new weaning time study

[preston39]

Posted from Angus E-list release;

"Early Weaning Could Improve Carcass Quality

Kansas State University (K-State) researchers have found that weaning calves earlier can improve carcass quality.

According to a university release, a research project designed to investigate the effects of early weaning on carcass characteristics of bulls and steers confirmed that early weaning measurably improves carcass quality of both bulls and steers.

Twig Marston, K-State beef specialist and one of the researchers, said the early-maturing cattle used in the study were weaned at 117 days, compared to the more common 220 days, and cattle were harvested at about 12 months of age. Of the steaks from young bulls and steers, the bull samples had a greater incidence of less tender meat; however, carcass cutability was better compared to steer calves. Young bulls also had a greater percentage of dark-cutting carcasses.

"Early-weaned bulls were expected to outperform early-weaned steers and have as good or better carcass quality," Marston stated in the release. "But that didn't happen. In addition, the eating quality characteristics were better for the early-weaned steers than early-weaned bulls or the cattle weaned at seven to eight months of age. We believe that greater differences between bulls and steers would occur if the cattle would have been slaughtered at older ages than those used in the trial."

For more information and a complete analysis of the research project, visit http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/SRP943.pdf."

 

[Bama]

According to studies done by BAMA's school of hard knocks early weaning badly effects BAMA's profit. I have several calves that I buy from the salebarn's that are weaned early. I get these fairly cheap and grow them into something better. I also have calves that come off of my own cows. They are weaned at near the 205 days. I always get a lot more for these than I do for the ones I bought at the salebarn.

 

[preston39]

According to studies done by BAMA's school of hard knocks early weaning badly effects BAMA's profit. I have several calves that I buy from the salebarn's that are weaned early. I get these fairly cheap and grow them into something better. I also have calves that come off of my own cows. They are weaned at near the 205 days. I always get a lot more for these than I do for the ones I bought at the salebarn.

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bama,
yours is probably a more reliable study. I don't undertand what is gained by that early weaning...thus why the study? Just to see how early weaning can be done? Doesn't make sense to me.

 

[brokenmouth]

i believe yall are right why on earth would anybody think pulling an animal off its momma would improve anything about the animal. then they act surprised that steers have more carcass quality than bulls. didnt need some college study for that. humans figured that out a few thousand years ago. but the carcass quality question about early vs late weaning is simple. which would you rather have in your freezer a calf weaned at less than 4 months or a calf weaned at 7 months. i know which i would rather eat.

 

[ga. prime]

That K-State study is just wacky. Why the heck did they expect the bull carcases to be better quality than the steers? Furthermore, if you wean a calf at 3 months, it seems to me you're gonna have to supplement feed him. How could that profit anyone when you could have left the calf on the cow for 3 or 4 more months on a total forage diet? K-State ignored the economics involved here. Maybe I'm wrong. Could be cheaper in K-State to feed grain than grass. For me it's not. [/img]

 

[Frankie]

I have to agree that seems to be an odd study. But other studies have shown that the earlier you start feeding a calf high quality feed, the more likely that he'll produce a marbled carcass.

We weaned our Angus calves at 90-120 days in '98 (or '99) because of the drought. I didn't make sense to us to feed the cows to produce milk for the calf. They were all having to be fed anyway. The 205-day weights on the calves were down, but their yearling weights were pretty much in line with their siblings from other years. So if the genetics for growth are there, I don't think it necessarily hurts the calf's performance. But in years where there's plenty of grass, I can't see early weaning as an economical option.

 

[denoginnizer]

With college studies, I think we to often assume that the goal of the study was to tell us something that would be more profitable. Many times the purpose of the study has nothing to do with profit and is just done to gain information for informations sake. College studies are often very important but we as producers must be cautious in how they may or may not apply to us in our situation.

 

[Farmhand]

Just read an article on this last night. A guy in Iowa has been doing this for 15 years now. His reasons were:
1. to get the calf work over so he could concentrate on getting crops in
2. to reduce use of grazed forages
3. to improve winter cow condition
4. to hit market price peak for finished cattle
He lists 2 disadvantages:
1. marketing lighter feeder calves = less money
2. have to feed them longer if retaining ownership

Seems he has limited forage and was having trouble keeping cow condition through the winter. Early weaning allowed him to cut back on purchased forage. Says dry cows utilize 73% of the forage utilized by a cow with calf. Also says calves that hit the feedlot earlier reach market weight sooner. Admits he gets less $ for the feeder calves he sells. Admits he is feeding longer the ones he keeps. Admits it takes longer to develop heifers he keeps. Says for him the advantages of less forage, better winter cow condition, and feedlot calves finishing sooner outways the disadvantages. His last statement was good ( I thought) He says you have to look and see if it works for you. He had made reference in the article that this may not work for everyone. I like hearing what others are doing when they can tell you without sounding like it's the only way to go.

 

[ga. prime]

dennoginnizer makes a very good point.

 

[Bama]

I don't put a lot of stock in those college studies. A few of them I do as they are tailored toward the beef industry. I know how things were when I was in college. I was in the electrical field but college kids are alike nomatter what field. Some of those studies are not accurate. Some of those doing the studies don't know a bulls butt from a hayrake. I agree we all could do things better as new and improved things come about, but the knowledge from the school of hard knocks that some oldtimer has been attending for years is hard to beat.

 

[ga. prime]

Agree 100% with you Bama on the value of experience. But the value of research, and the training of professionals, done by Universities in this country cannot be overstated. Sure , there's a lot of waste in the res
earch field, but that's inescapably necessary for progress.

P.S. Bama, I was in college too. U.Ga. class of '80, BSAE. One of the leading Ag. research Universities in the world. Took me 5 years to get a 4 year degree. I came away very impressed with the whole thing. Don't take this the wrong way Bama, I'm not trying to one-up ya, I enjoy all your posts. Keep 'em coming. I'd much rather have you as a farm consultant than a research scientist. You obviously have a wealth of real world experience.

 

[Bama]

Notice I said most of the universities I don't care for. Georgia does have a good research program. There are a couple of more around these parts as well. The best one I can think of is Texas A&M. The ones I was refering to are from a college that is not really well know for animal science. Some of these are done by students that have to take something as an elective. A study done by a group like that is not much of a referance in my book. I'll give you a example I am a Alabama fan and not really high on Auburn. Given a animal science study from Alabama or Auburn I would go with Auburn anytime. I wouldn't put much faith in Alabama's study.

I'd much rather have you as a farm consultant than a research scientist. You obviously have a wealth of real world experience.

Actually, I am better trained in another field. It don't have anything to do with something that eats grass though. There are a lot on this board that have forgotten more about cattle than I will ever know.
BAMA