Nutritional and Managerial Strategies to Increase Annual Liveweight Gain and Improve Product Quality

Summary

The project demonstrated how returns on cull cows and heifers could be increased through various pasture and grain feeding methods. Increasing the nett value of steers and surplus heifers by paddock grain supplementation during the last 12 months pre-slaughter was achieved. Various combions of supplements, HGPs and rumen modifiers increased turn-off liveweight by up to 100 kg in steers grazing native pasture in north Queensland. Lfting turn-off weights of steers grazing sown grass pastures in central Queensland was also possible with additional grain or protein supplements.

Ways to provide better supplements for young weaners were identified and a number of supplemens and additives to supplements were investigated for weaners. A dose response was established for cottonseed meal supplements both in the dry season and wet season. Transferring cattle at different ages to finishing pastures established that, the younger the age of transfer, the quicker the cattle reached tum-off weight. Many of the results were incorporated into a booklet as a mmagement package to help producers identify and reach various carcase markets.