Limousin and Lim-Flex® Cattle excel on NALRF/SDSU Research Project and Economic Analysis comparing progeny sired by Limousin, Lim-Flex and Angus sired calves on commercial Angus cows and impact of extended days on feed and resulting impact on performance and carcass composition.
North American Limousin Research Foundation.
The NALRF/SDSU research project comparing 3 different sire groups consisting of Angus, Lim-Flex® and Limousin sires bred to commercial Angus cows is evaluated in the SDSU study and economic analysis that is detailed in the link below. The study examined extended days on feed to 3 different harvest end points on growth performance, feed efficiency and carcass composition differences of both steers and heifers with different proportions of Angus and Limousin genetics. A.I. sires utilized were independently selected by Dr. Robert Weaber, KSU for relative EPD equivalency also utilizing USMARC breed adjustments to better measure breed comparisons.
Commenting on the research project, Dr. Robert Weaber stated, “As the beef industry continues to drive for increased production through feeding cattle to heavier end weights, selection for animals with the genetic potential for improved muscularity and retail yield is essential.
Physiologically maturity of beef cattle results in carcass tissue deposition shifts from lean to fat. As this occurs, feed conversion worsens decreasing the efficiency of body weight gain and ultimately, profitability. At the end of the feeding period, dressing percentage increases, but primarily due to increased fatness. Increased body fat decreases retail yield.
Decreasing the production of waste fat in our industry will be key to improving our sustainability metrics. One simple way to improve retail yield is selection of animals (and breeds like Limousin) with improved carcass muscularity. Recent beef x dairy carcass work has demonstrated the importance of muscle shape in the chuck and round to improved fabrication yields. As our industry considers new technology to predict red meat yield, we’ll need to expand our utilization of breeds and tools that add end meat carcass muscularity.
The utilization of crossbreeding systems to leverage heterosis and breed complementarity is a key tactic to improving beef production efficiency. This research reaffirms the value to crossbreeding systems that leverage breed strengths and improve profit opportunities through optimization of carcass quality and yield attributes at heavy out weights. In the current study, cattle with increased days on feed had more profit opportunity as did cattle with increasing percentage of Limousin genetics demonstrating the value of managing both carcass composition and feedlot performance traits to maximize profit.
Profit in the feeding sector is driven by managing both input costs and the value of the beef carcass. Injecting genetics into the breeding program that reduce the cost of gain during extended feeding through improved carcass conversion and feed efficiency adds substantial profit potential and market flexibility at heavy out weights.”
Mark Anderson, Executive Director at the North American Limousin Foundation, commented, “ The SDSU study details that value of crossbreeding for the commercial cattleman when utilizing 2 breeds that are very complementary of each other like Angus and Limousin in today’s cattle feeding industry, where cattle are fed to much larger outweights. The ability to achieve profitable feed conversion rates, while achieving industry demanded quality grade levels and reduce yield grade 4 & 5’s with increased red meat yield for all sectors of the beef industry is a direction the industry will be headed”.
Assumptions, questions and economic value analysis:
- What is the effect of adding days on feed and resulting impact on revenue, cost and return on all cattle and differences between the sire groups?
- Constant grid values are used for all 3 harvest dates spread 30 days apart. Breeds are analyzed by groups at 200, 235, & 270 days on feed after an initial warmup period of 78 days.
- Cattle feeders have extended days on feed resulting in hot carcass weights exceeding the upper bounds of existing slaughter datasets. Consequently, there is a need for new research to evaluate cattle growth, efficiency and carcass outcomes as cattle are fed to heavier HCW(>1000 lbs for steers).
- Cattle were fed to larger outweights to be more reflective of the larger outweights being seen in the current fed cattle industry today and the increasing trend in larger carcass weights.
- Grid values were based on a Cargill grid, base price = $310.00/cwt., reference quality, yield grade and carcass weight premiums and discounts in attached slide presentation by Dr. Warren Rouche and Grace Olinger, SDSU.
- Cost assumptions in value established using January 2024 starting weights and South Dakota USDA report (Steers & Heifers). Ration cost =$200.00/ton, yardage at $0.50 per day along with trucking, vet, etc. = $85.00/head. Interest @ 8.5% on feeder cattle and feed. Ending values were calculated from Cargill settlement.
Takeaways:
- All breed groups reflected an increase in value and profit with added days on feed.
- The added value in revenue & margin for all 3 breed groups increased to offset increasing costs at all 3 harvest dates for all cattle combined. This is very reflective of today’s increasing outweight trends in fed cattle production and subsequent hot carcass weights.
- Profit for “all” cattle by DOF – $/hd increased at each DOF harvest endpoint as DOF increased:
200 DOF = $284.61/head 235 DOF = $347.17/head 270 DOF = $417.03/head
- Overall profit by sire breed and DOF was led by Limousin and Lim-Flex® sired calves when combining cost of gain and carcass results:
Limousin = $357.47/headLim-Flex® = $353.43/head Angus = $330.99/head
Note- Increased Limousin influence improved dry matter conversion and resulting lower cost of gains to enhance their profitability. Although Limousin cattle had no prime carcasses, they also had no select carcasses and increased Limousin influence resulted in superior yield grade resulting in fewer yield grade 4 & 5 cattle and resulting yield grade discounts when fed to larger outweights. A ration cost increase from $200/ton to $275/ton also increased profitability for Limousin and Lim-Flex® sired calves given improved feed conversion rates.
- Limousin & Lim-Flex® sired cattle excelled in Profit by Sire breed and DOF at each of the 3 harvest dates when combining feed cost of gain and carcass results:
200 DOF
Limousin = $320.16/hd
Lim-Flex®= $274.97/hd
Angus = $261.52/hd
235 DOF
Limousin = $350.83/hd
Lim-Flex®= $356.01/hd
Angus = $334.28/hd
270 DOF
Limousin = $399.59/hd
Lim-Flex®=$443.91/hd
Angus= $410.07/hd
Note-Lim-Flex® sired progeny had an equivalent number of prime grading carcasses as compared to Angus while achieving superior yield grade and dry matter conversions within the final 70 days on feed window.
- Breed difference effects in overall research trial– Breed did not affect ADG, final BW, or HCW. Increased Limousin influence reduced DMI and improved F:G. Increased Limousin influence increased REA and reduced rib fat and yield grade. Angus influence increased marbling score. Lim-Flex sired calves had similar proportion of premium carcass grades compared to Angus for CAB and Prime carcasses in addition to improved yield grade.
EXTENDED DAYS ON FEED: INFLUENCES ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, EFFICIENCY, AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF STEERS AND HEIFERS OF DIFFERENT PROPORTIONS OF ANGUS AND LIMOUSIN GENETICS.
Grace Olinger1, Zachary Smith1 , Forest Francis2, Becca Grimes Francis1, Riley Leeson1, Michael Gonda1, Robert L. Weaber 3, and Warren Rusche1
1 Department of Animal Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, 2 Department of Animal Science and Veterinary Technology, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX 78363, 3 Eastern Kansas Research and Extension Centers, Kansas State University, Haysville, KS 6706
