A two-year study by Oklahoma State University researchers implied that extruded Dried Distillers Grains cube supplementation during grazing did not affect subsequent feedlot performance negatively and tended to result in higher carcass quality grade.
A paper by OSU Animal and Food Scientist Paul Beck said, “with fewer days on feed in the feedlot positively related to profitability, supplementing extruded DDG cubes may be a beneficial management strategy when implemented during the grazing season to maximize total system profitability. The relatively short period of compensatory gain for Fertilized Control pasture steers at the beginning of the finishing phase in both years did not elicit overall improved performance in the feedlot.”
SUPPLEMENTATION IN QUESTION
Stocker supplementation programs on pasture to improve animal performance and overall productivity and profitability of stocker programs is a common management practice, Beck said. Nevertheless, it is generally perceived that increased weight gains during the stocker/backgrounder phase are related negatively to performance and efficiency during finishing and therefore can reduce feeder calf sales prices.
In the study, crossbred steers grazed tall fescue/bermudagrass pastures without supplementation on fertilized pastures; supplemented with 2.5 pounds a day of a distiller’s grains cube on fertilized pastures, or were supplemented with 0.75% of body weight per day of supplemental distiller’s grains cubes on unfertilized pastures.
Supplemented steers gained more rapidly and were heavier at the end of the grazing season than non-supplemented steers, Beck said. It was determined that extruded distiller’s grains cubes were a suitable pasture supplement for steers, and higher supplementation rates could replace nitrogen fertilization effectively.
Steers were followed through the finishing phase in a commercial feed yard to evaluate carryover effects on performance, he said. Bodyweights at slaughter were based on carcass adjusted bodyweight and was calculated based on a hot carcass weight pen average dressing percentage.
RESULTS
Supplementation increased initial feedlot bodyweight, Beck said. Although control steers gained faster before re-implanting in both years, control steers only compensated for 40% of the difference in initial bodyweight from high supplement rate steers and had no compensatory gain compared with steers fed the low rate of supplement on fertilized pastures.
Steers fed the low rate of supplement on fertilized pastures compensated for 150% of the difference in initial finishing bodyweight from steers fed the high supplement rate on unfertilized pastures, he said.
Performance from re-implant to the end of finishing were similar for all treatments, Beck said. Steer harvest weight did not differ, but non-supplemented controls required more days on feed and more total feed than steers supplemented on pasture.
Overall, steers supplemented on pasture consumed less feed and had lower feed costs, he said. Total system net returns were greater for steers supplemented on pasture than controls.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $170.09 per cwt to $170.94, compared with last week’s range of $165.82 to $173.08 per cwt. FOB dressed steers, and heifers went for $269.36 per cwt to $269.44, compared with $268.50 to $27.
The USDA choice cutout Monday was down $2.71 per cwt at $288.93 while select was up $2.90 at $263.72. The choice/select spread narrowed to $25.21 from $30.82 with 93 loads of fabricated product and nine loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were steady to up $0.03 at $1.28 to $1.38 a bushel over the Mar corn contract, which settled at $4.77 a bushel, down $0.06.
No delivery intentions were posted for Dec live cattle Monday.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Friday was $218.15 per cwt, down $0.92. This compares with Monday’s Jan contract settlement of $223.17, down $2.27.