Production systems comparing early weaning to normal weaning with or without creep feeding for beef steers

A 2-yr study was conducted to determine the effects of three weaning manage ment systems on cow and steer performance. Cow-calf pairs were randomly ass igned to one of three treatments, in which the steer calves were 1) early-w eaned (yr 1, 177 +/- 9 d; yr 2, 158 +/- 21 d of age) and placed on a finish ing diet (EW), 2) supplemented with grain for 55 d on pasture (yr 1, 177 to 231 d; yr 2, 158 to 213 d of age) while nursing their dams and then placed on a finishing diet (NWC), and 3) on pasture for 55 d while nursing their dams (yr 1, 177 to 231 d; yr 2, 158 to 213 d of age) and then placed on a f inishing diet (NW). In yr 2, potential breed differences were evaluated usi ng steers of three breed types: 1) Angus x Hereford (BRI); 2) Angus x Simme ntal (CON); and 3) Angus x Wagyu (WAG). In yr 1, EW steers gained 100% fast er (P = .0001) than the average of NWC and NW steers, and NWC steers gained 32% faster (P = .02) than NW steers before weaning. In the feedlot, EW ste ers had lower intakes (7.70 vs 8.16 kg/d, P = .008) and better feed convers ions (.170 vs .153, P = .002) than the average of NWC and NW steers. Marbli ng score was improved far EW steers compared with the average of NWC and NW steers (P = .003). In yr 2, EW steers had higher gains (P = .0006) during the entire study than the average of NWC and NW steers, and NWC steers had higher gains (P = .003) than NW steers. The EW steers had lower intakes (7. 29 vs 7.68 kg/d, P = .0008) and better feed conversions (.160 vs .141, P = .0001) than the average of NWC and NW steers. The CON steers were heavier a t slaughter than BRI steers (P = .01), and BRI steers were heavier than WAG steers (P = .0004). Early weaning improved the percentage of steers gradin g Average Choice or higher by 40%. The percentage of BRI steers grading Cho ice or greater was 21% higher and percentage of steers grading Average Choi ce or greater was 33% higher than CON. Cows with EW Steers had higher ADG t han cows with NW steers (.38 vs -.17 kg/d, P = .0001) before weaning. Cows with EW steers gained in body condition score (.23 vs .00, P = .04), and co ws with NW steers did not change. Early weaning improved feed efficiency an d quality grades of beef steers.