Table of Contents
How long does it take to finish a steer for slaughter?
It will take over a year (367 days) to grow a 500-pound calf to 1,000 pounds if its average daily weight gain is 1.5 pounds per day. Some extensive forage-finishing systems may require a longer duration for calves to reach slaughter weight if forage quality and quantity restrict growth to no more than 1 pound per day.
What do you feed a steer before slaughter?
For finishing beef cattle prior to slaughter, most are fed a mixture of ground, shelled corn or millet. These grains are inexpensive, nutritious and add fat to the meat to make it tender.
What is the best feed to finish a steer?
Using grain to help finish cattle on pasture can offer the best of both worlds. 10-15 lbs. per day of corn, oats or barley fed to grazing cattle is a good finishing ration. This fed to a 900-1000 pound steer for 3-4 months should will you a nicely finished animal.
How do you finish a cow before slaughter?
Feed a free choice mixture of 80 percent ground sorghum grain, 10 per- cent protein supplement and 10 percent salt as cattle are placed on pasture and continue until slaughter weight is reached. Cattle will consume this mixture at approximately 1 percent of their body weight daily.
At what age should you butcher a steer?
Age at slaughter “typically” can be from 12 to 22 months of age for the high quality grade market. The reason for the range in age is that some calves are weaned and go directly to a feeding facility and are finished for slaughter.
What is the best age to slaughter cattle?
The highest quality beef comes from animals that are under 36 months of age. Old cows produce highly acceptable beef if properly fattened and processed. Depending on the calf and the feeding regime, calves are best slaughtered between three and 16 weeks of age.
What is the best weight to slaughter a steer?
There is a target slaughter weight corresponding to each frame score. For example, a 9-month old steer with a hip height of 44.3 inches has a frame score of 4. This steer will be ready for slaughter when it reaches 1100 lbs.
How long does it take to grain finish a steer?
Finishing animals on grass is a lengthier process than grain-finishing, often requiring between 24 and 30 months. By comparison, steers can be finished on grain in three to five months depending on how old the calves are when the graining process begins.
What is the best grain to feed a steer?
Corn and milo are the principal grains fed to beef cattle. Limiting wheat to 50 percent and oats to 30 percent of the grain in finishing rations of beef cattle is recommended. Some experienced feeders use larger amounts of wheat successfully.
Is grass fed beef healthier than grain fed beef?
Generally, grass fed beef is considered to be a healthier option than grain-fed beef. Pound for pound, it has less total fat, and therefore less calories. For example, grass fed beef has as much as five times the amount of omega-3 fatty acids as regular grain fed beef.
Is it cheaper to raise your own beef?
Price-While the cost of feed can be a lot up front, the cost of natural grass fed beef is much cheaper to raise than to buy in the store. The average rate in our area is between $2.10 and $2.75 a lb, making every cut of beef around $3.00 a pound, including your expensive cuts of steak.
How long do beef cattle live before slaughter?
How Long Do Beef Cows Live? Beef cattle are typically culled (slaughtered) when they are young cows between 12 to 24 months of age to have the highest quality grade of meat.
What feed makes the best tasting beef?
In terms of flavor profiles, corn is the most popular grain used by beef farmers. Grain fed cattle tends to be more fatty and this is what produces marbling and that beefy flavor.
What makes beef fat yellow?
The rich yellow fat colour in grass fed beef comes from Beta-carotene, an important anti-oxidant. Unlike the majority of micro-nutrients within beef which cannot be seen with the naked eye, you can actually SEE how beta-carotene affects beef fat – from the colour!.
How many Ribeyes are in a whole cow?
How many Steaks can you get from one Cow? Beef Yield from a Whole Cow Strip Steak 24-28 Ribeye Steak 24-28 Filet 20-24 Sirloin Steak 20-24.
How much corn does it take to finish a steer?
Corn production requirements Depending on the size and weight of the cattle, the amount of forage available for growing lighter calves, access to low-priced byproducts and other factors, 50 to 80 bushels are typically required to finish one steer.
Does a bull taste different than a steer?
Because flavor from beef has a lot to do with marbling, then meat from an older bull will taste slightly different than meat from the younger beef animal that we typically get meat from. Because tenderness in a beef carcass decreases with age, expect the meat from older animals to be less tender.
