AS-336 January 1966
Fast Gaining Beef Calves Increase Projfit
Lowell L. Wilson, K. G. MacDonald, H. H. Mayo and K. J. Drewry, Animal Sciences Department
Ever notice that some animals gain much faster in the feedlot than others?
Feeder calves of the same breed and from the same farm, fed the same ration, frequently differ as much as 0. 80 pound in feed-lot daily gain. Calves from different farms or ranches also vary widely in rate of gain and feed costs per pound of gain.
What causes these differences? Extensive research has shown that gainability, and feed efficiency are highly heritable. This means that feedlot rate of gain and feed costs per pound of gain depend to a large extent on the genetic qualities of the sires and dams in the herd.
Why are differences in daily gain important? Research has also suggested that
faster-gaining feeders generally net more profit in the feedlot. How? There are two reasons:
1.	Due to the high relationship between rate of gain and feed efficiency, faster-gaining steers require less pounds of feed per pound of gain. Research has shown that
a 0.10 pound increase in daily gain results in a savings of about 35 pounds of feed for each 100 pounds of feedlot gain.
2.	Faster-gaining feeders reach market weights and grades in a shorter feedlot period, thereby decreasing overhead or fixed costs (interest, labor, veterinary expense, etc.) These costs are often overlooked in figuring costs of gain.
Cattle which look alike do not necessarily return the same profit!
Beef Section • Animal Sciences Department Cooperative Extension Service, PURDUE UNIVERSITY, Lafayette, Indiana