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Northern New York Agricultural Development Program Project 2004-2005

September 2004

Northern NY Ag Research Looks at Raising Grass-Fed Holstein Beef

How can North Country dairy farmers turn 60,000 bull calves a year into profit?

A Northern New York Agricultural Development Program research project is looking at how to raise and sell grass-fed Holstein beef.

Holstein cows are traditionally dairy animals. Female calves are kept and grown into milkers; male calves, which account for slightly more than half of all dairy calves born, says Brent Buchanan, dairy educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County and a cooperating educator on the Northern New York (NNY) Grass-Fed Beef Research Project, are generally sold and shipped out of the area to be raised as veal or feedlot cattle.

“Recent Cornell University research, however, shows us that Holstein steers can produce beef of quality equal or superior to that of the traditional beef breeds – Hereford, Black Angus, and others,” says Dr. Michael J. Baker, beef cattle extension specialist with Cornell University and principal investigator on the NNY beef research project.

More than fifteen years of research at Cornell University and other institutions support raising Holstein beef on a high-grain diet, but Baker says consumers are increasingly interested in buying grass-fed beef that is produced without growth hormones and antibiotics.

“We need research into the ability of Holstein steers to produce beef on an all-forage diet. This project will give us that needed insight,” Baker says.

“We are looking at grass-fed Holstein beef because our trump card here in the North Country is our abundant grass forage,” Buchanan adds. “This project began in acknowledgement of a lost resource in our bull calves. The closing of the U.S. border to Canadian beef added an extra punch and the need to analyze the opportunity to create locally-raised Holstein beef.”

Bill VanLoo, agriculture and rural economic vitality educator with Cornell Cooperative Exten- sion of St. Lawrence County, says, “Before the border closed, 40 to 50 percent of Canada’s beef production had been sold south into the U.S.”

Thirty Holstein bull calves purchased or donated from six St. Lawrence County dairy farmers are currently grazing on pasture at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County’s Learning Farm in Canton.

Caretakers are observing a prescribed schedule of fertilizing and mowing fields and intensively rotating (moving) calves from one field section to another to graze. Intensive rotation allows efficient use and regrowth of grass pastures.

Grass samples are analyzed monthly. Calves are weighed every 28 days to monitor weight gain. At the end of the grazing season, the calves will be moved to Extension’s Kennedy Farm for the winter. The calves will be divided into three groups, each group receiving a different all-forage diet throughout the winter.

In spring 2005, the calves will return to the Learning Farm for another grazing season. Research- ers will use visual inspection and ultrasound measurement to grade the fat and muscle content of the calves after 90 days on pasture. The calves will be harvested at the high Select quality grade. Meat samples will be evaluated at the Pennsylvania University Meat Lab.

How will consumers like grass-fed Holstein beef?

In late 2005, consumer taste panels will evaluate steaks from the project’s calves for taste and tenderness.

Northern New York Agricultural Development Program researchers will be sharing project results with North Country farmers on how to grow Holsteins for beef and how to develop markets for grass-fed Holstein beef through Extension newsletters, field days and via the website at www.ansci.cornell.edu.beef. ## #

The Numbers of Dairy Cows & Traditional Breed Beef Cows in NNY (National Agricultural Statistics Service Census 2004)

• Clinton County – 36,300 dairy cows, 1,000 beef cows

• Essex County – 5,400 dairy cows, 500 beef cows

• Franklin County – 31,400 dairy cows, 1,200 beef cows

• Jefferson County – 66,600 dairy cows, 3,700 beef cows

• Lewis County – 49,000 dairy cows, 800 beef cows

• St. Lawrence County – 74,900 dairy cows, 4,000 beef cows

REGIONAL TOTAL – 263,600 dairy cows, 11,200 beef cows #

For More Information:
Brent Buchanan, Agriculture Program Leader
Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County
315-379-9192, bab22@cornell.edu

Northern NY Agricultural Development Program 2007-2008 Project Report

Project Leader:
Jessica Prosper, CCE Franklin; jlr15@cornell.edu

Collaborators:
Mike Baker, Beef Cattle Extension Specialist, mjb28@cornell.edu
Heather Birdsall, CCE Cortland County, hhb6@cornell.edu
Bernadette Logozar, CCE Franklin County , bel7@cornell.edu
Michele Ledoux, CCE Lewis County, mel14@cornell.edu
Anita Deming , CCE Essex County, ald6@cornell.edu
Blake Putman, CCE Clinton County, blp26@cornell.edu
Brent Buchanan, CCE St. Lawrence County, bab22@cornell.edu
Ron Kuck, CCE Jefferson, rak76@cornell.edu

Cooperating Producers:
Clinton County: Penny Pombrio, Corbiau Creek Angus Farm, Altona, NY
Franklin County: Hugh and Ginette Stark, Double T Ranch, Malone, NY
Jefferson County: Lloyd Garnsey, Clayton, NY

Background:
According to the New York Agricultural Statistics 2006-2007 Annual Bulletin, there are currently 13,200 Beef Cattle being raised on farms in the six northern NY counties. Many of these are small, part-time operations where farmers often lack important knowledge in regards to grading their animals and carcass composition. Such information is essential for the efficient production of lean, consistent beef that consumers demand in today’s market.

There has been an expressed need by farmers and producers in the region to work toward raising animals of more consistent quality, both for local and conventional markets.

Farmers who can accurately grade their animals on the farm because of their knowledge and understanding of carcass composition will be able to more effectively market their animals in a variety of market channels resulting in a more profitable business.

Methods:
Beef animals in three central locations in counties across the region were analyzed through the use of ultrasound to measure the percentage of fat and the amount of marbling in the animals. This provided a reliable estimate of live animal composition, which showed the participants how animals differed according to their breeds, ages, and management practices.

Knowing this information will assist farmers in gauging when their animals have reached their “optimal” sale weight and carcass composition.

The second portion of the program was more academic and involved a presentation on meat quality. This included such things as meat quality factors, factors that affect meat quality, and how the USDA grading system works.

Conclusions/Outcomes/Impacts:
The outcome/impact of this project was that the participants were able to gain a better understanding of meat quality and how it is impacted by both environmental and genetic factors. Participants were also educated on the use of ultrasound on beef operations.

This was the first time that most of the participants had seen ultrasound used in this manner. Upon reviewing the evaluations, most of the participants learned a lot from the demonstration and the presentation. Most left with better understanding of how the information could be used to improve some of the practices on their farms, including choosing better replacement animals, grading, and finishing their animals.

Outreach:
Farmers were informed of the project prior to workshops through several avenues, including articles and notices in county Cooperative Extension Ag news publications and by NNYADP Publicist Kara Lynn Dunn in various agricultural publications. Following the workshops, articles were published in county publications and the Watertown Daily Times: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20080917/NEWS03/309179943. Workshop participants received a folder of information that was compiled to reinforce what was learned while attending the workshop.

Next steps.
Because this was the first time many of the beef producers in the area were introduced to ultrasound, we feel that the next step in this educational process should be to give beef producers the opportunity to actually have their own animals ultrasounded and have the images analyzed and interpreted by an Ultrasound Processing Lab. After the results are received, we would follow up with how the results are applied and used in regards to culling animals and bull selection in order to result in shifting the herd to producing a more consistent product.

Acknowledgments:
Funded by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program

For More Information:
Dr. Mike Baker, Cornell Beef Cattle Extension Specialist
Cornell University, 114 Morrison Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853

Northern NY Agricultural Development Program 2007-2008 Project Report

Project Leader:
Jessica Prosper, CCE Franklin; jlr15@cornell.edu

Collaborators:
Mike Baker, Beef Cattle Extension Specialist, mjb28@cornell.edu
Heather Birdsall, CCE Cortland County, hhb6@cornell.edu
Bernadette Logozar, CCE Franklin County , bel7@cornell.edu
Michele Ledoux, CCE Lewis County, mel14@cornell.edu
Anita Deming , CCE Essex County, ald6@cornell.edu
Blake Putman, CCE Clinton County, blp26@cornell.edu
Brent Buchanan, CCE St. Lawrence County, bab22@cornell.edu
Ron Kuck, CCE Jefferson, rak76@cornell.edu

Cooperating Producers:
Clinton County: Penny Pombrio, Corbiau Creek Angus Farm, Altona, NY
Franklin County: Hugh and Ginette Stark, Double T Ranch, Malone, NY
Jefferson County: Lloyd Garnsey, Clayton, NY

Background:
According to the New York Agricultural Statistics 2006-2007 Annual Bulletin, there are currently 13,200 Beef Cattle being raised on farms in the six northern NY counties. Many of these are small, part-time operations where farmers often lack important knowledge in regards to grading their animals and carcass composition. Such information is essential for the efficient production of lean, consistent beef that consumers demand in today’s market.

There has been an expressed need by farmers and producers in the region to work toward raising animals of more consistent quality, both for local and conventional markets.

Farmers who can accurately grade their animals on the farm because of their knowledge and understanding of carcass composition will be able to more effectively market their animals in a variety of market channels resulting in a more profitable business.

Methods:
Beef animals in three central locations in counties across the region were analyzed through the use of ultrasound to measure the percentage of fat and the amount of marbling in the animals. This provided a reliable estimate of live animal composition, which showed the participants how animals differed according to their breeds, ages, and management practices.

Knowing this information will assist farmers in gauging when their animals have reached their “optimal” sale weight and carcass composition.

The second portion of the program was more academic and involved a presentation on meat quality. This included such things as meat quality factors, factors that affect meat quality, and how the USDA grading system works.

Conclusions/Outcomes/Impacts:
The outcome/impact of this project was that the participants were able to gain a better understanding of meat quality and how it is impacted by both environmental and genetic factors. Participants were also educated on the use of ultrasound on beef operations.

This was the first time that most of the participants had seen ultrasound used in this manner. Upon reviewing the evaluations, most of the participants learned a lot from the demonstration and the presentation. Most left with better understanding of how the information could be used to improve some of the practices on their farms, including choosing better replacement animals, grading, and finishing their animals.

Outreach:
Farmers were informed of the project prior to workshops through several avenues, including articles and notices in county Cooperative Extension Ag news publications and by NNYADP Publicist Kara Lynn Dunn in various agricultural publications. Following the workshops, articles were published in county publications and the Watertown Daily Times: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20080917/NEWS03/309179943. Workshop participants received a folder of information that was compiled to reinforce what was learned while attending the workshop.

Next steps.
Because this was the first time many of the beef producers in the area were introduced to ultrasound, we feel that the next step in this educational process should be to give beef producers the opportunity to actually have their own animals ultrasounded and have the images analyzed and interpreted by an Ultrasound Processing Lab. After the results are received, we would follow up with how the results are applied and used in regards to culling animals and bull selection in order to result in shifting the herd to producing a more consistent product.

Acknowledgments:
Funded by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program

For More Information:
Dr. Mike Baker, Cornell Beef Cattle Extension Specialist
Cornell University, 114 Morrison Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853

May 23, 2008 — NNYADP Project

Beef producers in Northern New York want to raise animals of more consistent quality. To help them do just that, the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is funding a beef quality improvement project in 2008. The project includes the use of ultrasound and on-farm skill development workshops.

Northern New York Agricultural Development Program Project 2004

The Effect of Initial Weight and Winter Diet on the Performance,
Meat Quality and Profitability of Holstein Beef for the Grass-Finished Market

Project Leader(s):
Michael J. Baker, Sr. Extension Associate, Department of Animal Science, Cornell University

Collaborator(s) – all of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of St. Lawrence County:
Brent Buchanan, Extension Issue Leader Animal Science
Peter Barney, Senior Extension Educator Agronomy
Bill Van Loo, Senior Extension Educator Farm Business Management

Background:
The NNY region produces an abundant quantity of high quality forage. There is also an abundance of land left idled by an increasingly efficient dairy industry.

The region has 130,900 dairy cows annually producing nearly 60,000 bull calves that are mostly exported from this region.

Research at Cornell University has demonstrated that Holstein steers can be used to produce beef of equal or superior quality to that from beef breeds.

There is a growing demand for beef finished on an all forage diet and raised without growth promotants and antibiotics. While there are research results guiding producers in the production of Holstein beef on a high grain diet, the ability of Holstein steers to produce beef on an all forage diet has heretofore been unknown.

High quality pasture from an intensive grazing management program will support high levels of animal gain. The effect of an all forage diet on animal performance, meat quality and profitability using stored feeds during the winter feeding period is less well documented.

The purpose of this project is to examine the effects of initial weight when placed on pasture and three diets during the winter feeding period on the performance, meat quality and profitability of Holstein steers destined for the grass finished market.

If Holstein steers can be used in a grazing program to produce grass-finished beef, this could add value to the Holstein bull calf, which will benefit the local dairy industry. It could also lead to the development of a grazing industry that would keep land open and productive by demonstrating a model for the profitable use of locally available land, animal and labor resources.

Methods:
In late winter, 2004, Holstein calves (n=30) were purchased from local dairies and transported to two custom calf raisers. One goal was to evaluate the effect of initial weight at pasture turnout. As such, the custom calf raisers were to provide calves in two weight classes: 200 lbs (n=15) and 300 lbs (n=15).

In mid-April the calves were delivered to the CCE St. Lawrence Learning Farm in Canton, NY, where they were fed a diet of hay and grain until the start of the grazing season on May 21. The calves were grazed using the principles of management intensive grazing.

On October 28, an informational meeting was held at the CCE St. Lawrence Learning Farm. Participants viewed the animals, followed by a presentation on the potential for finishing cattle on all forage diets. Data collected on the Holstein steers were also presented.

On November 5, the grazing season was terminated and baleage supplementation was provided with partial pasture for one month. On December 6 the calves from each weight category were randomly assigned to one of three all forage diets for the winter feeding period: 1) high quality baleage (18%+ crude protein), 2) high quality (12%+ crude protein) dry hay and 3) medium quality (10-12% crude protein) dry hay.

Results:
The performance of the calves during the grazing season is shown in Table 1. The weight gain of both groups was lower than expected. Fox (1989) reported ADG of 2.25 lbs. and 2.44 lb for Holstein heifers initially weighing 414 lb and 530 lbs. respectively. However the relative gain (ADG divided by average body weight) was similar to this study.

The heavy weight group gained 25% faster than the light group. This is higher than that reported by Fox (1989), who showed a 10% increase in ADG in heavy weight vs. light weight calves. While the ADG of the lightweight group was lower than the heavy group, the relative gain of the light group was higher than that of the heavy group.

Table 1. Performance of Holstein steers during 168 day grazing season.

Weight Group: Light Heavy
Initial weight, lb. 170a 293b
End weight, lb. 369a 539b
ADG, lb. 1.2a 1.5b
ADG per 100lb. 0.4378a 0.3529b

Key: a,b Values in rows with different superscripts differ significantly at P < 0.01.

Conclusions/Impacts:
The calves came to the CCE St. Lawrence Learning Farm lighter than anticipated with more variation in weight than desired. The treatment rate for bovine respiratory disease was also high. Care of the newborn calf is of utmost importance to assure good health and performance further down the production chain.

The projected finish weight of the Holstein steers is 1150 lb. To assure tenderness, these cattle should be harvested between 18 and 24 months of age, which means that on average these cattle must have a weight per day of age [WDA = (weight-birth weight) ÷ days of age] of 1.4-1.9 lb.

Individual birthdates of the calves were not available, however most of the heavy group was born in December 2003 and the light group was born in Feb 2004. At the end of the grazing season the heavy and light groups were approximately 11 and 9 months old, which computes to a WDA of 1.3 lb and 1.0 lb for the heavy and light group, respectively. To reach the desired market readiness by 18-24 months of age, either performance of the cattle will have to increase, and/or the finish weight will be lower than originally projected.

Next steps.
As of February 2005, the calves are in their respective winter feeding treatment. Following this period the cattle will go back to pasture and graze until they reach the high Select quality grade as determined by ultrasound. A full evaluation of animal performance and carcass quality will help to determine if initial weight on pasture and winter diet are important.