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Title: FEEDLOT AND CARCASS RESPONSES OF YEARLING BEEF CATTLE FROM NATIVE RANGELAND AND NATIVE RANGELAND-COMPLEMENTARY FORAGE SYSTEMS

Author
item Sims, Phillip

Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2005
Publication Date: 2/1/2006
Citation: Sims, P.L. 2006. Feedlot and carcass responses of yearling beef cattle from native rangeland and native rangeland-complementary forage systems [abstract]. Society for Range Management 59th Annual Meeting, February 11-17, 2006, Vancouver, Canada. Abstract No. 335. p. 219. 2006 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary: Not required.

Technical Abstract: Production systems that optimize forage and animal use help to ensure sustained and efficient production of beef from rangeland and pastures. Between 1980 and 1988, replicated cowherds of 15 Angus x Hereford (AH) and 15 Brahman x Hereford (BH) F1 cows, bred to Simmental sires, were grazed on native rangeland (NR) or native rangeland-complementary forage (NRCF) systems at the Southern Plains Experimental Range, Fort Supply, Oklahoma. The NR system was 8.1 ha of sagebrush-mixed grass prairie per cow-calf unit and the NRCF system used 4.9 ha of the same mixed prairie complemented by 0.6 ha of double-cropped winter wheat and summer annual forage, either sudan or pearlmillet. Between 1984 and 1986, we fed three sets of steers and heifers from the NRCF system. In 1987, we fed heifers and steers from both the NR and NRCF systems. We found significant differences (P<0.01) in yearling weights from the NR (257±9 kg) and NRCF (278±12 kg) systems going into the feedlot and between heifers and steers (P<0.02). We found no significant differences in breed of dam or forage system for the final feedlot weight, ADG, dressing percentage, or yield grade. There were significant differences in rib eye area between steers and heifers (P<0.003) and in the three-way interaction between forage systems, breed of dam, and sex of the yearlings (P<0.02). In general, finishing weights averaged about 525±16 kg, daily gain averaged 1.35±0.05 kg head-1 d-1, and dressing percentage was 60% across both forage systems.