Effects of winter stocker growth rate and finishing system on: I. Animal performance and carcass characteristics1,2

Abstract

Angus-crossbred steers (n = 216) were used in a 3-yr study to assess the effects of winter stocker growth rate and finishing system on finishing performance and carcass characteristics. During winter months (December to April) steers were randomly allotted to 3 stocker growth rates: low (0.23 kg x d(-1)), medium (0.45 kg x d(-1)), or high (0.68 kg x d(-1)). Upon completion of the winter phase, steers were randomly allotted within each stocker treatment to a corn silage-concentrate or pasture finishing system. All steers regardless of finishing treatment were finished to an equal-time endpoint to eliminate confounding of treatments with animal age or seasonal factors. Upon completion of the finishing period, steers were slaughtered in 2 groups (one-half of pasture and one-half of feedlot cattle each time) and carcass data were collected. Winter data were analyzed as a completely randomized design, with winter treatment, pen replicate, year, and the winter x year interaction in the model. Finishing performance and carcass data were analyzed in a split-plot design with finishing system in the whole plot, and winter growth rate and winter x finish in the split-plot. Winter treatment mean within finishing replication was the experimental unit, and year was considered a random effect. Winter stocker phase treatments resulted in differences (P < 0.001) in final BW, ADG, and ultrasound LM area between all treatments for that phase. Pasture-finished cattle had lower (P < 0.001) final BW, ADG, HCW, LM area, fat thickness, KPH, dressing percent, USDA yield grade, and USDA quality grade. Winter stocker treatment influenced (P < 0.05) final BW and HCW, with low and medium being less than high. Steers with low stocker gain had greater (P < 0.05) finishing ADG. Dressing percent was greater (P < 0.001) for high than low, and USDA quality grade was greater (P < 0.05) for high than low and medium. Carcass LM area, fat thickness, KPH, and USDA yield grade were not influenced (P > 0.05) by winter rate of gain. Cattle on low during winter exhibited compensatory gain during finishing but were unable to catch the high group regarding BW or HCW. The USDA quality grade was greater for high than low or medium. Animal performance during the winter stocker period clearly impacts finishing performance, carcass quality and beef production in both pasture- and feedlot-finishing systems, when cattle were finished to an equal-time endpoint.

The effect of flaxseed supplementation on growth, carcass characteristics, fatty acid profile, retail shelf life, and sensory characteristics of beef from steers finished on grasslands of the northern Great Plains1,2

“…Mean LM area was 59 or 60 cm^ for the 3 groups, and mean fat thickness over the 12th rib ranged from 0.62 cm (CONT) to 0.74 cm (CSBM). The LM area was smaller for these steers than the LM area observed for steers finished on pasture and slaughtered at close to the same age (Neel et al, 2007), yet HCW and fat thickness over the 12th rib were less for the steers studied by Neel et al (2007), possibly because they were Angus-crossbred steers rather than full-blood Angus. Mean USDA yield grade was 2.9 for both supplemented groups and was 2.6 for CONT, which was greater than the yield grade of 1.6 reported by Neel et al (2007) for their pasture-finished steers.…”

“…The LM area was smaller for these steers than the LM area observed for steers finished on pasture and slaughtered at close to the same age (Neel et al, 2007), yet HCW and fat thickness over the 12th rib were less for the steers studied by Neel et al (2007), possibly because they were Angus-crossbred steers rather than full-blood Angus. Mean USDA yield grade was 2.9 for both supplemented groups and was 2.6 for CONT, which was greater than the yield grade of 1.6 reported by Neel et al (2007) for their pasture-finished steers. Mean marbhng scores for the 3 groups of steers did not differ (P = 0.91), and not surprisingly, were considerably less than marbling scores for the beef heifers fed flaxseed and flnished on concentrate reported by Maddock et al (2006a).…”

Growing rate of gain on subsequent feedlot performance, meat, and carcass quality of beef steers1

“…Our research found that backgrounding treatment had no effect on DMI, ADG, or G:F during the finishing period (P ≥ 0.121). When comparing low, medium, and high rates of winter BW gain during the backgrounding period, Neel et al (2007) reported that cattle fed to achieve a low rate of BW gain during backgrounding had the greatest ADG during the finishing period, whereas cattle fed to achieve a high rate of BW gain had the least ADG during the finishing period. Coleman et al (1995) reported initial ADG increased in the feedlot with steers grown on a slower rate of BW gain (silagebased diet) compared with steers grown at a greater rate of BW gain (grain-based diet).…”

Stocker Growth on Rye and Ryegrass Pastures Affects Subsequent Feedlot Gains and Carcass Traits

“…Several have assessed various management systems or quality of forages on subsequent gain during the finishing period and effects on carcass traits (3,6,7,9,10). Neel et al (8) wintered stockers in drylot with restricted rations to create three gain categories, and concluded that stocker growth affected finishing performance and carcass quality. The objectives of this study were to quantify the effects of graded weight gain from winter annual pastures on subsequent feedlot performance, overall liveweight growth rate, and carcass traits of beef cattle.…”