Management Considerations for Successful Technology Implementation in Beef Production Systems

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate management strategies that foster successful implementation of technology in beef production systems. In experiment 1, cow reproductive performance, BW, and serum concentrations of NEFA in cows and their calves were evaluated in response to moving cow-calf pairs from summer pastures into confinement feeding for a 10 d period of estrus synchronization and breeding. Reproductive performance was not impacted but calf BW were reduced in confined calves. In experiment 2, effects of moderate and aggressive implant strategies were evaluated in steers with varying genetic potential (GP) for gain and marbling. Steers with greater GP had greater intramuscular fat percentage before consuming high concentrate diets, and improved carcass marbling scores and quality grade compared with low genetic potential steers. Carcass marbling in steers of greater GP for marbling tended to be more sensitive to implant strategy than that of steers with lesser GP.