STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OPTIONS TO OPTIMIZE BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION
Abstract
A series of experiments were designed to test the feasibility of various strategic management options to optimize beef cattle production. In the first experiment, heifers were developed utilizing phase feeding nutritional program to assess the reliability of these programs on reproductive performance while also determining differences in apparent efficiency among strategies. Reproductive performance was not affected by feeding program, and based on degree of intake restriction maintenance energy requirements can be reduced 20-35%. Next, a three herd rotational semi-confinement cow-calf production experiment was designed to identify challenges and advantages to intensive cow-calf systems devised to increase cow-calf production efficiency without having to purchase more land. By limit-feeding cows in confinement for four months out of the year and allowing multiple chances to conceive within a production year, production per unit of land and per cow increased by 42 and 34%, respectively. Defining optimal bunk space allowance for limit-fed cows is important to ensure that each cow being fed has the opportunity to consume the targeted amount of feed to meet requirements, and simultaneously manage fixed and variable costs of intensive production. Therefore a third experiment was designed with the objective of defining the relationship between bunk space allowance on weight change and within-group variance in weight maintenance of cows being limit-fed in confinement. Results of this study suggest that 45.7 cm of bunk space per cow will allow each cow to consume iii sufficient amounts to meet her requirements while also reducing the variable costs associated with feed and the fixed costs associated with pen and bunk space. Lastly, a study comparing cattle performance when grazing wheat, oats, or triticale was conducted to determine triticale’s viability as an alternate winter forage. Results from this study suggest that animal performance among the three forage sources is similar during years of adequate precipitation or when stocking rate allows for an excess of forage available for grazing; however, when early growing season rainfall was below average, animal performance was greater in heifers grazing triticale. Overall, feasible strategic management options exist, and if implemented can increase the efficiency of beef cattle production.
Citation
Oney, Colton Ray (2020). STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OPTIONS TO OPTIMIZE BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION. Doctoral dissertation, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /192441.