Influence Of Corn Crop Harvest Endpoint On Feedlot Performance, Beef Quality And Sensory Traits, And Return To Corn Land

Abstract

Forty-nine Charolais x Red Angus steers (initial average BW = 536 kg) were fed individually in a Calan-Broadbent feeding system to evaluate performance and meat quality characteristics and interactions resulting from performance and crop yield when corn is harvested as either silage (SIL), earlage (EAR), high-moisture corn (HMC), or dry corn (DRC). Steers were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 dietary treatments where SIL, EAR, HMC, or DRC constituted 75% of diet DM. The remaining of SIL, EAR, HMC and DRC diets contained 11% haylage (0% for SIL), 10% modified wet corn distillers grains (MDGS), 4% liquid supplement with Rumensin (SUPP) and 11% DRC (SIL only). Gross return (gross $/hd) was determined as dollars remaining after subtracting non-corn crop expenses (cattle purchase, veterinary medicine, yardage, bedding and purchased feed ingredients) from gross cattle sale. Value of each corn crop endpoint was determined from corn grain worth ($/56 lb) and its relationship to corn grain content in SIL, EAR, and HMC crops. This value was compared to SIL, EAR, HMC worth determined by ANOVA (crop equivalent $/bu). Value of each corn crop endpoint was also determined by dividing gross return (gross $/hd) by hectares used to raise crop. The former method is used to determine corn crop endpoint worth for a feeder that purchases crops (owns no land) and the latter is used to determine corn crop endpoint worth for a feeder who owns corn land. Net return to corn hectares dedicated to cattle feeding during the last 18 years was 6.2 times greater than that realized through marketing corn through a local elevator. Cattle fed HMC had the lowest (P ≤ 0.05) DMI (dry matter intake). Cattle fed DRC had greater (P < 0.05) ADG (average daily gain) than cattle fed the other corn crops. Cattle fed HMC had greater ADG (P < 0.05) than those fed SIL. No difference between cattle fed DRC or HMC was observed for feed conversion but feeding either led to greater (P < 0.05) feed conversion than SIL or EAR. Final BW (body weight) and HCW (hot carcass weight) were greatest for DRC (P < 0.05), intermediate (P < 0.05) for HMC and lowest (P < 0.05) for EAR and SIL. There was a tendency (P = 0.08) for treatment effect on fat thickness wherein cattle fed DRC or HMC tended to have greater fat thickness than those fed SIL. No treatment differences were found for REA (ribeye area) or marbling. Sensory panel evaluation of loin steaks demonstrated that steaks from steers fed either SIL or EAR were juicier (P > 0.05) than those fed HMC and that bologna samples from steers fed HMC were toughest and least juicy. There was no effect observed for equivalent value of corn crop ($/bu). Harvesting corn as either SIL, EAR, HMC or DRC had no impact (P > 0.05) on crop worth (gross $ return/hectare). Despite performance differences, all harvest end points dedicated to cattle feeding result in greater gross return to corn land than marketing corn through local channels. This permits greater flexibility in corn harvest end point decisions for cattle feeders.