Plane of nutrition through 92 days of age in beef × dairy hybrid steers influences subsequent finishing performance, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics

Abstract

Objective

Our objective was to determine the effect of plane of nutrition through 92 d of age on subsequent finishing performance, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics in beef × dairy crossbred steers.

Materials and Methods

Beef × dairy crossbred steers (n = 109) were acquired from commercial dairies in blocks (n = 2) with 38 and 72 steers per block and transported to the Calf Milk Research Facility at Purina Animal Nutrition in Grey Summit, Missouri, at 7 d of age. Steers were assigned to either a higher nutrient-dense milk replacer (MR) and starter (HI) or moderate nutrient- dense MR and starter (MOD) plane of nutrition through 92 d of age. Steers were weaned at 49 d and sorted into outdoor pens with 3 steers per pen. On d 84, steers were transported to the Willard Sparks Beef Research Center (WSBRC) in Stillwater, Oklahoma. At the WSBRC, steers were sorted by BW within preweaning treatment into 4 to 5 steers/pen and fed for 308 d. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 Mixed procedure (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) for all performance and noncategorical carcass measures. For preweaning measurements, individual calf was used as the experimental unit, whereas for finishing phase measurements pen was the experimental unit.

Results and Discussion

Steers fed HI prefinishing exhibited a greater BW through d 168 of the finishing phase and had greater DMI from d 0 to 28 and d 28 to 112, as well as greater percentage USDA Choice. Steers fed MOD had a greater G:F from d 28 to 112 and had greater overall G:F. There were no other differences in carcass characteristics due to preweaning plane of nutrition.

Implications and Applications

Providing calves with lesser nutrient-dense diets during the preweaning period, such as MOD treatment of the current research, did not result in enhanced performance through compensatory gain. Based on this study, a higher preweaning plane of nutrition allows heavier BW through 29 wk of age and improved carcass quality.