Beef Improvement Federation
Defining Efficient Red Meat Production
By Troy Smith
Michael Genho would argue that the U. S. cattle-feeding industry is not as efficient as it thinks it is. Genho, who is director of feedyard business for Elanco Animal Health, said as much in comments delivered to the 2018 Beef Improvement Federation Convention hosted June 20-23 in Loveland, Colo. He suggested that cattle feeders need to look at efficiency differently.
Genho cited a business dictionary definition of economic efficiency as,“ the comparison of what is actually produced or performed with what can be achieved with the same consumption of resources( money, time, labor, etc.).” That means what is actually produced must be compared with optimal production.
“ I would submit that common feedyard efficiency metrics don’ t do that,” said Genho, calling feed conversion ratio the most common efficiency measure. He explained that feed conversion does not account for costs or the value of what is produced.
“ It fails to look at what’ s optimal, not answering the question,‘ efficient compared to what?’” added Genho.
Noting the current practice of feeding cattle to very heavy market weights, Genho acknowledged the reason is to take advantage of marginal profit opportunity. But is it efficient? Genho cited Elanco feedyard data suggesting that it has a negative impact on feed required per pound of carcass weight gain— not live weight gain, but carcass weight gain. The data shows a 20-year trend toward worsening feed conversion among feedyard steers.
Genho believes that many cattle are reaching an optimal end point before managers realize it. Some cattle feed better than expected, hitting their end point earlier than projected.
Therefore, those cattle are not managed effectively for efficiency.
Suggesting a goal of optimal days on feed, Genho said a better endpoint metric is empty body fat( the percentage of body fat in a carcass) calculated from back fat, hot carcass weight, ribeye area and marbling score. Genho said cattle lot averages for empty body fat range from near 27 % to 32 %. However, there is“ a boatload” of variation among animals within a lot.
“ There is a ton of opportunity to improve feed efficiency, but we need to measure it in terms of what is optimal,” stated Genho.“ We need to focus on optimal end point.” I
This article is reprinted with permission from www. BIFconference. com, Angus Media’ s online coverage site of the 2018 Beef Improvement Federation Research Symposium and Annual Meeting.
22 | AUGUST 2018