Prime. Slaughter steers and heifers 30 to 42 months of age possessing the minimum qualifications for Prime have a fat covering over the crops, back, ribs, loin, and rump that tends to be thick. The brisket, flanks, and cod or udder appear full and distended and the muscling is very firm.
What is the best weight to butcher an Angus steer?
“Probably the 1,400 to 1,500-pound range is the premium weight at the auctions now,” Wert said. “When you get above 1,600 pounds, the carcass is getting too big for the rail in some cases. At the 1,100 to 1,200-pound range, you might not have the finish on the animal.”
What age should you sell 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 weight to butcher a steer?
Buy Standard to Good feeder grade steers weigh- ing 600 pounds and full feed a finishing ration until they yield a slaughter grade of Good. This may be 800-900 pounds, depending on gain rate and feed conversion.
How long should you grain a steer before butchering?
For a backyard steer, 90 days on grain should be sufficient. The grain component will help him gain faster and change the flavor of the beef to more closely match what is purchased in the grocery store.
How long do you raise a steer before you butcher it?
If you are raising a cow for beef, Robbins said that grass-fed cows will be ready to eat at around 28 to 30 months, while grain-fed cows can be ready by 15 to 16 months.
At what weight is an average steer ready for market?
The calf should weigh between 1,050 and 1,150 pounds to grade low choice. = 2.5 pound average daily gain. This calf would need to gain approximately 2.5 pounds per day – to reach the projected slaughter weight.
How many acres do you need for one steer?
The general rule of thumb is 1:1. That means one cow per one acre of pasture. Keep in mind that is a minimum requirement. A cow/calf pair will typically require closer to two acres.
How much is a mature steer worth?
Calves usually hit the market weighing around 500 – 600 pounds. Expect steers in this weight range to cost roughly $130 – $140. Heifers in this weight range will cost about $120.
What is the best cut of meat on a steer?
So What are the Best Cuts of Meat From a Cow?
- Chuck roast.
- Bone-in ribs.
- Flat iron steak.
- Ribeye roast.
- Ribeye steak.
- Tenderloin (also called filet mignon)
- Sirloin steak.
- Skirt steak.
What is the best grain to finish a steer?
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. If you do not have access to pasture or if you are finishing during the winter, you might increase the amount of grain to 15-18 lbs.
What is the best grain to feed a steer?
Corn
Corn has the highest energy value and is likely the most economical grain in corn-producing localities. Corn, oats, and barley are the primary grains fed to cattle. Oats, which has a lower energy value due to its high fiber content, is considered the “safest” grain in regards to potential digestive disturbances.
How do you fatten up a steer?
What is the best feed for fattening cattle? Barley is the best grain for lot feeding cattle, but wheat, triticale, sorghum, maize, and oats can be used. Oats is not an ideal grain on its own for cattle fattening but can be used with any of the other grains. Hay or silage could be used as the roughage source.
How long should a cow hang after butchering?
A: Hanging beef in a cooler (at about 38° F) for at least 10 days is recommended to improve tenderness. This process is called aging. This allows the enzymes in the meat to break down the proteins and improve eating quality. The process would also allow the development of flavors associated with the aging process.
Can you feed a steer too much grain?
Grains can accumulate in an animal’s intestines because they lack starch-digesting enzymes. Thus, a high-grain diet can promote an overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens, a bacterium associated with sudden death in feedlot cattle, Russell’s article suggests.
How much meat will a 1000 pound steer yield?
In summary, a steer weighing 1,000 pounds on the hoof will average around 430 pounds of retail cuts (steaks, roasts, ground beef, stew beef, etc.).
What do you feed steers before butchering?
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.
How much weight can you put on a steer in a month?
The range in daily gain can be anywhere between 1.0 and 4.0 lb. depending on the month. When the spring grass dries up, they are sold as 750 lb yearling feeder cattle.
How much does a 2 year old Angus steer weigh?
The 2-year-old weighed 1,082 pounds (4.9), 3-year-olds 1,184 (5), 4-year-olds 1,255 (5), 5-year-olds 1,279 (5.1), 6-year-olds 1,301 (5.2) and the 7-year-olds 1,304 (5.2). One should note that cows keep growing until they reach 7 years of age in this data set.
How old is a 500 pound Angus calf?
One of the most popular beef cows is the Angus cow. When the Angus beef cow is only six months old, it often weighs between 450 and 550 pounds.
How much should a 18 month old Angus steer weigh?
The mean 18-month weight of Hereford males (females) was 496.9 ± 0.7 kg (356.7 ± 1.3 kg), and of Angus males (females) was 455.4 ± 1.0 kg (318.5 ± 1.4 kg).