3/20/2015
Dairy Beef Shortcourse
March 24, 2015
Specialized
Management
of Dairy Beef
Rob Zelinsky
Tyler Melroe
Kelly Hummel
Dairy Bull Calf Program
Rob Zelinsky
STARTING DAIRY BULL CALVES
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3/20/2015
CREATING A HEALTHYCALF?
GENI:
Genetics
Environment
Nutrition
Immune
Response
DCHA STANDARDS
Growth Rate
–
Target growth rate standards for Holstein calves are:
• 24 hours to 60 days of age: Double birth weight
• 61 to 120 days of age: 2.2 lbs. average daily gain
• 121 to 180 days of age: 2.8 lbs. average daily gain
FATE OF POOR CALF STARTER PROGRAMS Disease
Weight
Loss
Post-weaning
Slump
ADG/FE
Increased Labor $
Longevity/Death
Compromise
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3/20/2015
FEEDING THE RUMEN
Goal
of Starter Feed
Growth
Develop the Rumen
Maximize Papilli (1/8”) at 4 weeks
No Hay
until
Weaning
Maximize
WATER
Essential
for LIFE!
Provides
no nutrients!
Necessary
Clean,
in Homeostasis
fresh ad lib
Temperature
How critical is warm water?
A
South Dakota State study showed that calves
reduced rumen content temperature by an
average of:
 20°
F when they drank 46° water
 5°
when they drank 63° water
 2°
to 3° when they drank water 80° to 99° water
(Dracy and Kurtenbach, 1968),
4
lbs. of water to digest 1 lb. of DM
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3/20/2015
MR for GROWTH PERFORMANCE
Conventional
feeding program
to 22:20 fed at 1.25 lbs/day
Accelerated feeding program
28:16-20 fed at 2.0 to 2.5 lbs/day
Pasteurized waste milk
Balancing solid levels at 13%
20:20
Conventional Program
 Foundation
Beginner
Program- 4th day and Calf
 Based
on 16 research trials
to double birth weight
 At day 56: 1.43 ADG
 Economical feeding
 Encourages calf starter intake
 116 lbs of starter per calf
 Smoother transition to weaning
 Potential
Whole Milk Feeding
Pasteurized
 Gaining
 Add
Waste Milk
Popularity in Larger Dairies
value to waste product
 Increased
plain nutrition
 Inconsistent
solids levels
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3/20/2015
Starter to Capture Growth
 Complete
Pellet Starter
 Research
shows not as good intakes or growth,
but cheaper than texturized feeds.
 Standard
Texturized Starter
 Many
options on the market. Big differences is
usually CP and molasses levels.
 Elite
18 Starter
 Has
a fiber component and physical
appearance different from anything on the
market today.
SPECS FOR A STARTER
FORM
FLAVOR
FIBER
CALF STARTER TRIAL
Can
you feed more of the same
milk replacer and get the same
growth?

Treatments:
 20:20
Low: 20:20 milk replacer fed at 1.25 lbs/d
 20:20
High: 20:20 milk replacer fed at 1.56 lbs/d
 24:20
Low: 24:20 milk replacer fed at 1.25 lbs/d
 24:20
High: 24:20 milk replacer fed at 1.56 lbs/d
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3/20/2015
Body Weight Gain, lbs
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
80.03
79.16
49.16
51.37
47.62
47.40
20:20 low
20:20 high
day 42
83.11
77.16
24:20 low
24:20 high
day 56
Total Dry Matter Intake, lbs.
149.38
150.62
145.80
144.45
104.94
101.24
95.06
90.12
54.63
54.63
45.37
45.37
20:20 LOW
20:20 HIGH
Milk
24:20 LOW
Starter
24:20 HIGH
DMI
GOALS for DAIRY BEEF STARTERS
 Develop
a feeding program that:
 Enhances
growth by maximizing calf
starter intake.
 Maintains
 Avoid
DMI thru Weaning
post-weaning slump seen in Accelerated
 Economically
accelerates growth by
moderating MR intake
 Lower
cost of milk replacer
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3/20/2015
Feeding Dairy Beef Steers
Tyler Melroe
Energy Requirements
 Net
Energy, Maintenance
Function of Body Weight
 Dairy > Continental > British > Bos Indicus
 Environment (temp, activity, hide cond.)
 Previous plane of nutrition

 How
can we affect this?
Alter body weight and composition
 Some evidence that implants reduce
maintenance requirement of Holstein steers

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3/20/2015
Maintenance Req
@ same weight
Energy Requirements
Energy Intake
Maintenance Requirement,
Mcal NEm
Energy Requirements
Dairy
Angus
Holstein
NEgain
ANGUS NEgain
Energy Intake, Mcal
Not to scale – for illustration
Feed to Gain
10
Feed:Gain
8
6
Beef
4
Holstein
2
0
300
500
700
900
Body Weight
Presented by Loy – Benchmark Closeout data, summarized by Rust (2005)
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3/20/2015
Grow - Finish
 “Plains
Systems” – Common diet started at
light weight
 Two-Phase Feeding Program – Grow to
700#, then increase energy
 Self Fed – Corn/pellet mix offered free
choice.

F.C. low quality roughage
How about Dairy Beef?
 Must
increase energy intake to accommodate
higher maintenance requirement (8-20%)
 Reaching a given fat end point prior to
achieving overweight discounts
 Holsteins have a higher proportion of bone to
muscle, affecting dressing percent
Implants
 What
do they do?
Increase dry matter intake
 Increase average daily gain
 Improve feed efficiency
 Increase Rib Eye Area
 Decrease in marbling
 Increase prevalence of bullers and dark
cutters not exclusive to implanted cattle

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3/20/2015
Implants
R/ES/TES Encore
Enc/TES
NI
ADG, lb/d
3.48
3.27
3.44
3.01
DMI, lb/d
17.82
17.16
17.38
16.28
Feed:gain
5.15
5.24
5.09
5.36
Live Wt, lb
1278
1225
1269
1156
RibEyeArea, in^2
11.99
11.1
11.91
10.95
≥Choice, %
66.7
83.9
72.9
85.2
All steers harvested at 276 DOF
Beckett et. al, 2003
Implants
Delayed Implanting
Bruns et. al, 2005
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3/20/2015
Implants
 Depends
on :
Implant history
 Estimated Harvest Date

 Make
sure intake and energy density of diet
support implant potency
Beta-Agonists
Optaflexx, mg/hd/d
Variable
Pens
0
21
200
21
300
21
SE
‐
Animals
638
628
626
‐
‐
1194.9
1288.8
1198.1
1306.4
1191.7
1303.7
11.2
6.38
‐
0.0001
0.0002
Initial Wt, lb (4% shrink)
Final Wt, lb (4% shrink)
OSL
‐
ADG, lb
3.01
3.55
3.46
0.14
Total weight gain, lb
94.1
111.7
109
‐
‐
7.08
17.6
6.06
14.9
6.07
‐
0.25
‐
0.08
Hot Carcass Weight
786.6
796.9
797.7
3.15
<0.0001
Optaflexx response, lb
Rib Eye Area, in^2
‐
11.94
10.3
12.21
11.1
12.37
‐
0.25
‐
0.0002
Marbling
514.8
497.7
507
20.7
0.01
Optaflexx response, lb
Feed Efficiency
Vogel et. al meta-analysis of 4 trials, Elanco Animal Health
Optaflexx fed last 28-42 days on feed, no withdrawl
Beta-Agonists
Zilmax fed last 20 days on feed, 3 day withdrawl – not currently available
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3/20/2015
Other Factors
 Feeding
Facilities
Thin hided
 Diets more concentrated
 Bedding

 Hoof

Issues
Digital Dermatitis
 Personality


Easily bored
Suicidal tendencies
Marketing Dairy Beef
Kelly Hummel
Marketing Dairy Beef Steers
 My
primary experience relates to Holsteins
are dairies that are successfully
marketing Jersey and Jersey crosses
(more later)
 Packers prefer “calf fed, High Energy Fed
Holsteins.
 There
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3/20/2015
Dairy Beef Marketing Points
 Experience
indicates that 350 -500 lbs. is
reasonable point to consider marketing
groups of Feeder Cattle
 Buyers want consistent “load size” groups
at Finish (32 head at 1450-1475 lbs)
 Finished Holsteins have better contract
options when marketed as “load Size”
groups
What feeders want in feeder
holsteins








Uniform groups (load lots)
Castrated (preferably knife castrated)
Defined vaccination program
Showing adequate condition relative to age
Good foot and leg conformation
Hair growth and free of ringworm and
pinkeye.
Complete De-horning
Ideal situation is to market privately
Intricacies with Holsteins
 Very
susceptible to environmental
challenges (mud, extreme cold, heat)
 Experienced feeders will say that holsteins
“stall out” at weights over 1300 lbs.
 10% “Fallout” on finished
cattle(management can improve this.
 Variable selection of feed (F.C. hay, etc.)
 Grade and Yield requirements on
contracts
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3/20/2015
Direct Marketing Finished Dairy
Steers








Some Packers specialize in “high energy, calf fed
holsteins
Usually priced on Live cattle – Basis
Grade and Yield requirements
Communication with buyers is important
Finished weight, age, and condition is important
Liver abscesses are common on long fed holsteins,
but can be managed.
No Horns (carcass bruising)
The hide plays a part in total value. Brands,
lesions, hair loss, can play a role in total value
Historical Basis on Holsteins
Holstein – Beef Breed
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Choice, 1100 to 1300#
-9.98
-9.45
-9.84
-9.52
-9.34
-11.40
-18.06
-6.43
Choice, 1300 to 1500#
-8.95
-9.67
-9.71
-9.92
-9.79
-11.27
-18.81
-5.88
Select, 1100 to 1300#
-12.53
-12.56
-12.90
-12.39
-12.27
-11.47
-20.08
-9.90
Select, 1300 to 1500#
-11.93
-11.21
-12.59
-8.24
-5.71
-4.73
-20.95
-9.08
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3/20/2015
JBS Basis from end of ‘14 through ‘15
Month
November
Basis
na
December
‐$10.00
January
‐$10.00
February
‐$10.00
March
‐$10.00
April
‐$10.00
May ‐$6.00
June
July
August
September
‐$7.00
‐$9.00
‐$8.00
‐$10.00
October
‐$8.00
November
‐$8.00
December
‐$8.00
January
‐$8.00
February
‐$8.00
Yield Grade — Yield grade is an estimate of
the percent retail yield of the four primal
cuts of beef (chuck, rib, loin and round). It
is also known as cutability.
Yield grade is based on the four traits: hot
carcass weight, fat thickness at the 12th rib,
Internal Fat, and ribeye area
In general, Holsteins have smaller Ribeye
Size, OK on 12th rib fat, but have higher
internal fat which deters from Yield Grade.
Beta agonist seem to help on Ribeye size
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3/20/2015
Thank You
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