Date: May 30, 2003
Cool Continues to Heat Up
The controversy over Country of Origin Labeling continues. There seems to be general agreement that such labeling could be a good thing. But that is about the only thing agreed on. On the one hand are most producer associations, packers/processors, and retailers, who claim that it will simply cost too much to implement. Others, especially a producer group based in the northern Plains and some livestock auctions, think it just needs simpler implementation. The USDA says the law must be implemented as written, and that it will be mandatory not voluntary. Regardless, producers might be advised to document the origin of their cattle. What documentation will be needed? The USDA has some guidelines, but only say they "may be useful for verification". Nobody knows for sure, and that's part of the problem. Some think, or hope, that Congress will step in and modify the law. Others say this won't happen. Time will tell.
Do Calf-Feds Grade Lower?
For a long time it has been thought that cattle fed as yearlings have more marbling and grade higher than when fed as calves. But recent research indicates this may not be true. Nebraska workers either put weaned calves on feed for 203 days or backgrounded and then fed as yearlings for 93 days. Yearling-feds had heavier carcasses (843 lb vs. 718 lb) and 1.4 sq in larger ribeyes. There was no difference in Yield Grade, but calf-feds had significantly higher marbling and Quality Grade. They also had higher taste panel scores for tenderness and overall acceptability, even when the data were adjusted to the same level of marbling. Yearling-feds would probably have had higher Quality Grades if fed longer, but carcass weights might have been excessive.
A Better Calving-Ease Breed?
Texas Longhorn sires are often used to reduce calving difficulty in first-calf heifers. This is an effective practice, but weaning weights are usually lower and there can be some price discount. The U. S. Meat Animal Research Center has compared Red Poll sires to Texas Longhorn on crossbred females. For heifers calving at 2-years-of-age, calving ease was significantly higher for Texas Longhorn. There was no difference in heifers calving at 3-years-of-age. Weaning and slaughter weights were significantly higher for Red Poll-sired calves. There were no significant differences for most carcass traits.
Gestation Effects of Forage Consumption
It is generally understood that forage consumption can be reduced in late gestation. But just how much is that reduction? Nebraska researchers measured this in first-calf heifers grazing Sandhills range. In one year (average calving date of March 1), forage organic matter intake, in percent of body weight, was: mid-November, 1.90; mid-January, 1.42; mid-February, 1.22. In another year (average calving date of March 23), intake was 1.88% in mid-December, but only 1.26% in mid-February. The report recommended that heifers in late gestation should receive energy supplemention to offset reduced forage consumption.
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