Effects of Creep Feeding, Zeranol Implants and Breed Type on Beef Production: I. Calf and Cow Performance

Abstract

A 2-yr study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a high-energy creep feed, preweaning zeranol implants and breed type on calf and cow performance. Two hundred calves sired by Brahman and Romana Red bulls out of Angus and Angus x Brown Swiss reciprocal crossbred (F1) dams were stratified by breed type and sex to three creep treatments: no creep feed (NC); long-term creep (LC), creep-fed from 56 to 210 d of age (weaning); and short-term creep (SC), creep-fed from 146 to 210 d of age. Alternate calves within sex, breed type and creep treatment were implanted with 36 mg of zeranol at an average of 56 d and reimplanted 90 d later. The LC and SC calves had heavier (P less than .001) 210-d weights than NC calves (264 and 257 vs 231 kg, respectively), and the LC calves were heavier (P less than .001) at 146 d than NC calves. The LC calves had higher (P less than .001) ADG from 118 to 210 d of age and higher 146 and 210-d condition scores than did NC calves. Pregnancy rate was not affected (P greater than .46) by creep treatment of calf. Zeranol implants increased (P less than .01) 146- and 210-d weights (184 vs 175 kg and 259 vs 243 kg) and ADG during all periods to weaning. Brahman-sired calves had higher (P less than .005) 146- and 210-d weaning weights and frame scores than Romana Red-sired calves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Performance of Beef Cattle Creep Fed Concentrate or Creep Grazed on Warm‐Season Legumes

“…Supplementation with concentrate creep feeds (Prichard et al, 1989) or creep grazing of highquality forages (Ocumpaugh and Dusi, 1981;Corriher et al, 2007) often increases ADG due to increased energy and protein supply. Supplementation with concentrate creep feeds (Prichard et al, 1989) or creep grazing of highquality forages (Ocumpaugh and Dusi, 1981;Corriher et al, 2007) often increases ADG due to increased energy and protein supply.…”

Effects of pre-weaning concentrate feeding on calf performance, carcass and meat quality of autumn-born bull calves weaned at 90 or 150 days of age

“…Bartle et al (1984) reported a beneficial effect of such starter feed offered from the ninth week post partum when daily milk yield was 5 kg. However, in higher producing cows, the benefit from this starter feed was delayed to the fourth month (Prichard et al, 1989). Indeed, in the same breed as the one used in the current experiment, Casasú s et al (2001a) also reported different weight gains from the third month between calves offered concentrates or not during nursing, which was due, as in the current study, to the fact that concentrate intake of calves was minor during the first 2 months, but it increased steadily from the third month onwards.…”

“…Martin et al, 1981;Prichard et al, 1989;Myers et al, 1999). In this sense, this practice is more efficient than providing extra feed to the dam for increased milk yield (Parkins et al, 1977;Casasú s et al, 2001b).…”

Effect of early weaning on performance, carcass and meat quality of spring-born bull calves raised in dry mountain areas

“…From birth to day 90, no difference was observed in calf growth despite the supplementation received by EW calves (Table 1), probably due to the low concentrate intake of such young calves (0.3 kg DM/day). Prichard et al (1989) had already reported that calves receive very little benefit from supplementation before 90 days of age in breeds with a sufficient milk yield potential, which is the case of Parda de Montaña cows (Sanz et al, 2003).…”