“Genetics for Growth”
by Chris Reinhardt, feedlot specialist
If you’ve decided to wean your calves and feed them at home, at least through the growing phase, and you’ve gotten the calves successfully through the stressful weaning and transition phase, you’re well on your way to success. However, you’ve still got one big decision in front of you: How much should they gain?
If you haven’t retained your calves for a few years (or decades), here’s a shocker: Genetics Have Changed! And cattle genetics haven’t changed coincidentally, they’ve changed because WE have changed them. We’ve selected for heavier weaning weights, which (usually) means we get higher gaining calves and heavier yearling and carcass weights. Dr. Justin Waggoner’s research at Kansas State University suggests that finished weights of cattle have increased by over 100 lbs over the past 20 years. This agrees with data from other sources suggesting increases in weaning weights of calves and mature weights of brood cows over the same time period.
If you have the genetics for heavy weaning weights and large mature size, you may also have the genetics for accelerated growth post-weaning. If you have large, muscular cows and calves, the calves can probably handle a greater rate of gain post-weaning without depositing excess flesh. The lean growth potential of your calf crop is something that may take several seasons to fully capture. However, whereas in 1990 we would have suggested that 2.0 lbs per day was the upper limit to growth rate for calves to develop frame and muscle without depositing excess fat, there are many herds which can sustain a much higher growth rate (2.5 to 2.9 lbs per day) and still not deposit excessive flesh. This higher growth rate, depending on genetics and feed costs, may be a much more economically rewarding program.
Buyers still do not want to buy overly fleshy feeders and will discount them heavily. Always start your calves slowly and conservatively. But if you’ve invested in superior genetics for lean growth, you should be able to benefit from those genetics and enhance your bottom line.
