PSIV-2 A comparison of feedlot growth and performance of beef x Holstein crossbred steers and Holstein steers

Abstract

Objectives were to compare feedlot performance and carcass traits of F1 beef × Holstein steers and Holstein steers. Angus or Limousin × Holstein crossbred [n = 27; age = 12 ± 3 months; body weight (BW) = 435 ± 8 kg] and Holstein (n = 20; age = 11 ± 2 months; BW = 400 ± 9 kg) steers were fed at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Livestock Evaluation Center for 111 days. Feed intake was recorded using the GrowSafe Feed Intake Monitoring System (Model 4000E, GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Calgary AB, Canada). The diet contained corn silage, dried distillers grains, soybean meal, and cracked corn and was formulated to meet or exceed the requirements of beef cattle (NASEM, 2016). Growth performance variables of interest and carcass measurements were analyzed with the Mixed procedure of SAS (SAS 9.4; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). USDA assigned quality grades (QG) and yield grades (YG) were analyzed the with GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Breed was a fixed effect in all models. There were no differences (P > 0.05) between breeds in average daily gain or feed efficiency. Crossbreds exceeded Holsteins in initial (P < 0.01) and final BW (P = 0.01), dry matter intake (P = 0.03), hot carcass weight (P < 0.01), backfat (P = 0.03), and ribeye area (REA; P < 0.01). Thirty-five percent (35%) of the Holsteins received a QG of Choice or above while 74% of crossbreds graded USDA Choice or above (P = 0.01). However, 75% of Holsteins were YG 2 or lower while only 45% of crossbreds achieved YG 2 or less (P = 0.05). There was no improvement in efficiency when crossbreds were compared to Holsteins; however, carcasses from crossbreds were more likely to grade USDA Choice or above while yielding greater REA and backfat than Holsteins.

In utero choline exposure alters growth, metabolism, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics of Holstein × Angus cattle from weaning to slaughter

“…The fact that 98% of the cattle in this study achieved at least USDA grade Choice (including 15% Prime; Table 8 ) is an indication that Angus × Holstein cattle have potential as high-value contributors to the beef industry. In preliminary results from other institutions in the U.S., at least 75% of Holsteins crossed with Angus or Simmental also achieved USDA Choice or Prime, which was an improvement over their pure Holstein counterparts ( Basiel et al, 2021 ; Dahlke and Harding, 2021 ; Foraker et al, 2022 ). Overall, this study indicates that beef × dairy breeding strategies is a useful mechanism to add value to the U.S. beef herd, yet more research is needed to understand factors that contribute to beef quality in beef × dairy cattle.…”