Feeding Farm-Raised Cattle for Local Slaughter Shane Gadberry Ruminant Nutrition Animal Options for Slaughter

Points of Product Goals Discussion

Feed Planning Animal Options for Slaughter

Feeder Steer Calf Heiferette Cull Cow

Why Benefit of age and breeding on Already invested time and feed. Already invested time and feed. carcass traits. Low value at salebarn. Why Not Take longer to get from start to Don’t want to deal with cycling Lower cutability. finish. females. Don’t want to feed for white fat. Want to market no-supplemental More interested in marketing hormones. higher valued cuts like steaks. Product Goal

Forage Finished

Grain Finished Forage Finished

• Calves are typically leaner at slaughter than grain finished calves • 1,000 lbs target end weight is commonly referenced Average Daily Gain Time from 500 lb to 1,000 lb

Forage 0.5 lb/d 2.7 years Finished 1.0 lb/d 1.4 years

1.5 lb/d 11 months

2.0 lb/d 8 months Approximate Average Daily Gain By Forage Type

Toxic E+ Non-toxic E+ Small Spring Average Fescue1 Fescue1 Ryegrass Grains Oats Bermuda Crabgrass Hay Winter 0.5 Early-Spring 0.7 2.0 2.0 Late-Spring 0.5 2.0 2.0 1.0 Early-Summer 0.2 2.0 2.0 Late-Summer 0.2 1.0 2.0 Early-Fall 0.7 2.0 1.52 Late-Fall 0.7 2.0 2.0 2.0 1Interseeding clover into fescue can add 0.2+ lb/d gain depending on % coverage 2Bermudagrass stockpile

Note: These are seasonal generalizations to emphasize the importance of year-long planning. Forage growth distribution and quality will overlap within these generalizations. Available Forage Calves will not gain as well if Matters Pastures are over-grazed Pastures are too lightly stocked • Try to maintain at least 1,000 lb/ac dry • Spot grazed patches – high quality/low matter. quantity Too • Avoided patches – low quality/high quantity

Year-long – 0.5 - 1 acre grazeable acres/calf Grain Finished

• Calves are typically finished when they reach a Body Condition Score of 7.5 • Calves fed a high grain diet starting at 6 months weaning will weigh 50 to 100 lbs less at finishing than calves backgrounded on pasture and put on grain as yearlings Average Daily Gain Time from 500 lb to 1,250 lb

Grain 1.5 lb/d 1.4 years Finished 2.0 lb/d 375 days

2.5 lb/d 300 days

3.0 lb/d 250 days 800 lb calf (no growth implant, no medicated feed additives) Average Crude Total Digestible Daily Gain* Protein Nutrients

Grain 1.5 lb/d 10 64 Finished 2.0 lb/d 11.5 70

2.5 lb/d 13 76

3.0 lb/d 14.7 84

Weight gain will be greater for cattle that have improved genetic merit for growth.

• Calves need more protein when they are young (14-16%, DM) and less protein as they get closer to finishing (10%, DM) • Start off slowly (1% body weight) and build up to final rate over a 3- Feeding week period. High Grain • Most feed blends do not have roughage built in. • Coarse roughage (0.25-0.5% body weight) hay, cottonseed hulls, pasture keeps rumen healthy and buffered. Diets • Limit feeding grain to 2-2.5% body weight as-fed and feeding ½ AM and ½ PM, when roughage is not built into the diet, can help promote consumption of free choice roughage and reduce chances of metabolic upset. • When cattle are gaining 2.5 lb/d, you should be able to increase their feed amount by 1.5 to 2 lb each month. • If cattle leave feed in the trough, it is usually a sign of too much grain intake. If this occurs, back off the feed amount and gradually increase amount to find where they eat to fill but not waste feed either. • Most commodity blends do not have added calcium. 30 lb feed grade limestone added per ton of feed will usually get calcium:phosphorus in balance. • Provide free choice access to clean water and a mineral-vitamin supplement. • Consider feeding a coccidiostat; Bovatec, Rumensin, Deccox • Plan for 50%+ grain (corn) in finishing diets. • Need beef sensory data from low-starch, byproduct diets. You may need a growing diet and a finishing diet.

• Growing diet – higher protein, less grain, possibly less energy. • Finishing diet – add corn to the growing diet. Reduce protein, increase starch and energy.

USDA inspected kill dates are usually scheduled well Feeding High in advance.

Grain Diets • It is easier to slow cattle down (maintenance diet) than try to play catch-up.

You may need to grow cattle at different rates of gain.

• Distribute your beef supply. • Manage freezer space. What about cull cows?

• Cull cows will most likely have yellow colored fat from carotene in forages. • Research has shown feeding cull cows a high grain/low roughage diet for 60 days will shift fat color from yellow to white. As much as 100 days may be required to minimize flavor associated with forage fed beef. • Cull cows generally have a lower feed conversion too. • Do you want to put a lot of grain into a fat cow vs thin cow? • Make sure you’re not slaughtering a pregnant cow. Contact Your County Agent for Personalized Assistance www.uaex.edu