Breeder steers - how easy is it to change?
From the November 2008 edition of Agriculture Today.
The high cost of grain and the higher Australian dollar during much of this year are real reasons why some feedlots are reducing their ‘days on feed’.
For some, feeding for over 200 days is not as profitable as in the past.
The long fed programmes aim for the high quality Japanese market, with marbling being one of the most important criteria.
As some feeding programs reduce to closer to 150 days, other traits will become more important.
As with the domestic grain fed industry, which feeds from 70 to 120 days, profits are driven by weight gain and carcase yield, as well as quality.
Carcase yield is driven by the amount of muscle in the carcase and the extent to which this smooths out and reduces the carcase fat.
It is likely that feedlots buying feeder steers will look for those cattle that grow quickly, still have some marbling, and are well muscled.
When you visit the Oklahoma State University web page, it describes 268 cattle breeds.
The descriptions are probably written by the relevant breed societies because they all come across as the best breed.
Most breeds are pretty good, but the best animal is often a combination of two or more breeds that perform in those traits that produce fertile and market suitable cattle in your environment.
It’s not just the hybrid vigour, although that’s pretty useful, but rather that you’ve identified the profitable traits and bred and maintained them to a high level.
One of the greatest mixes of breeds for southern Australia is that created by combining enough British blood with enough European blood.
The proportion of each will affect the maturity of the animal, so the right amount will be determined largely by the nutrition available.
Generally somewhere up to 50 per cent European blood over British or mid maturing Bos indicus cattle works really well.
But if you’ve been supplying the feeder steer market with a straight bred British animal, how easy is it to change things?
There are lots of systems and plenty of people that would love to give you advice, useful or not.
A very simple system is to look at how many replacement heifers you need each year.
Look to breed these from your youngest females, just as you do now.
For the older cows, often those over about five years, give them a bit of excitement by putting a European bull in their joining paddock this November.
They’ll probably get a thrill from it, you will too, and it’s not hard to do.
The progeny will grow well and heifers and steers will sell at a premium.
The hardest thing will be getting your mind around it.
Have fun picking a suitable bull, but don’t compromise on temperament, fertility, calving ease or structural soundness.
