Results from an intensive study of growth and development of Jersey steer calves fed at different energy levels for lean meat production will be presented during a seminar on Thursday, July 2 following the annual meeting of National All-Jersey Inc. at the DoubleTree Hotel Syracuse, Syracuse, N.Y. The seminar begins at 9:30 a.m. at and is open to the public. It will also be broadcast by webinar for those not able to attend in person.
Dr. Chad Mueller and Garrett Tschida from Oregon State University will discuss findings from their research, initiated in October of 2007 after being selected for funding by National All-Jersey Inc. This is the most intensive research project on this topic financed to date by the USJersey organizations, based in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
“Beef operations have an interest in feeding Jersey calves for meat production due to the low input costs and the propensity to generate high quality, marbled carcasses,” Dr. Mueller explained in 2007. “However, due to a lack of known growth parameters, feedlot operators are simply using trial-and-error to feed out these calves. This has resulted in over-conditioned carcasses and reduced growth efficiencies, both of which have limited the usefulness of Jersey steers in feedlot operations.”
“We expect the results of this study to enable feedlot operators to optimally feed Jersey steer calves to maximize financial returns while achieving optimal growth and meeting consumer demand for high quality, marbled beef,” said Dr. Mueller.