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Grasses, Pastures & Hay
Optimum time to harvest beef?
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<blockquote data-quote="SRBeef" data-source="post: 700311" data-attributes="member: 7509"><p>MN's reply in the grass fed post reminded me of a question.....when is the optimum/best time to harvest a steer or heifer? Not sure if this is the right forum for it but it does fit with the grass fed discussion.</p><p></p><p>Now I am not a "grass-fed" fanatic. I do sell freezer beef. After last years successful experiment grazing cattle in standing corn, my plan was to harvest a group or a couple groups after grazing the standing, unharvested corn. This seems to produce a corn-fed taste without the hassles of feeding the grain. I think it is important to also have good hay and mineral available to them while grazing the corn so it is a modified system. Not pure grass, not pure grain. It seems to work.</p><p></p><p>My plan for this fall was to start harvesting groups after they have at least 30 days or so grazing corn. </p><p></p><p>I weigh my small herd every couple weeks, usually as they pass through the corral for a treat or between rotating pastures. They have sort of gotten used to this crazy guy stopping them briefly in the alley as they make their way to new grass or a treat.</p><p></p><p>One yearling BWF steer in particular, off of one of my 1200 lb cows, seemed to hit 1175 lb and then stopped gaining, even though he was on very good clover mix pastures. This is on grazing only about a month ago. I posted some pictures and the consensus was he was ready. There was a bit of smooth fat around the tail head which I've been told is a sign they are ready</p><p></p><p>This one is for my family rather than sale and we are running low in our freezer for fall. I thought I would modify the plan and see what I have here. Took him in for processing about a month ago, they hung the carcass for 2 weeks and I picked up the beef. Even the processor mentioned how good the beef looked as he cut and packaged it. Seems marbled reasonably well. It tastes excellent! It even "smells good"!</p><p></p><p>So back to my question: when is the optimum time to harvest beef? This steer was 16 months old at processing. He wintered on cornstalks/hay last year but no grain at all since early March.</p><p></p><p>If I had held him longer to finish on grazing corn would quality likely be better, worse, same? </p><p></p><p>As a beginner, I'm trying to judge how much "elasticity" there is in harvest time. How long a time period do you have if the goal is the top quality beef? Should I just keep track of weights and process them as they stop gaining? Not meaning to get into a grass/corn discussion, just want to learn about the best time to harvest beef.</p><p></p><p>Are heifers different or similar to steers? Is there much difference between animals or breeds? This one is a BWF but out of one of my earlier maturing 1200 lb Hereford cows. He seems to be ready ahead of some of the other pure Herefords but I sense that is a function of his dam and her size/genetics.</p><p></p><p>I appreciate any responses/experience.</p><p></p><p>Jim</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SRBeef, post: 700311, member: 7509"] MN's reply in the grass fed post reminded me of a question.....when is the optimum/best time to harvest a steer or heifer? Not sure if this is the right forum for it but it does fit with the grass fed discussion. Now I am not a "grass-fed" fanatic. I do sell freezer beef. After last years successful experiment grazing cattle in standing corn, my plan was to harvest a group or a couple groups after grazing the standing, unharvested corn. This seems to produce a corn-fed taste without the hassles of feeding the grain. I think it is important to also have good hay and mineral available to them while grazing the corn so it is a modified system. Not pure grass, not pure grain. It seems to work. My plan for this fall was to start harvesting groups after they have at least 30 days or so grazing corn. I weigh my small herd every couple weeks, usually as they pass through the corral for a treat or between rotating pastures. They have sort of gotten used to this crazy guy stopping them briefly in the alley as they make their way to new grass or a treat. One yearling BWF steer in particular, off of one of my 1200 lb cows, seemed to hit 1175 lb and then stopped gaining, even though he was on very good clover mix pastures. This is on grazing only about a month ago. I posted some pictures and the consensus was he was ready. There was a bit of smooth fat around the tail head which I've been told is a sign they are ready This one is for my family rather than sale and we are running low in our freezer for fall. I thought I would modify the plan and see what I have here. Took him in for processing about a month ago, they hung the carcass for 2 weeks and I picked up the beef. Even the processor mentioned how good the beef looked as he cut and packaged it. Seems marbled reasonably well. It tastes excellent! It even "smells good"! So back to my question: when is the optimum time to harvest beef? This steer was 16 months old at processing. He wintered on cornstalks/hay last year but no grain at all since early March. If I had held him longer to finish on grazing corn would quality likely be better, worse, same? As a beginner, I'm trying to judge how much "elasticity" there is in harvest time. How long a time period do you have if the goal is the top quality beef? Should I just keep track of weights and process them as they stop gaining? Not meaning to get into a grass/corn discussion, just want to learn about the best time to harvest beef. Are heifers different or similar to steers? Is there much difference between animals or breeds? This one is a BWF but out of one of my earlier maturing 1200 lb Hereford cows. He seems to be ready ahead of some of the other pure Herefords but I sense that is a function of his dam and her size/genetics. I appreciate any responses/experience. Jim [/QUOTE]
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