2023 Beef Sired Progeny from Dairy Cows

Penn State has completed the fourth year of a 4-year feedlot trial investigating the optimal genetics of beef-sired steers born to Holstein dams (beef × Holstein). The prevalence of beef × dairy matings continues to grow. In 2022, over 9 million units of beef semen were sold domestically, up again from the previous year. To provide beef sire selection recommendations to dairy producers, Penn State researchers have continued evaluating beef × Holstein steers in 2022. The results of these efforts are detailed below.

Research efforts are supported by the USDA Critical Agricultural Research and Extension (CARE) with additional support from JBS and Premier Select Sires. Research animals were finished at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Evaluation Center (LEC) feedlot in Pennsylvania Furnace. Beef × Holstein bull calves sired by Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, Red Angus, and Simmental bulls were born on 4 PA dairy farms from May to June 2022 and transported to one of two commercial calf growing facilities within 1 week of birth. Calves were fed milk replacer and free-choice starter grain until weaning at 7 ± 2 weeks of age. Following weaning, calves were consolidated to one facility and fed a growing ration (~56 Mcal NE_g). Calves were implanted with Synovex-C in September and implanted with Synovex-S in January.

Following the initial grow out, 13 Angus × Holstein, 13 Charolais × Holstein, 19 Hereford × Holstein, 16 Limousin × Holstein, 27 Red Angus × Holstein, and 10 Simmental × Holstein steers were brought to the LEC. Steers were fed a common corn and corn silage-based diet (~63 Mcal NE_g) and slaughtered after 110, 131, or 152 days on feed at the LEC. Groups were selected for slaughter based on a combination of visual appraisal and body weight. Daily feed intake of individual steers was recorded using the Vytelle Sense Feed Intake Monitoring System. Initial and final weights are reported as a 2-day average body weight at the beginning and end of the LEC feeding period, respectively. Average daily gain was calculated as the difference between initial and final average body weight divided by the total days on feed.

Simmental-sired steers were heaviest at feedlot entry (1,131 lbs). Hereford, Limousin, and Red Angus were the lightest at feedlot entry (1,013, 1,009, and 1,003 lbs, respectively).  Angus and Charolais-sired steer weights were intermediate and not different at feedlot entry (1,066 and 1,049 lbs, respectively). Limousin-sired had the least average daily gain and were on feed the longest compared to all other cattle. Angus and Simmental-sired steers had had the heaviest final body weights (1,555 and 1,572 lb, respectively) and, with Charolais-sired calves, spent the fewest days on feed.  There were no breed differences in dry matter intake (DMI; average = 33 lbs) and or feed to gain ratio (~9 lbs of feed were required for 1 lb of gain). Despite the popularity of Limousin genetics in Jersey mating schemes, cattle from Limousin × Holstein pairing were the lightest, grew the slowest, and were on feed the longest of any sire breed used.

¹Final body weights are shrunk by 2.5%
^a,b,c Values within row with different superscripts are significantly different at P < 0.05.

Despite the heavier final body weight of the Simmental-sired steers, Angus-sired steers had the heaviest hot carcass weights. Therefore, while we were not able to pick up the statistical difference due to the limited number of progeny per breed group this final year, dressing percentage was greatest for carcasses from Angus × Holstein steers (64.2%). In addition, Angus-sired steers had the greatest rib eye area at 14.5 in². Overall, cattle graded exceptionally well this year, we believe in part due to the limited sickness during early life.  Over 88% of steers graded Choice across all breeds. This may also be in part to increased yield grade (YG) of the cattle compared to last year. Last year, the majority of carcasses from beef x Holstein steers were Yield Grade 2, this year, the majority of carcasses were YG 3 or greater. Perhaps challenging the cattle feeder, 28% of Hereford x Holstein carcasses grade YG4, qualifying them for discounts.

¹ A 2.5% KPH was added to hot carcass weight because KPH was removed prior to weighing
² USDA Yield Grade calculation was used where KPH was assumed to be 2.5%
^a,b,c Values within row with different superscripts are significantly different at P < 0.05.

A complete economic analysis will be assessed across all 4 years of the project in order to avoid or single out individual year effects. This year, Angus x Holstein crosses had the greatest average daily gain, hot carcass weight, and rib eye area when compared with steers sired by other beef breeds.

This work was supported by a Critical Agriculture Research and Extension grant (no. 12923008) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.