Crass performance beats compensatory cain

摘要

New research indicates the highest returns overall come from cattle that gain the most as stockers on grass. Flesh and condition command more money from buyers for a simple economic reason: buy the proper degree at the right price and the returns atthe hands of compensatory gain can be exponential. If you're retaining ownership in stockers through the feedlot, though, recent research indicates compensatory gains can't overcome gains made in the pasture, even if those cattle actually gain faster inthe feedlot. In other words, the highest returns overall come from the cattle that gained the most in the stocker enterprise. In fact, according to Jason Cleere, Texas Cooperative Extension (TCE) beef specialist at Overton, "Low animal performance duringthe grazing period resulted in lower carcass value received for each animal. As a result, it may be beneficial for producers to program animals to gain more during the grazing period."