Case Study: Stocker and Feedlot Performance of Beef ...

The Professional Animal Scientist 25 (2009):809–814

©2009 American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists

CASE STUdY: Stocker and Feedlot
Performance of Beef Heifers
Sired by Braunvieh and Wagyu
Bulls from Angus-, Brahman-,
Senepol-, and Tuli-sired Dams1

W. A. Phillips,*2 PAS, J. W. Holloway,† B. Warrington,† and B. C. Venuto*
*USDA-ARS, Grazinglands Research Laboratory, El Reno, OK 73036; and †Texas AgriLife
Reseach, Uvalde, TX 78801

ABSTRACT was used as the error term. Rate of gain Key words: tropically adapted
during the posttransit recovery period breed, heifer, beef cattle, stocker,
Female beef calves not retained within (0.57 ± 0.15 kg) and during the winter carcass trait
the cow-calf enterprise are sold and (1.05 ± 0.08 kg) and spring (0.31 ± kg)
moved through the same production stocker phases were not different (P > INTRODUCTION
phases as male calves to produce fin- 0.10) among the 4 dam breed types. At
ished beef. The objective of this study the end of the winter grazing period (ap- Female beef calves not retained
was to compare the stocker and feedlot proximately March 20), mean BW within within the cow-calf enterprise are
performance of beef heifers of different each breed group was greater than 330 sold and moved through the same
tropically adapted breed types. Calves kg; at these BW, heifers could be exposed production phases as male calves to
were sired by Braunvieh (yr 1) and to bulls to create replacement females. produce finished beef. Because female
Wagyu (yr 2) bulls. Dams were Angus Heifers not sold as replacements could beef calves grow at a slower rate and
× Angus, Brahman × Angus, Senepol × be finished on pasture, using a combina- are not as efficient in converting DM
Angus, and Tuli × Angus. Calves were tion of intensive early stocking manage- into carcass BW as male calves, they
born in the spring and weaned in the fall ment, followed by ad libitum access to can be purchased at a lower cost
and shipped from Texas to Oklahoma for an energy-dense ration on pasture in a per kilogram of BW (Langemeier et
growth and finishing. Data were ana- self-feeder. Heifers from Angus × Angus al., 2001; Troxel et al., 2002). How-
lyzed as a randomized complete block and Tuli × Angus cows had greater (P < ever, female beef calves have more
design using the GLM procedure. Year 0.05) marbling scores and QG than heif- postweaning marketing opportunities
was confounded with breed of sire and ers from Brahman × Angus and Senepol than steer calves. If a moderate rate
was considered fixed. Year × dam breed × Angus dams when finished on the of BW gain (>0.7 kg) is achieved
farm. In conclusion, heifer calves from during the winter, heifers purchased
1 Mention of a trade name, proprietary dams with 0 or 50% tropically adapted in the fall can be sold as replacement
product, or specific equipment does not breeding gained enough BW as stockers females in the spring (Clanton et
constitute a guarantee or warranty of the to be bred in March and marketed as re- al., 1983; Bagley, 1993; Beck et al.,
product by the USDA and does not imply placement females. Heifer calves not sold 2005). Stocker calves grown on winter
approval to the exclusion of other products as replacement females can be retained wheat pasture gain BW at a moderate
that may be suitable. and finished on the farm to produce rate, and differences in rate of BW
2 Corresponding author: [email protected]. finished beef. gain between female and male beef
usda.gov calves are small (Phillips et al., 2004).

810 Phillips et al.

Therefore, wheat pasture stocker pro- fall (average calendar date = Novem- standing forage had been removed,
ducers could purchase female calves in ber 15) and heifers calves (mean age and a self-feeder containing a high-en-
the fall to decrease animal costs ($/ = 268 d) were transported 800 km ergy diet was placed in each pasture.
calf) and to increase their marketing to El Reno, Oklahoma. Immediately Heifers remained on pasture with
options (St. Louis et al., 2003; Beck after arrival, calves were individually ad libitum access to the high-energy
et al., 2005). Cow-calf producers in weighed, placed in a pasture, given ad diet, which contained 12.3% CP, 2.06
the southern United States use the libitum access to warm-season grass IMncyarl/1k,gthNeEfmin, iasnhdin1g.3d4ieMt ccoanl/takigneNdEg.
Brahman breed to incorporate genetic hay, and allowed to recover from the 35 mg monensin/kg (Rumensin,
adaptability to heat stress into their stress of transit before beginning the Elanco Animal Health, Indianapolis,
cow herds, but the Brahman have stocker phase of the study. IN) and 11.5 mg tylosin/kg (Tylan,
the potential for poorer feedlot ADG Each year during the stocker phase Elanco Animal Health). In yr 2, the
(Phillips et al., 2001), marbling scores of the study, calves were managed as diet contained 33 mg lasalocid/kg
(Boyles and Riley, 1991; Phillips et a single group, and wheat was the (Bovatec, Alpharma Animal Health,
al., 2001), and carcass quality (Sher- primary forage resource for grazing. Bridgewater, NJ). Dietary DM was
beck et al., 1996; Riley et al., 2003) During the winter phase (Decem- determined weekly by drying a sample
as compared with calves with little or ber through mid-March) of yr 1, no in a forced-air oven at 60°C for 72 h.
no Brahman breeding. To improve the wheat pasture was available because
overall value of calves from southern of a drought. Therefore, calves were Before entering the finishing phase
cow herds while maintaining tropical confined to a dormant warm-season of the study, heifers were treated
adaptability, non-Brahman tropically grass pasture with ad libitum ac- for internal parasites (Ivomec Plus,
adapted breeds, such as Senepol and cess to warm-season grass hay and a Merial, Rathway, NJ) and were
Tuli, are being evaluated. Stocker and self-feeder containing a diet of 63.5% implanted with 200 mg testosterone
feedlot performance data comparing ground corn, 18.0% ground alfalfa and 20 mg estradiol (Synovex-H, Fort
heifer calves with Brahman, Senepol, hay, 10% cottonseed meal, 5% mo- Dodge Animal Health, Overland Park,
and Tuli breed composition are not lasses, 2% limestone, 0.8% sodium KS). Heifers were considered finished
available. Therefore, the objective of bicarbonate, 0.7% magnesium oxide, when the fat thickness over the 12th
this study was to compare the stocker and 44 mg monensin/kg of the diet. to 13th rib was ≥10 mm, which was
and feedlot performance of beef heif- Magnesium oxide was used to limit estimated visually by experienced
ers from Senepol- and Tuli-sired dams intake of the mixed diet to a target personnel. The day before slaughter,
to Brahman- and Angus-sired dams. level of 1% of BW. The mixed diet calves were removed from the pasture,
was formulated to contain 14% CP, weighed individually, and shipped
MATERIALS AND METHODS k1m.g8ix6NedEMgdc. aiTelt/hkwegacNsomEcabml,icnuaalntaditoen1d.2ot0fo Mcal/ the next morning to Amarillo, Texas
hay and (350 km), for processing. Hot carcass
This experiment was conducted yield an weight, LM area, fat thickness over
over a 2-yr period at the USDA-ARS ADG (0.8 to 1.0 kg) similar to that the 12th to 13th rib, marbling score
Grazinglands Research Laboratory anticipated if winter wheat pasture (300 = slight, 400 = small, and 500 =
near El Reno, Oklahoma (35°32′ N, had been available. In yr 2, calves modest), quality score (11 = Select,
98°2′ W). All procedures used in this grazed wheat pastures during the 12 = Low Choice, and 13 = Choice),
study followed the recommendations winter phase of the study as a single and YG were collected on each car-
of the Consortium (1988) and were group at a stocking rate of 2.5 calves/ cass by the Cattleman’s Carcass Data
approved by the USDA-ARS Graz- ha. Service (West Texas A&M University,
inglands Research Laboratory Animal At the end of the winter phase, Canyon, TX).
Care and Use Committee. Calves born calves were individually weighed and
in yr 1 were sired by Braunvieh bulls, the stocking rate was increased to 4.7 Data were analyzed as a randomized
and the calves born in yr 2 were sired heifers/ha. Calves were managed as a complete block design using the GLM
by Wagyu bulls. Dams were Angus single herd and grazed annual cool- procedure (SAS Institute Inc., Cary,
× Angus (AA), Brahman × Angus season grasses, predominantly win- NC). The study could be conducted
(BA), Senepol × Angus (SA), and ter wheat and Bromus sp., until the for only 2 yr, and a different breed
Tuli × Angus (TA) and ranged in age finishing phase began in June of each of sire was used each year. Therefore,
from 5 to 9 yr. Calves were reared at year. At the end of the spring stocker year was confounded with breed of
the Texas AgriLife Research Ranch period, calves were individually sire. The combination of year and
near Kline, Texas (29°02′ N, 100°14′ weighed on 2 consecutive days, strati- breed of sire was considered as fixed
W). Calves were born in the spring fied by dam breed, and randomly and was used as a block. The GLM
and reared on mixed-brush rangeland assigned to 1 of 2 Bermudagrass (Cy- model was Y = block, breed of dam,
that consisted primarily of Acacia, nodon dactylon) pastures at a stock- and block × breed of dam. Block ×
Prosopis, Setaria, Helaria, and Boute- ing rate of 6.4 heifers/ha. After 43 d breed of dam was used as the error
loua spp. Calves were weaned in the of grazing, approximately 80% of the term. When a significant F-test (P <
0.10) was observed, differences among

Growing and finishing heifers 811

Table 1. Least squares means and SE for heifer arrival and final BW and ADG during the postarrival recovery
period and winter, spring, and winter plus spring (overall) portions of the stocker phase

Breed of dam1

Item AA BA SA TA

Arrival BW, kg 230 ± 5.7c 265 ± 4.2a 255 ± 6.3ab 243 ± 4.4bc
Final BW, kg 354 ± 6.6 379 ± 5.6 380 ± 8.5 365 ± 5.5
ADG, kg
  Recovery phase, 34 d 0.62 ± 0.04 0.53 ± 0.03 0.55 ± 0.05 0.58 ± 0.03
  Winter phase, 85 d 0.93 ± 0.03 0.82 ± 0.02 0.90 ± 0.03 0.89 ± 0.02
  Spring phase, 81 d 0.33 ± 0.03 0.31 ± 0.02 0.25 ± 0.04 0.35 ± 0.02
  Overall, 166 d 0.64 ± 0.02 0.59 ± 0.02 0.59 ± 0.03 0.63 ± 0.02

a–cMeans in the same row with different superscript differ, P < 0.05.

1Breed of dam = Angus × Angus (AA), Brahman × Angus (BA), Senepol × Angus (SA), and Tuli × Angus (TA) dams; sired by
Braunvieh (yr 1) and Wagyu (yr 2) bulls.

means were determined by using the than heifer calves from AA cows yr 2. Providing a mixed diet plus ad
least significance difference proce- (Table 1). Heifer calves from SA and libitum access to hay can be used to
dure. All means are presented as least TA cows were intermediate in arrival reduce the production risk associated
squares means ± SE. BW in comparison with the other 2 with uncertainty of fall wheat forage
dam-breed groups. By the end of the production (Phillips et al., 2006).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION winter and spring stocker periods,
BW were similar (P = 0.17) among The winter stocker ADG observed
Lifetime performance and efficiency dam-breed types. Calves from BA in the present experiment falls within
orefptohreteFd1 dams used in this study were dams were heavier at arrival because the range (0.8 to 1.2 kg) expected for
by Holloway et al. (2005). they expressed more positive mater- stocker calves grazing winter wheat
In general, BA dams weaned heavier nal heterosis than the calves from pasture from November through
calves than SA and TA dams. The SA or TA dams (Thrift et al., 1997). March in central Oklahoma (Mader
BA dams had greater BW, but they Senepol are considered to be tropical et al., 1983; Horn et al., 1995; Hersom
were not as productive or as efficient Bos taurus and Tuli are Sanga type, et al., 2004). Daily BW gains during
as TA dams. The TA dams had less and when crossed with Angus will the spring portion of the winter wheat
BW, matured earlier, and were more not produce the level of heterosis that grazing season (March to May) should
reproductively efficient than BA can be achieved when Bos indicus are equal or exceed ADG during the win-
dams. The TA dams proved to be well crossed with Angus (Cundiff et al., ter (Phillips and Albers, 1999). In this
adapted to the mixed-brush range- 1999; Jenkins and Ferrell, 2004). In experiment, spring ADG were lower
land and semiarid conditions of south the present experiment, the contribu- than winter ADG because the spring
Texas, whereas SA dams were poorly tion of tropically adapted breeds to grazing season was extended to take
adapted. It was concluded that if TA the genetic makeup of the calf was advantage of other annual cool-season
dams were used, cow herd productiv- 25%. As a result, winter ADG was grasses (Bromus sp.) and forbs that
ity and efficiency could be improved improved over that reported for pure- were present in the wheat pastures.
in comparison with using BA dams. bred tropically adapted calves grazing This technique has been used in other
Heifers used in this experiment were winter wheat pasture in Oklahoma experiments at this location (Phillips
born over a 76-d calving period and (Phillips et al., 2006). et al., 1991, 2001, 2004) to increase
at weaning had a BCS of 4.6 ± 0.25 calf BW before entering the feedlot,
(scale of 1 to 9) and a frame score During the winter phase of yr 1, no to reduce the time needed for fin-
of 5.1 ± 0.54 (scale of 1 to 9). Body wheat pasture was available. In lieu of ishing, to alter the final marketing
condition score and frame score were wheat pasture, calves had ad libitum date, and to lessen the finishing feed
not different (P > 0.10) among the 4 access to a mixed diet in a self-feeder cost. Delaying the beginning of the
breed types used in this experiment. and warm-season grass hay. Heifers finishing period to June also allowed
consumed an average of 5.7 kg/d (as warm-season grass pastures to accu-
Stocker Performance is) of mixed diet and an estimated 2.0 mulate biomass so that intensive early
kg of hay. Average daily gain during grazing could be used to finish cattle
Heifer calves from BA cows had this period was 1.03 kg, which was on grass rather than in confinement
greater (P < 0.05) BW at arrival greater (P < 0.01) than the 0.74 kg/d (Phillips et al., 2004). Other reports
observed during the winter phase of also have shown reduced spring ADG

812 Phillips et al.

when the grazing season is extended mudagrass, was 33% less than when scores were observed in calves from
and no differences in spring ADG calves were consuming a combination BA and SA dams as compared with
among nontropically and tropically of Bermudagrass and the mixed diet calves from AA and TA dams.
adapted breeds (Phillips et al., 2004, from the self-feeder (Table 2). At the
2006). These data also demonstrate beginning of the finishing period, pas- Heifers finished in yr 1 were sired by
the need for high-quality forages to tures had 2,400 ± 294 kg forage DM/ Braunvieh bulls, whereas the heifers
fill the forage gap between the end of ha available for grazing. Therefore, finished in yr 2 were sired by Wagyu
the winter wheat grazing season and forage availability did not limit ADG bulls. Heifers finished in yr 1 had
the beginning of the perennial warm- during the grass-only period. Gain greater (P < 0.10) a carcass weight
season grass season. Northup et al. was less because nutrient density in (325 vs. 303 kg) and LM area (90 vs.
(2009) have successfully used perenni- the Bermudagrass was less as com- 79 cm2) than heifers finished in yr
al cool-season grasses to fill this void. pared with the mixed diet. Although 1. However, in yr 2 heifers sired by
heifers had less ADG during the Wagyu bulls had a greater (P < 0.10)
At the end of the winter grazing grass-only period, BW gain was 242 dressing percentage (61.6 vs. 60.0),
period (average calendar date March kg/ha (6.4 head/ha × 43 d × 0.88 marbling score (small60 vs. small30),
20), AA, BA, SA, and TA heifers kg/d). Intensive early stocking can fat thickness (1.44 vs. 1.12 cm), and
had BW of 331, 354, 352, and 340 kg be used by managers of warm-season YG (2.92 vs. 2.23) than heifers sired
(pooled SE = 8), respectively. These grass pastures to increase the amount by Braunvieh bulls (yr 1). Because
observed BW are approximately 70% of beef produced per unit area. Under initial BW of heifers fed in yr 2 was
of the anticipated mature BW for this management strategy, calves are less (346 vs. 392 kg) than the initial
these breed types of a 5.5-yr-old cow able to harvest as much of the for- BW in yr 1, heifers in yr 2 were fed
(Holloway et al., 2005). By the end age as possible during the early part longer (P < 0.01) as compared with
of the winter grazing period, heifers of the grazing season, when forage yr 1 (132 vs. 127 d), but ADG was
were heavy enough to be exposed to quality is high. When compared with not different (P > 0.10) between yr 1
bulls to create bred heifers to be sold season-long grazing of warm-season and 2 (1.21 vs. 1.10 kg). Heifers fed
later as replacement females (Granger grasses, intensive early stocking can in yr 1 produced greater (P < 0.10)
et al., 1990; Bagley, 1993; Beck et al., produce more BW gain per hectare hot carcass weights (325 vs. 303 kg)
2005). However, Beck et al. (2005) (Phillips and Coleman, 1995; Phillips than heifers fed in yr 2 because final
reported that the high N content et al., 2003). BW was greater (P < 0.05; 538 vs.
of cool-season annuals could reduce 492 kg).
reproductive performance. Therefore, Hot carcass weight, dressing per-
heifers should be shifted to a diet centage, LM area, fat thickness, and Braunvieh cattle originated in
containing less N before entering a YG were not different (P > 0.10) Switzerland and have been used in
breeding season. among the 4 dam breeds (Table 2). developing composite beef breeds
However, heifers from AA and TA (Gregory et al., 1994). The Wagyu
Calf sire breed and year were cows had greater (P < 0.05) marbling is a Japanese breed and is used to
confounded in this study, so no clear scores and QG than heifers from BA produce heavily marbled carcasses
comparisons could be made between and SA dams. Huffman et al. (1990) (Wertz et al., 1998). It would be
Braunvieh-sired (yr 1) and Wagyu- reported lower marbling scores for anticipated that the Braunvieh-sired
sired (yr 2) heifer calves. Heifers used steers containing 50 or 75% Brahman calves would have a greater BW and
in yr 1 were heavier (P < 0.01) at ar- breeding as compared with steers daily growth rate than Wagyu-sired
rival (265 vs. 232 kg) and had greater with only 25% Brahman breeding and calves, but that Wagyu-sired calves
(P < 0.05) winter ADG (1.04 vs. 0.74 concluded that increasing the percent- would produce carcasses with greater
kg) than heifers used in yr 2. Braun- age of Brahman breeding decreased marbling (Myers et al., 1999; Arango
vieh bulls were used in yr 1, and these marbling. Chase et al. (2001) reported et al., 2002; Kuber et al., 2004). Al-
heifers had greater (P < 0.01) overall that SA and TA bulls had lower shear though breed of sire was confounded
ADG (0.68 vs. 0.54 kg) but less (P < force values than BA bulls, but pro- with year, differences in carcass
0.01) spring ADG (0.26 vs 0.35 kg) duced less carcass weight. In general, characteristics observed between yr 1
than the Wagyu-sired heifers used in Tuli-sired calves are early maturing, and 2 were probably due to the breed
yr 2. with less mature BW but greater of sire.
marbling scores than Brahman-sired
Feedlot Performance calves (Herring et al., 1996). However, During the finishing period, the
in some cases BA steers have been average amount of DM consumed
Initial and final BW were not differ- reported to have higher marbling per heifer was 865 ± 18 kg and feed
ent (P > 0.10) among the 4 dam- scores than SA and TA steers (Phil- efficiency was 124 g BW gain/kg DM.
breed groups (Table 2). Average daily lips et al., 2004). In the present study, In previous experiments with BA, SA,
gain during the first 38 (yr 1) and 48 calves were only 25% Brahman, 25% and TA steer calves, calves finished on
(yr 2) d of the finishing period, when Senepol, or 25% Tuli. Lower marbling pasture consumed more feed and had
calves were consuming only Ber- greater feed efficiencies than those
observed in the present experiment

Growing and finishing heifers 813

Table 2. Least squares means and SE for heifer BW, number of days in the finishing phase, ADG during 2
phases (grass only and grass + feed) of the finishing phase, and carcass traits

Breed of dam1

Item AA BA SA TA

Final BW, kg 497 ± 8.2 515 ± 6.6 538 ± 11.3 511 ± 6.8
Days to finish, d 128 ± 2.0 126 ± 1.6 126 ± 2.6 128 ± 1.7
ADG,2 kg
  Grass only 0.79 ± 0.06 0.94 ± 0.05 0.95 ± 0.08 0.84 ± 0.05
  Grass + feed 1.28b ± 0.06 1.16c ± 0.05 1.49a ± 0.08 1.33b ± 0.05
  Overall 1.11 ± 0.04 1.08 ± 0.02 1.29 ± 0.05 1.15 ± 0.03
Carcass traits
  Hot carcass weight, kg 303 ± 4.9 314 ± 3.9 328 ± 6.7 310 ± 4.0
  Dressing percent, % 60.95 ± 0.31 61.04 ± 0.25 60.51 ± 0.43 60.69 ± 0.26
  Marbling score3 486a ± 18 395b ± 15 424b ± 25 470a ± 15
  QG 12.4a ± 0.2 11.5b ± 0.2 11.8b ± 0.3 12.3a ± 0.2
  YG
  LM area, cm2 2.60 ± 0.13 2.59 ± 0.11 2.54 ± 0.18 2.57 ± 0.11
  Fat thickness, cm 83.2 ± 2.1 82.6 ± 1.7 88.1 ± 2.9 85.5 ± 1.7
1.30 ± 0.07 1.19 ± 0.06 1.29 ± 0.10 1.34 ± 0.06

a–cMeans in the same row with different superscripts differ, P < 0.05.

1Breed of dam = Angus × Angus (AA), Brahman × Angus (BA), Senepol × Angus (SA), and Tuli × Angus (TA) dams; sired by
Braunvieh (yr 1) and Wagyu (yr 2) bulls.

2Grass only = ADG during the intensive stocking phase of the finishing period (38 d in yr 1 and 48 d in yr 2); grass + feed = ADG from
the placement of the self-feeder in the pasture after the intensive stocking phase until the end of the finishing phase.

3Slight00 = 300, small00 = 400, and modest00 = 500 (e.g., 450 = small50).

(Phillips et al., 2004). Langemeier pasture, producers can reduce the cost LITERATURE CITED
et al. (2001) reported that heifers ($/kg) paid for calves but increase
consumed less feed (9%), had slower the number of postweaning marketing Arango, J. A., L. V. Cundiff, and L. D. Van
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ficiencies (3%) than steers. As result, heifer calves during the stocker phase vieh-, Chianina-, Hereford-, Gelbvieh-, Maine
the cost of BW gain would be greater is similar to that anticipated for steer Anjou-, and Red Poll-sired cows for weight,
for heifers than steers. However, if calves. By March, heifer calves could weight adjusted for body condition score,
large discounts for carcass nonconfor- be marketed as replacement females, height, and body condition score. J. Anim.
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