grass fed beef (heifers)

[kenny thomas]

I know there are several people who grass feed beef for the freezer. My question is how do heifers do compared to steers. Gain, grade, and is the taste the same? Any ideas will be appreciated.

[mnmtranching]

Heifers and steers will feed the same. Heifers may fatten a bit earlier. Heifers will cycle so you won't want a bull across the fence.

[dun]

There was a report a while back that I posted that claimed heifers weren;t as tender eating as steers when finished the same.
Paragraph 2 of the alink:
http://www.hpj.com/archives/2007/aug07/ ... affect.cfm

[brandonm_13]

If I were doing this for myself, I would probably favor heifers since they finish sooner and at a smaller size (smaller size is better for my freezer space).

Heifers may not be as tender as steers(although I wonder how it would turn out if they were "spade" or whatever you call it in female cows), but I think the big problem is how it's cooked. Too many people pay for premium steaks, but ruin it in the cooking process.

[dun]

If I were doing this for myself, I would probably favor heifers since they finish sooner and at a smaller size (smaller size is better for my freezer space).

Heifers may not be as tender as steers(although I wonder how it would turn out if they were "spade" or whatever you call it in female cows), but I think the big problem is how it's cooked. Too many people pay for premium steaks, but ruin it in the cooking process.

On estudy claims spaying doesn;t have any affect on tenderness.

[Stocker Steve]

We have butchered several steers and a number of 16 month old short English heifers off grass. The heifers had more marbling.
We butchered one 27 month old non breeder heifer off grass last year. She was great! We got several positive comments on great flavor this summer (compared to previous 16 month old heifers) ...

Based on this - - I am tempted to butcher fall calving heiferettes:
-Calve them in August/September.
-Early wean any that don't make the cut before the weather gets really nasty and they start to lose condition.
-Butcher them off pasture the following summer...

What do you think?

[brandonm_13]

You would probably get more money from culling by butchering than buy culling and selling to the local salebarns.

Dun- What is the reasoning behind spading, unless it is so you can run them with a bull without accidental breedings?

[mnmtranching]

I had a non breeder Char heifer a few years back. She was about 2 years old off good grass. MAN! was that good beef. BIG, fat and tender. Butcher didn't believe she never had grain. I think grass fed is fine as long as the critter isn't slaughtered to early.

[dun]

Dun- What is the reasoning behind spading, unless it is so you can run them with a bull without accidental breedings?

It keeps them from cycling while in the feedlot. They gain better because they aren;t riding/being ridden and they can be fed out with steers so the steers gain better because of the prevention of riding.

[Stocker Steve]

I had a non breeder Char heifer a few years back. She was about 2 years old off good grass. MAN! was that good beef. BIG, fat and tender. Butcher didn't believe she never had grain. I think grass fed is fine as long as the critter isn't slaughtered to early.

Seems to be some flavor gained with a 2 to 2.5 year old butcher animal.
Also seems that when you buy in heifers there are half of them below average as momma cows... So getting revenge at the locker plant may be a good approach.

[brandonm_13]

Well, you know young wildlife, deer, suirrels, etc. has less gamey taste when it's young, so I would suspect you cows have less "beefy" taste to them. I know in other countries, they want older beef for the flavor. I think they prefer and pay a premium for 3 year-old beef.

[cowman30]

Took four culls to the slaughter house back in december (all heifers) they averaged about 900 pounds. People who purchased the meat say it is the best they have ever eaten.

[cfpinz]

... So getting revenge at the locker plant may be a good approach.

I've got one heifer in the whack pen now. She's off of our best cow but the little huzzie picked up an attitude problem. All of her sisters have great temperment but I bred her dam to a son of Yield Grade one year and this happened. He turned out to be a sob, too.

[Stocker Steve]

I ran some numbers last night that looked too good so I am having a buddy run them through his spreadsheet:

buy bred August/Sept calving heifers now
run on grass 1st summer
sell calf early before heifer gets pulled down, sort and re sort
winter once of hay
butcher culls for freezer beef off grass the second summer

[mnmtranching]

At Wed sale. Seven black bred cows sold. Middle age preged to calve in June. Thin but still 1200 pounds plus. Sold at .42 per pound. Wish I had room, somebody will make a $.