Beef Cattle Browsing
Editor: Dr. Stephen Hammack, Professor & Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Emeritus
December 2003
This newsletter is published by Texas AgriLife Extension – Animal Science. Media, feel free to use this information as needed and cite Texas A&M University Beef Cattle Browsing Newsletter, Dr. Steve Hammack.
ROMOSINUANO: ANOTHER TROPICAL-ADAPTED BREED
Romosinuano are a red, polled breed native to Colombia, South America. Texas A&M-Overton evaluated gain on bermudagrass pasture of Romosinuano-sired (R) yearling steers out of F1 Angus X Brahman females, compared to F1 Hereford X Brahman steers. Average daily gain of R was significantly less, at 1.07 lb/day versus 1.96 lb/day. When fed for 5 to 6 months, R gained 3.21 lb/day versus 3.86 lb/day, and feed efficiency was lower for R. Marbling score, tenderness, and Yield Grade did not differ significantly.
RALGRO VS. ENCORE FOR STOCKER STEERS
Mexican-origin steers weighing 369 lb in mid-November were implanted by Texas Extension workers with either RalgroTM or EncoreTM (a long-duration product), backgrounded in El Paso county, and shipped to the Flint Hills area of Kansas for grazing on native pasture until mid-June. Average daily gain of Encore-treated was significantly higher, 1.81 lb/day versus 1.65 lb/day. Also, after finishing, Encore-treated graded 72% Choice or higher, compared to 59% for Ralgro.
MINERAL AND VITAMIN E INJECTION FOR COWS
Texas A&M Beef Center cows were used to determine effects of injecting minerals and Vitamin E. The treated group was injected 30 days before calving and 21 days before breeding with MultiminTM (Walco International, Inc.), a product containing copper, zinc, manganese, and selenium, and with Vitamin E (AgriPharm). Compared to controls, treatment result in elevated blood copper levels of approximately 50% to 100%, but with little effect on other minerals. However, there was little difference between groups in calf birth weight, survival rate, passive immune status, or weaning weight, nor in return to estrus or conception rate in cows.
RESTRICTING FEED INTAKE OF STEERS
West Texas A&M researchers studied the effect of limiting feed intake on performance and carcass factors of steers. Feeding was in various combinations arriving at average intake over the entire period of 85%, 90%, and 95% of ad lib. Performance was measured over the first 65 days, the next 65 days, and the final 21 days. Over the first period, average daily gain was highest for ad lib and lowest for 85%, with no differences in feed efficiency. In the second period, there was no difference in ADG, but limited groups were somewhat more efficient. In the last period, both ADG and efficiency were lower for ad lib. Overall, ADG was highest for ad lib, but there were no differences in efficiency. Ad lib steers had higher marbling scores (but distribution of carcass Quality Grade did not differ), larger ribeye area, and more kidney, pelvic, heart fat (but not more fat cover). For the 95%, 90%, and 85% groups, limited feeding reduced total feed costs by approximately $11, $16, and $22, but also reduced total carcass value by $13, $16, and $47.