference measured for meat tenderness, cooking losses, and carcass quality grade. System net returns were highest for the large ($911.58) and small ($866.61) framed steers compared to the feedlot control steers. Modifying management from selling bawling calves to retained ownership and extended grazing of native range and annual forages followed by an abbreviated feedlot finishing period increased profitability and eliminated small framed steer market bias.
Full Animals Journal publication can be accessed at:
Journal of Animal Science abstract can be accessed at:
|
|
The NDSU Extension does not endorse commercial products or companies even though reference may be made to tradenames, trademarks or service names. NDSU encourages you to use and share this content, but please do so under the conditions of our Creative Commons license. You may copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this work as long as you give full attribution, don’t use the work for commercial purposes and share your resulting work similarly. For more information, visit www.ag.ndsu.edu/agcomm/creative-commons.
County commissions, North Dakota State University and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. NDSU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable. Direct inquiries to Vice Provost for Title IX/ADA Coordinator, Old Main 201, NDSU Main Campus, 701-231-7708, ndsu.eoaa@ndsu.edu. This publication will be made available in alternative formats for people with disabilities upon request, 701-231-7881.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
