July 2018 Articles

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Research Highlight: Beef Cattle Production

Research Highlight: Beef Cattle Production Effects of dam age on growth performance and carcass measurements of crossbred steers Source: U of A - Famous Yang, Fred Pohlman, Jeremy Powell, Karen Anschutz, Elizabeth Backes, John Richeson, James Hornsby, Jana Reynolds, and Bill Lindsey Past research has reported that the most productive cows in a cow herd are approximately 6 years old or older. A recent study reported that dam age affected pre-weaning performance of crossbred male calves, but had minimal effect on carcass traits when steers were fi nished to a common compositional endpoint over three years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dam age on Angus crossbred steer performance and carcass quality measurements over a four-year period. Calves born to cows in group Age 11+ had greater birth weight compared with the rest of the groups and Age 3 and Age 4-7 calves had the lowest birth weight. Calves from Age 7-10 had greater adjusted weaning weight than Age 4-6. Steer carcass measurements (hot carcass weight, ribeye area, yield grade, backfat thickness, percent kidney, pelvic and heart fat, and marbling) were not different regardless of cow age group. The percentage of steers grading choice, select, or prime did not differ between age groups. As previous research suggested, a possible reason for these measurements being similar between treatments is because steers were fed to a common endpoint degree of finish (1/2 inch backfat). • Dam age affected preweaning performance of crossbred male calves. • Carcass traits and measurements were not affected by dam age. }