plumber_greg":1l99tsda said:
Got a check from the feedyard today. They are selling my calves and this is only the third year I have owned them all the way. Made some changes, with their advice, so now I'm ready to fine tune this thing. Sent them when they averaged exactly 600lbs. and they have been there 191 days. The 20 they sold weighed 1265 live wt. and dressed at 826. Had one y1(4.00 premium), 8 y2(2.00 premium), 6 select( 2.50 cwt. discount), and one y4(15.00 discount). Don't know about the rest, gonna' get cutouts later. Ended up with $135.28 ctw. for the carcass weight. It looks like 38 head will pay the feed bill on the pen of 98. I'm am pretty stupid on this, so be easy. ha ha. Tell me what you think, and any advice anyone has on culling would be nice. By the way, these are Angus, Simmi, and some South Devon crosses. I really am clueless on how to proceed next. Thanks gs
I am glad to see people that are retaining ownership of the cattle all the way to the rail--as this is the only way to see the evil of our ways... After you know what your favorite breed will Grade on the rail, you will have a better idea of what not to do and how to improve on what you are doing.
1. I dont like the selling them at 600 lbs and straight to the feedyard-- to me that is costing you too much money.
2. Why not keep them until the 800 lb mark then retain ownership of your calves. This will cut feeding time in half.
3. Since I dont know about the south devon I will not be commenting on them.
4. Problem with Angus is they have a great tendency to cost you money in the feedyard because they usually end up discounted on YG
5. Problem with Simmental is the frame and their propensity for higher lean. I would hope these are from PB bulls and not FB bulls.
So many people just raise whatever they like and dont care about the end product and I appreciate someone that wants to understand the full deal > all the way to the rail.
What I would do for building a cow herd for retaining owndership for my feeders is to concentrate my efforts on a few simple ideas. Angus have always produced low lean or YG 3+ calves and the reason there are premiums associated with Angus steers many times is one reason--- they are predictable-- and it is NOT that they are high in the YG category. Think about that.
Do I think a base Angus cow herd is a good thing ---YES. What I would do to produce the kind of calves we want is to maintain a moderate sized cow herd (frame score 5.5 to 6 max) and to use Purebred Simmental bulls. Most good simangus cattle are grading 70% choice YG2< this makes money.
PB Simmi bulls -- what to look for.....
Moderate frame scores -- 6 max
WDA 2.47 minimum (weight per day of age) at weaning.
WW Epd's in the 40+ category
YW Epd's in the 70+ category
Marbling around .33
BF of -0.01
REA above 0.20
CWT above 7.0
Shear -0.20 or better
bulls like this are few, but they are out there if you look.
These kind of Bulls are great on Angus cows because they help bring the YG down without greatly affecting the Quality Grade. There is no reason a simangus calf cannot grade YG 2 Medium Choice every time. The best way to predict what your calves will do is to keep up with your data -- if you can show the numbers--- you can demand premiums for your calves-- and they will pay them because you have done the work and your calves are now----- predictable.
I have over 10 years of data on every cross calf known to man I have sent thru the feedyard or fed. What works best. I know a guy that buys 17 % of the cattle being fed in the US-- he wants simangus--- because they are more and more and more becoming
PREDICTABLE BUT WITH CHOICE YG2 STAMPED ON THEIR CARCASSES.
LET ME SHARE THIS: these are the facts....................... One very important thing to remember is that the genetis for carcass value comes from the Sire's side more so than the Dam (pretty broad statement, but ok for these purposes)
Very high lean, low marbling, low milk, late puberty
These sires are pushing you into the Select category YG 1, but framey, which will take longer to finish I refuse to buy any of these crosses on the frame issues and Select grades they will spit out time and time again.
Charolais -- very high growth
Chianina -- very high growth
Limousin -- moderate growth
High lean, moderate marbling, high milk, moderate puberty
These sires are pushing you toward the Choice category YG2 Full Bloods will also be framey and take longer to finish in Simmental --- Use purebred Bulls. Seen some framey maines too
Simmental -- very high growth
Maine Anjou -- very high growth
Gelbvieh -- very high growth
Brown Swiss -- high growth
Moderate lean, moderate marbling, high milk, early puberty
No data on these guys
South Devon -- moderate growth
Tarentaise -- moderate growth
Pinzgauer -- moderate growth
Moderate lean, low marbling, low milk, very late puberty, heat tolerant
Ok for Africa, add Nelore to this category. I used to feed Santa Gertrudis-- good gains but they got me on Quality grades.
Brahman -- high growth
Sahiwal -- low growth
Low lean, high marbling, moderate milk, moderate puberty
These sires are pushing you toward high choice but with a discount for YG's 3-4 and slower growth on a few of these breeds. Has no time for low growth cattle.
Angus -- moderate growth
Hereford -- moderate growth
Red Poll -- low growth
Devon -- low growth
Very high milk, high marbling, early puberty
Actually a great piece of beef is the Jersey Angus cross, if you have the time to wait for them to grow-- I dont
Holstein -- moderate lean, high growth
Jersey -- low lean, low growth
