Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1968

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Animal Husbandry

Major Professor

J.B. McLaren

Committee Members

Charles Hobbs, R.S. Dotson

Abstract

Data collected on 120 steers and 40 heifers at the Middle Tennessee Experiment Station, Spring Hill, Tennessee, were used to determine the effects of a full-feed of concentrates during the last 56 to 74 days of the finishing period on the performance and carcass traits of beef steers and heifers. Choice, good, and medium steers, and heifers were fed a ration of corn silage ad lib, plus limited concentrates for 140 days. One-half of the animals within each sex and feeder grade received this high corn-silage limited concentrate ration until they were sold for slaughter. The other animals within each sex and grade were changed to a full-feed of concentrates during the last 56 to 74 days of the finishing period.

Daily gains were similar for the choice, good, and medium steers during the 140-day pre-experimental period when fed the high-silage limited concentrate ration (1.96, 1.99, and 1.97 pounds per head per day, respectively). However, gains made by the heifers (1.74 pounds per head per day) were significantly less than for the steers.

The cattle full-fed concentrates during the last 56 to 74 days of the finishing period gained 0.36 pounds per head per day more (P<.01) than those fed the high-silage ration. Differences.in performance due to the two rations were similar and of relatively the same magnitude within each feeder grade and sex.

Concentrates full-fed in the latter part of the finishing period resulted in heavier cattle at slaughter which yielded heavier carcasses. Dressing percent, loin eye area per hundred pounds of carcass, marbling, fat thickness at the twelfth rib, and percent kidney fat were not affected by this short full-feed of concentrates.

Feed cost per unit of gain was higher for the cattle fed the concentrate ration. However, the total selling price of these cattle was more than that of the cattle fed the high-silage ration and the return above feed cost was not significantly different for the two systems.

The increase in returns (above feed and initial cost) due to the high-concentrate ration was $5.66 for good steers. However, the advantage was $0.54 in favor of the high-silage ration when medium steers were fed.

These data indicate that relative cost of corn silage and shelled corn, the importance of a shorter feed period in the overall feedlot program, and the grade and sex of cattle being fed are all important economic considerations in determining the value of increasing the amount of concentrates during the latter part of the finishing period.

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