Weaning calves earlier than the traditional 205 days of age offers numerous advantages. Early weaning can help producers manage forage and feed supplies when:

• Forage supplies are low, such as during a drought.

• Forage is of low-quality, such as pure fescue pastures in mid-summer.

• Winter feed supplies are limited.

• Summer calving is initiated to reduce winter feed cost for the cow.

Cow reproductive advantages can also be obtained with early weaning:

• It is easier to get thin cows and/or first or second calf heifers bred.

• Cows enter winter in good condition.

Early weaning also offers marketing advantages:

• A producer may market cull cows that have calved on a better market than the fall market.

• The production of high-quality beef (better quality grade) from calves.

Illinois Research

Research at the University of Illinois evaluated the influence of calf management systems on the economics of beef production systems. More specifically, the effects of weaning time and creep feeding on cow performance, calf performance, and carcass merit of calves at slaughter have been evaluated. The following discussion summarizes research results at the University of Illinois.

BROOD COW ADVANTAGES

Early Weaning and Brood Cow Reproduction

Cow reproduction was improved by 12% when calves were weaned prior to the breeding season. It is estimated that every open cow costs $125. This cost is a combination of loss of value of the open cow and cost to develop a heifer to replace her. Based on this value, the 12% improvement in reproduction would result in savings of $15 for each cow in the herd. The cows from which the calves were weaned early gained 85 lb/hd more than the cows nursing calves. This weight gain might be beneficial to reduce the need for supplemental feed for brood cows.

Creep Feeding Heifers and Milk Production

We have also evaluated the influence of creep feeding heifers on subsequent milk production. Previous research has suggested that creep feeding heifers results in approximately a 25% reduction in milk production when heifers become lactating cows. Much of this research was conducted with British bred heifer calves. We conducted a study with Simmental x Angus heifers and found a similar 25% reduction in milk production. We would not recommend creep feeding replacement heifer calves, but feel that creep feeding steer calves may improve quality grade with no decrease in feedlot performance.

CARCASS ADVANTAGES

Creep Feeding Affects on Carcass Quality and Feedlot Performance

An NCBA National Beef Quality Audit clearly shows a need for more high-quality beef (better quality grade) to meet consumer demand. The development of new marketing grids that pay for cattle based on quality and yield grade are a result of the lack of sufficient supplies of high-quality cattle.

University of Illinois creep feeding research has demonstrated that source of creep feed, amount of creep feed consumed, and length of time calves consume creep feed all have an influence on carcass quality grade. We have seen an increase in quality grade as the amount of creep feed consumed increased. The source of creep feed also has an influence on quality grade.

When calves were placed on a finishing diet after weaning, those creep fed with a corn-based diet had higher quality grades than those fed a soyhull-based diet, even though the daily gains of the calves were similar. This could be due to differences in the volatile fatty acids produced from the different diets. Calves consuming the corn-based diets had higher propionate and lower acetate levels than the soyhull-fed calves or the non-creep fed calves. Based on our published and unpublished data, it appears that to increase carcass quality, calves must be creep fed for about 80 days. In another study, creep feeding for 55 days prior to weaning had little benefit on carcass quality, possibly because the creep feeding period was insufficient to initiate marbling deposition.

Early Weaning Affects on Carcass Merit

We have evaluated the influence of early weaning on feedlot performance and carcass merit. We have found that weaning at 150 days improves quality grade and improves feed efficiency in the feedlot. We found a 30% increase in calves that graded average choice or better due to weaning at 150 days. We have also observed a slight increase in the carcass weights of the early weaned calves compared to non-creep fed calves. All calves were slaughtered at 0.4 in. of backfat, so the increased carcass weight and quality grade improvement were not due to the calves being fatter. Overall, the number of calves with carcasses in this high-quality range (above average choice) varied from 70% to 95% depending upon the breed type. We observed 30% of the carcasses from Simmental x Angus calves were lower in quality compared to Angus x Hereford calves, but treatment differences were the same.

When comparing 90, 150, or 210 days of age at weaning, we observed calves weaned at 90 days tended to grade better. There was little response to 150 day weaning in this study. These calves were slaughtered at less backfat (0.3 in.) and were not fed as long. These two factors may account for some of the differences observed. Overall, over 67% of the cattle were in the premium beef grades (above average choice), even when calves were slaughtered at less backfat.

Conclusion

Cow weight gain and reproductive performance can be improved by weaning calves prior to the breeding season. This will reduce replacement cost and can lower supplemental feed costs.

The goal of producing high-quality carcasses (better quality grade) from steers placed on feed as calves is achievable. Management of calves to acclimate them to a high-energy diet as early as possible is critical. In our studies, this management had more influence than the calf’s genetic merit for marbling. However, the effects of high marbling EPDs have been additive with our management program, so both are important. Producers desiring to produce high-quality cattle for the marketplace should consider the breeds they use in their crossbreeding program, the marbling EPD in the bulls, and the management of their calves to get them on a high-energy diet as early as possible. This research supports that carcass fat can be reduced and quality improved by using appropriate management strategies.

References available upon request.