The Walter Angus cattle are the kind of stock that make feeding cattle fun. The steers we had this year came in as a backgrounded animal, averaging 683 lbs. Typically with an animal of this size we would figure about 220 days on feed with a projected out weight of 1450-1480. To feed the cattle any longer than those 220 days we would fear losing performance. Towards the end of a feeding period, cattle typically slow down on feed conversion as well as their average daily gain can be significantly impacted each day going forward. This was not the case with the Walter Angus cattle! We fed them for an average of 243 days with an average out weight of 1626. 150 lbs BIGGER than what we would project for an average feeder steer being placed of similar size and background. What is even more impressive is the fact that, by putting almost an extra month of feed into these cattle, no performance was lost. The cattle converted a 6.07 and had an average daily gain of 3.86! For comparison sake, if I took an average set of cattle that were coming into the yard as a backgrounded, big 6 wt calf, and fed them for 243 days I would expect more like a 3.4 ADG and a 6.6 conversion. The fact that these cattle never slowed down through an extra month of feeding says a lot about their genetics. To be able to take those cattle, and put an extra 30 days of feed into them, without losing conversion is worth $88 per head using a ration cost of $220 DM. If you throw in the extra 150 lbs over an average feeder animal projection, on a $230 cwt fat market, that is an- other $345 dollars per head. It is important to consider, with an average animal, these numbers would be significantly different, especially the feed conversion. Feed conversion is the #1 factor in what drives the cost of gain in the feedlot, and on the ranch. To be able to efficiently put pounds on an animal, especially into late day feeding is huge. This is where the Walter Angus cattle standout the most in my opinion. The Walter Angus cattle are a set of cattle we look forward to feeding every year. Their cattle print the kind of closeouts that are fun to send to a customer, and make us feel good about what we do.
Customers interested in custom feeding contact Conor Dwyer at 307-399-9998
Sincerely, Conor T. Dwyer President/CEO Maverick Beef Feedlot Bridgeport, NE
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online