A Comparison of Crossbred and Straightbred Cow-Calf Pairs. II. Biological Efficiency of the Cow-Calf Unit

This study aimed to evaluate the production, reproductive performance, and productive efficiency of predominantly Charolais cows and their calves (Straightbred, ¾ C, ¼ N) according to body size at calving. Sixty-three cow-calf pairs were used and classified into three weight groups: Light (331.3±5.8 kg), Moderate (385.9±5.3 kg), and Heavy (424.4±6.2 kg). The classes were formed using half standard deviations above or below the average weight of the cows at calving. For each pair, the body weight was evaluated at calving, at weaning (63 days), at the beginning and at end of the reproductive period, and at 9 months for the calves. Pregnancy rates were similar (P > 0.05) between weight groups. The calves did not differ (P > 0.05) in terms of body weight and weight gain from calving until pregnancy diagnosis (210 days). The heavy cows had greater weight variations from 210 days to 270 days than the light cows. The calf production rate (kg calf/cow kept in herds) did not differ between weight groups. However, in relation to the weight of the cows at 210 days, light cows were 11.28% and 13.02% more productive (P < 0.05), than moderate and heavy cows, respectively. Light cows were more efficient than the other classes of cows at calving and at 210 days old. Our simulations showed that there were more kilograms for sale in herds of light cows (53.085 kg) than moderate and heavy cows (52.310 and 52.870 kg, respectively), while maintaining the structures of the herd constant. The size of the Charolais cow did not influence the weight of calves from calving until 7 months of age or their reproductive performance provided they were weaned early. The need for space for the maintenance of the cow-calf pair increased as the weight of the cows increased. In herds with smaller cows, higher numbers and a higher production of weight for sale are observed than in herds with moderate and heavy cows. Light cows were the most efficient at calving and during pregnancy diagnosis at 210 days.

Download Full-text

PSIV-3 Cow Efficiency: Modeling the Biological and Economic Output of a Michigan Beef Herd

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa278.516 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. 286-287

Author(s):

Logan R Thompson ◽

Matt Beck ◽

Dan Buskirk ◽

Jason E Rowntree ◽

Melissa McKendree

Keyword(s):

Net Present Value ◽

Biological Efficiency ◽

Baseline Scenario ◽

Economic Returns ◽

Present Value ◽

Economic Output ◽

Net Returns ◽

Tier System ◽

Cow Calf ◽

Lake City

Abstract The experiment objective was to examine the biological efficiency and economic returns of a Northern Michigan cow-calf system. We hypothesized that biological efficiency and economic returns would decrease with increasing cow body size. Data was collected from a Red Angus cow herd located at the Lake City AgBio Research Center in Lake City, MI from 2011 to 2018. Data included cow age, weight, and body condition score at weaning, and subsequent 205 d adjusted calf weaning weight (WW), sex, and yearling weight. Biological efficiency was defined as WW as a percentage of cow body weight (DBW). Enterprise budgeting techniques were used to calculate expected net returns from 2011 to 2018 after classifying cows into 11 BW tiers at 22.67 kg intervals beginning at 430.83 kg. Forward looking net present value was calculated using the same tier system, for a 10-year production cycle with the baseline being a 200 d grazing season. For each 1% increase in DBW, WW increased 0.37kg (P < 0.01), but percentage of DBW weaned declined 0.38% over that same range (P < 0.01). This led to cows weaning 26.38 kg/ha more with every 100 kg drop in DBW. Expected net returns from 2011–2018 did not differ by DBW tier on a per cow basis but did on a per ha basis with a decrease in $10.27/ha with each increase in DBW tier (P < 0.01). Net present value was maximized in the baseline scenario at 453.51 kg DBW and decreased in value as DBW increased. These results suggest that for a Northern Midwestern cow-calf herd, comparatively lighter cows combined with longer grazing seasons provide a higher economic value on a land basis.

Download Full-text

PSXI-22 Intensification of cow-calf production: How does the system respond biologically to energy inputs in a long-term horizon?

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz258.761 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 382-383

Author(s):

Julio O Barcellos ◽

Fredy Gonzales ◽

Amir G Sessim ◽

Julia A Lima

Keyword(s):

Southern Oscillation ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Energy Utilization ◽

Biological Efficiency ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

Forage Production ◽

Beef Cow ◽

Enso Events ◽

Cow Calf

Abstract In southern Brazil, beef cattle production systems generally rely on grazing on natural pastures. However, their forage production, and consequently metabolizable energy (ME) production, is seasonal and influenced by climatic events. Thus, there is a scientific and commercial interest in evaluating and understanding the biological impacts of intensification using pasture irrigation and the effects of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomena on the long term on the productivity of cow-calf systems. Therefore, our objective was to develop a simulation model to evaluate the effects of intensification levels, using cultivated pastures and irrigation, on the productivity and on the efficiency metabolizable energy utilization of beef cow-calf systems in a 10-year horizon. This period allows capturing the effects of several production cycles as influenced by ENSO events. The model includes three submodels: herd structure, herd ME requirements, and forage ME production. The results of the present study demonstrate that the proposed model is able to evaluate the influence of intensification of grazing systems on metabolizable energy production, carrying capacity, productivity and biological efficiency of beef cow-calf systems over a long-term horizon. Productivity was increased in 66.2% when 20% of the grazing area was intensified and irrigated compared with the modeled non-intensified system, independently of climatic events. The main productive response was the increase in the number of dams in the herd, especially as a result of the use of irrigation. This study proposes different alternatives for increasing the productivity of beef cow-calf systems in southern Brazil.

Download Full-text

186 The effect of breeding program on cow maintenance requirement and efficiency of calf growth

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz053.144 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 64-64

Author(s):

Claire Andresen ◽

Aksel Wiseman ◽

Adam McGee ◽

David Lalman

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Energy Requirement ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Biological Efficiency ◽

Maintenance Energy ◽

Adaptation Period ◽

Frame Size ◽

Calf Growth ◽

Cow Calf ◽

Maintenance Energy Requirement

Abstract With genetic tools available today, it is possible to select for traits within breed to achieve similar production phenotypes. Our hypothesis was that biological efficiency of preweaning calf growth would be improved with crossbreeding when dams were selected for similar mature frame size, weight, growth, and milk production. The objective of this study was to determine maintenance energy requirements and efficiency of calf growth through weaning for Angus and Hereford x Angus crossbred cows selected for similar mature BW, growth, and milk production potential. Fifty-nine Angus (n = 32) and Hereford x Angus (n = 27) cow/ calf pairs were assigned to four pen replicates per breed. Cows and calves were limit-fed for a 21-d adaptation period followed by an 84-d experimental period to achieve BW and BCS stasis. Calves did not have access to cow’s feed and daily calf feed allotment was adjusted biweekly to provide 1.25% of previous week’s mean BW. There were no differences due to breed in cow hip height, BW, milk yield (P > 0.31),or cow maintenance energy requirement (P = 0.54). Milk from Hereford-sired cows was slightly more concentrated in energy (P = 0.05) and Hereford-sired cows had greater BCS and ultrasound rib fat and rump fat (P < 0.05) throughout the experiment. Calves from Angus dams were heavier (P 0.01) at the initiation of the experiment, although there were no differences in ADG, final BW, or adjusted weaning BW (P ≥ 0.24). Efficiency of calf growth was not different when expressed as calf BW gain to calf feed and milk energy consumed or as cow/calf pair feed intake or energy intake per unit of calf BW gain (P ≥ 0.31). While the crossbreeding system did not improve biological efficiency of calf growth, more research is necessary to determine if increased cow BCS is advantageous

Download Full-text

Developing breeding objectives for beef cattle production 2. Biological and economic values of growth and carcass traits in Japan

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s135772980000919x ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 66 (3) ◽

pp. 623-633 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

H. Hirooka ◽

A. F. Groen ◽

J. Hillers

Keyword(s):

Live Weight ◽

Food Prices ◽

Weight Basis ◽

Biological Efficiency ◽

Economic Values ◽

Weaning Weight ◽

Slaughter Weight ◽

Mature Weight ◽

Cow Calf ◽

Daily Gain

AbstractA deterministic bio-economic model simulating beef production during the life cycle of a cow and her offspring was used to estimate biological and economic values of daily gain, marbling score, birth weight, weaning weight and mature weight for three production systems (cow-calf, feedlot and integrated) and alternative production circumstances in Japan. Biological efficiency (live-weight basis and lean-weight basis) and economic efficiency (returns over costs) were regarded as breeding objectives. Alternatives included reducing the maximum number of reproductive cycles, marketing by constant slaughter weight (BASE), constant age or constant carcass fat content, lighter slaughter weight and doubling food prices. Biological efficiency on a live-weight basis for the cow-calf system was most influenced by increasing weaning weight; for the feedlot and integrated system, increasing daily gain had the largest influence. For biological efficiency of lean production, increasing daily gain and mature weight had the largest influence in the feedlot and integrated systems, respectively. For economic efficiency, increasing weaning weight was most beneficial in the cow-calf system and increasing marbling score was most beneficial in the feedlot and integrated systems. Economic values of daily gain and weaning weight decreased markedly with increasing genetic levels of these traits. Marketing by age decreased the biological values of daily gain but increased the economic value of daily gain. Marketing at a constant carcass fat content decreased biological values of mature weight but increased the economic value of mature weight. Decreasing slaughter weight provided negative economic values of daily gain and weaning weight. Economic values were reduced when food prices were doubled.

Download Full-text

Herbage mass and allowance and animal genotype affect daily herbage intake, productivity, and efficiency of beef cows grazing native subtropical grassland

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab279 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Martin Do Carmo ◽

Teresa C M Genro ◽

Andrés F Cibils ◽

Pablo M Soca

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Environmental Impact ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Beef Cows ◽

Biological Efficiency ◽

Intake Rate ◽

Crossbred Cows ◽

Herbage Intake ◽

Native Grassland ◽

Cow Calf

Abstract The beef sector in Campos grasslands must increase animal productivity without external inputs while reducing environmental impact. The objective of this study was to estimate herbage intake [g/metabolic body weight (MBW)/d] of straightbred (Hereford/Angus) and crossbred (F1 of Hereford x Angus) beef cows grazing subtropical native grassland with High and Low herbage allowance (HA, 5 vs 3 kg DM/kg BW) during gestation and lactation and its relationship with biological efficiency of cow-calf productivity. Herbage intake (estimated via n-alkanes C32:C33 ratio) was measured during early (Ge1, -163 d prior calving) and mid to late [Gm1 (-83) and Gm2, (-90 d prior calving)] gestation and lactation (L0, L1 and L2, 60, 47 and 31d following calving) periods in 24-36 cows, selected to create 8 groups (4 per block) of HA x cow genotype treatment. Cows grazed native grassland year-round, under High and Low HA (except in winter). We analyzed the effect of cow genotype (straightbred vs. crossbred cows) and HA (High vs. Low) on herbage mass and height, daily herbage intake rate (DMI), cow body condition score (BCS), calf average daily gain (ADG) and body weight at weaning (BWW) and g of calf weaned/kg DMI. High allowance improved DMI during lactation periods (High 115.6 vs Low 94.1±5.3 P<0.05 g/MBW/d). Crossbred cows decreased DMI during gestation (crossbred 81 vs. straightbred 94±4.3 P=0.05 g/MBW/d) compared to straightbred cows. Crossbred and High HA improved biological efficiency, 40.0 vs. 26.2 and 36.0 vs. 29.7 g of calf/kg DMI respectively. High allowance increased herbage mass and sites with greater canopy height which allow greater DMI, positively associated with cow BCS at weaning, calf ADG, BWW, and g of calf/kg DMI. Crossbred cows reduced DMI during gestation showing no greater annual DMI. Animal productivity and biological efficiency can be improved using High HA and crossbred cows, which should decrease the environmental impact of cow-calf systems.

Download Full-text

Cow efficiency: modeling the biological and economic output of a Michigan beef herd

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txaa166 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Logan R Thompson ◽

Matthew R Beck ◽

Daniel D Buskirk ◽

Jason E Rowntree ◽

Melissa G S McKendree

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Body Size ◽

Net Present Value ◽

Biological Efficiency ◽

Economic Returns ◽

Present Value ◽

Weaning Weight ◽

Net Returns ◽

Cow Calf ◽

Lake City

Abstract In recent decades, beef cattle producers have selected cattle for biological traits (i.e., improved growth) to maximize revenue, leading to an increase in average cow body size. However, matching cow size to the production environment would allow producers to maximize productivity and economic returns per unit of land. This may help meet the goals of sustainable intensification, but environmental complexity and varying cow-calf production systems dictates a regional approach. The objective of this experiment was to examine the biological efficiency and economic returns of a Northern Michigan cow-calf system. We hypothesized that biological efficiency and economic returns would decrease with increasing cow body size. Data were collected from a Red Angus cow herd located at the Lake City AgBio Research Center in Lake City, MI from 2011 to 2018 on cow age, weight, and body condition score at weaning, and subsequent 205 d adjusted calf weaning weight (WW), sex, and yearling weight. Biological efficiency was defined as WW as a percentage of cow body weight (DBW). Enterprise budgeting techniques were used to calculate expected net returns from 2011 to 2018 after classifying cows into 11 BW tiers at 22.67 kg intervals beginning at 430.83 kg. Forward-looking net present value (NPV) was calculated using the same tier system, for a 10-yr production cycle with the baseline being a 200 d grazing season. Weaning weight increased with increasing DBW (P < 0.01), but the percentage of cow body weight weaned was reduced by −38.58 × Ln(DBW) (P < 0.01). This led to cows weaning 26.38 kg/ha more with every 100 kg drop in DBW. Expected net returns from 2011 to 2018 did not differ by DBW tier on a per cow basis but did on a per ha basis with a decrease in $10.27/ha with each increase in DBW tier (P < 0.01). Net present value was maximized in the baseline scenario at 453.51 kg DBW and decreased in value as DBW increased. These results suggest that for a Northern Midwestern cow-calf herd, comparatively lighter cows provide a higher economic value on a land basis.

Download Full-text