International Beef Cattle Workers Meeting,
29-30 October 2013
Harper Adams Beef Unit research results
&
Harper Adams Beef Focus Farm Updates
Simon P Marsh
Senior Lecturer – Beef Cattle Specialist
& NBA Board Director & Trustee
Harper Adams University Beef Unit
• The Harper Adam Beef Unit
• Effect of reducing the starch content of cereal based rations by the partial
replacement of barley with soya hulls for intensively finished dairy-bred bulls
• Evaluation of High (750g) or Standard (500g) levels of milk replacer on the
performance of artificially reared calves to 12 weeks
• Evaluation of Rosé beef and Cereal beef production for Holstein bulls and Cereal
Beef Production for Angus x Holstein bulls
•
Teat versus bucket feeding systems for calves
• Bull calf finishing results by individual sire from the 2011 calf crop at Hopping
Farm. Simon Frost, Youlgreave, Derbyshire
• Suckler cow efficiency – British Blue x Holstein/Friesian versus Blonde x Blue.
Philip (Pip) Rogers, Upper Heath, Presteigne, Powys
• Intensive finishing results for commercial Stabiliser bulls
Harper Adams University Beef Unit
• 100 cattle intensively finished per year
• Holstein & Continental x Holstein bulls
• 7-10 month old suckled bulls
or steers occasionally purchased
• 2 calf rearing & 2 finishing trials/year
• Bulls finished at 12-15 months old
on either ad lib Cereals, Whole crop
or Maize Silage & sold dead weight to ABP
• 100 Angus & Hereford x Holsteins commercially finished
@ 24 months old at our other farm at Telford
International Beef Cattle Workers Meeting,
29-30 October 2013
Effect of reducing the starch content of cereal
based rations by the partial replacement of
barley with soya hulls for intensively finished
beef cattle
SP Marsh1, DPR Harries1 & EM Vickers2
1Harper
Adams University, 2EBLEX
Introduction
• In a study by Marsh & Brown (2007) the performance of bulls fed diets
with either a high (38.3% starch in DM) or low (9.3%) level of starch in
a proprietary beef nut was evaluated. The bulls fed the high starch
ration recorded significantly improved physical and financial
performance worth at the time of the study £96 per bull
• The objective of this experiment was to investigate the partial
substitution of rolled barley with soya hulls to evaluate different starch
contents of intensive beef finishing diets. The rations were based on
rolled barley with soya and rape formulated to contain 14% CP with
either zero, 10% or 20% soya hulls replacing barley
• The following rations were evaluated with 42 Holstein and 6
Continental x Holstein bulls @ 299kg
– HIGH STARCH - 42.9% starch in the DM (36.1% as fed)
– STANDARD STARCH - 37.4% starch in the DM (31.8% as fed)
– MEDIUM STARCH - 29.9% starch in the DM (25.7% as fed)
Results & Conclusions
Animal performance - DLWG
High Starch
Standard
Medium
Sig
Slaughter wt (kg)
574a
561b
564b
*
Days to slaughter
197
194
197
NS
DLWG (kg)
1.41
1.37
1.35
NS
Carcase wt (kg)
297
291
292
=0.103
Liver score (1-5)
1.23
1.11
1.08
NS
• Bulls fed the High Starch ration recorded significantly higher (P<0.05)
slaughter weights
• There were no differences in liver damage scores. Liver abscesses are
associated with mild acidosis from feeding high starch based diets
Results & Conclusions
Feed intakes and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)
High Starch
Standard
Medium
Total feed intakes (kg/bull)
1,907
1,918
1,932
Daily feed intake (kg)
9.68
9.89
9.91
FCR (kg feed: kg gain)
6.93
7.29
7.37
Feed costs (£/kg LWG)
£1.41
£1.46
£1.47
• Overall bull performance achieved EBLEX targets for cereal beef
production
• From this this experiment it is concluded that diets containing 42.9%
(36.1% as fed) starch optimise performance with intensively finished
beef cattle
• The highest margin over feed was recorded with the High starch fed
bulls which was increased by £17 and £13 per bull compared to the
Standard and Medium Starch rations respectively
International Beef Cattle Workers Meeting,
29-30 October 2013
Acknowledgement
Funding from EBLEX is gratefully acknowledged
International Beef Cattle Workers Meeting,
29-30 October 2013
Evaluation of feeding high (750g) or standard (500g)
levels of milk replacer on the performance of
purchased dairy-bred bull calves to 12 weeks
SP Marsh, T Webb, LC Newton, M Gould & G Cox
Harper Adams University
Introduction & Objective
• Extensive work has been undertaken to look at the effects of CMR
intakes on the growth of calves although these differ in methods and
conclusions
• However commercially artificially reared dairy-bred calves are
commonly fed 500g of CMR per day usually split into two feeds per
day
• The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of feeding
a standard (500g) or high (750g) level of CMR on calf performance to
12 weeks on a twice-a-day bucket rearing system
Materials & Method
• 40 Holstein bull calves with a mean age of 19.6 days were fed 4 litres
of milk replacer (CMR) in 2 feeds
– CMR (Enerlac) mixed at 125g CMR per 875ml water to provide 500g CMR
– CMR (Enerlac) mixed at 187.5g CMR per 812.5ml water to provide 750g CMR
– Calves offed ad lib 18% CP early weaning concentrates, straw and water
• Calves individually penned, bucket fed with a teat and weaned at 42
days. Groups housed to 12 weeks
Results
Calf performance – Liveweight (kg)
500g
750g
s.e.d
Sig
Start wt
49.6
50.0
0.85
NS
3 week wt
60.6
64.4
1.74
*
Weaning wt
76.5
79.0
2.41
NS
12 week wt
129.4
134.6
5.26
NS
Results & Conclusions
Calf performance – DLWG (g)
500g
750g
s.e.d
Sig
DLWG start – 3 wks
518
692
42.6
*
DLWG start – weaning
635
695
38.7
NS
DLWG wean -12 wks
1,259
1,324
37.1
NS
DLWG start -12 wks
958
1,011
41.5
NS
• The calves fed 750g/day of CMR recorded significantly higher (P<0.05)
DLWGs from start to 3 weeks, higher 3 week weights and gained an
extra 4.8kg in weight from start to 12 weeks.
• The calves fed 500g of CMR did not record compensatory growth
• There were no differences in health between the treatments
Results & Conclusions
Feed intakes (kg/calf) & FCR
500g
750g
Milk replacer
19.1
27.9
Conc intake (start – wean)
36.4
29.4
Conc intake (wean – 12 wks)
139.2
146.0
FCR (kg feed:kg gain)
2.44
2.41
s.e.d
Sig
4.01
=0.124
0.319
NS
• Total feed intakes were increased by 8.6kg with the 750g CMR feed
rate
• Feed costs per calf were increased by £14.18 and by 10p/kg live
weight gain with the 750g CMR based on the feed costs prevailing at
the time of the study; however can this be negated by earlier slaughter
of the bulls?
International Beef Cattle Workers Meeting,
29-30 October 2013
Acknowledgement
Funding from ‘Volac International Ltd’ is gratefully
acknowledged
International Beef Cattle Workers Meeting,
29-30 October 2013
Farmers Weekly/Harper Adams Beef Focus Farm
Simon Frost, Hopping Farm, Youlgeave
Bull calf finishing results by individual sire from the
2011 calf crop at Hopping Farm
S P Marsh
Harper Adams University
S Frost- Intensively finishing bulls
S Frost- intensively finishing bulls
S Frost- Intensively finishing bulls
Performance of S Frost’s suckled bulls - 2012
EBLEX
S Frost (2012)
Slaughter age (mo.)
14.0
14.4 (440 days)
Slaughter wt (kg)
590
773
DLWG from birth (kg)
1.28
1.66
KO %
59
59.9
Carcase wt (kg)
348
462
DCG from birth (kg)
0.77
1.00
Conformation class
-U/U+
38% E, 58% U, 4% R
N/A
4% @ 2, 52% @ 3, 44% @ 4L
Concs (kg/bull)
1,500
1,662kg + 681kg DM silage
FCR (kg feed DM/kg gain)
5.3:1
4.9:1
Fat class
In 2011 a bull calf sired by Clifford was slaughtered at a
carcase wt of 471kg grading E3 at 365 days old with a DCG
from birth of 1.22kg (2.04 kg DLWG) – a world record?
Bull calf finishing results by individual sire from the 2011
calf crop at Hopping Farm
Sire
Altra
Clifford
Duke
Calf birth wt (kg)
44.2
48.4
46.5
Calving Ease (1-5)
1.4
2.2
1.5
Weaning wt (kg)
331
336
345
Weaning age (days)
207
198
203
DLWG (birth - wean)
1.41
1.47
1.50
Slaughter wt (kg)
766
782
760
Carcase weight (kg)
458
467
455
Conformation score (1-5)
4.44
4.33
4.22
Fat score (1-7)
3.50
3.37
3.33
14.5 (442 days)
14.5 (442 days)
14.1 (430 days)
DLWG birth - slaughter (kg)
1.64
1.67
1.67
DCG from birth (kg)
0.99
1.00
1.01
Slaughter age (months)
The results ‘mirror’ the EBVs of the bulls (see next slide)
Charolais sire EBVs and Terminal Indexes at Hopping
Farm compared to the breed average
EBVs
Altra
Clifford
Duke
Breed Avg
Calving Ease Direct (%)
+2.0
-4.5
+2.5
-1.1
Birth wt (kg)
+2.4
+3.5
+2.5
+2.7
200 day wt (kg)
+30
+35
+33
+25
400 day wt (kg)
+45
+53
+51
+42
600 day wt (kg)
+51
+65
+61
+48
Eye Muscle Area (sq cm)
N/A
+5.8
+5.6
+3.0
Fat Depth (mm)
N/A
-1.0
-0.5
-0.4
Retail Beef Yield (%)
N/A
+3.0
+2.3
+1.0
Terminal Index
+48
+56
+57
+31
Top 10%
Top 1%
Top 1%
N/A
TI percentile band
Clifford is not a ‘curve-bender’ bull. When he was purchased his Calving
Ease Direct was +0.5kg with a Birth Weight of +3.1kg
International Beef Cattle Workers Meeting,
29-30 October 2013
Farmers Weekly/Harper Adams Beef Focus Farm
Simon Frost, Hopping Farm, Youlgeave
Bull calf finishing results by individual sire from the
2011 calf crop at Hopping Farm
S P Marsh
Harper Adams University
International Beef Cattle Workers Meeting,
29-30 October 2013
Harper Adams Beef Focus Farm
Pip Rogers, Upper Heath, Presteigne
Suckler cow efficiency – Blue x Holstein-Friesian
versus Blonde x Blue cows
S P Marsh
Harper Adams University
Pip Rogers, Upper Heath, Presteigne
• 430 acre lowland farm (inc 190 acres rented) @ 500ft asl with 30”
rainfall. Soil type clay/loam grade 4 land. 155 acres in permanent pasture
with rest in cereals
• 95 Commercial Suckler cows, 12 Pedigree Blondes & 200 NE Mules
put to Texel x Beltex tups
• Spring calving British Blue x Holstein-Friesian & home-bred Blonde x
Blue cows put to Blonde d’Aquitaine bulls
• Current herd sires include:
• Bridge Cracker Jack & Ffin Gorgo
Bridge Cracker Jack
Ffin Gorgo
Pip Rogers
Pip Rogers, Upper Heath, Presteigne
• Herd replacements used to be sourced from markets as calves
• British Blue x Holstein-Friesian breeding = ‘cows with milk’!
• Replacements served by AI to a Blonde d’Aquitaine (Bridge Elmo –
Cogent) to start calving on the 25th of January three weeks before the main
herd
• Replacements now home-bred Blonde x Blues
• Herd replacement rate is 15.4%
Bridge Elmo
• Best bull calves sold as show calves. The rest are intensively finished
October 2013 Calves
October 2013 Calves
Suckler cow efficiency – Blue x Holstein-Friesian versus
Blonde x Blue cows
Bull breed
Blonde
Blonde
Cow breed
Blue x Holstein
Blonde x Blue
Calf DLWG (kg)
1.39
1.22
Calf 200 day wt (kg)
318
292
Cow wt at weaning (kg)
678
723
Efficiency (kg calf/100kg cow wt)
46.9
40.4
Cow condition score
2.49
2.73
• Compared to the Blue x Holstein cows the Blonde x Blue cows
– Were 46kg heavier thus increases maintenance requirements
– In higher condition score
– Their calves recorded a lower DLWG (-0.17kg)
– The calf 200 days weights were 26kg lower (worth approx £78/calf)
– Have reduced hybrid vigour
• However the benefits of the Blonde x Blue cows are
– Calves will have improved conformation
– High cull values
– Improved biosecurity with a closed herd
Performance of P Roger’s suckled bulls - 2012
EBLEX
Pip Rogers
Bull Targets
2012 Bulls
Slaughter age (months)
14.0
13.8 (421 days)
Slaughter wt (kg)
590
644
DLWG birth - slaughter (kg)
1.28
1.42
Carcase weight (kg)
348
410
Kill out %
59.0
63.6
DCG from birth (kg)
0.77
0.92
-U/U+
6.0 (U+)
3
2.7 (3/2)
Concentrates (kg/bull)
1,500
1,885
FCR (kg feed DM/kg gain)
5.3:1
4.9:1
Conformation score (1-7)
Fat score (1-7)
The above results exclude the best bull calves that
were sold at weaning
Suckler cow performance & efficiency – Blue x HolsteinFriesian versus Blonde x Blue cows 2013
Bull Breed
Cow Breed
Blonde
Blonde
Blue x Holstein Cows Blonde x Blue Cows
Cow pre-calving wt (kg)
709
734
Cow CS pre calving
2.21
2.35
Calf birth wt (kg)
44.9
44.7
Calving ease score (1-5)
1.15
1.32
Blue x Holstein
Blonde x Blue
Calf wean wt (kg)
323
301
200 day wt (kg)
317
280
Calf DLWG (kg)
1.36
1.17
Cow wean wt (kg)
688
714
Cow wean CS (kg)
2.08
2.42
46.1%
39.2%
Cow Breed
Efficiency (kg calf/100kg cow wt)
Suckler cow performance & efficiency – Blue x HolsteinFriesian versus Blonde x Blue cows 2013
Cow Breed
Calf sex
Blue x Holstein
Blonde x Blue
Heifers
Bulls
Heifers
Bulls
Cow pre-calving wt (kg)
701
709
734
734
Cow CS pre calving
2.14
2.21
2.35
2.35
Calf birth wt (kg)
42.2
44.9
44.7
44.7
Calving ease score (1-5)
1.15
1.15
1.32
1.32
Cow Breed
Calf sex
Blue x Holstein
Blonde x Blue
Heifers
Bulls
Heifers
Bulls
Calf wean wt (kg)
309
344
291
315
200 day wt (kg)
303
336
271
291
Calf DLWG (kg)
1.15
1.44
1.14
1.21
Cow wean wt (kg)
709
658
727
697
Cow wean CS (kg)
2.17
1.95
2.45
2.38
42.7%
51.1%
37.3%
41.8%
Efficiency (kg calf/100kg cow wt)
International Beef Cattle Workers Meeting,
29-30 October 2013
Harper Adams Beef Focus Farm
Pip Rogers, Upper Heath, Presteigne
Suckler cow efficiency – Blue x Holstein-Friesian
versus Blonde x Blue cows
S P Marsh
Harper Adams University