Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Profitability of Steers Sired by Terminal vs. Maternal Bulls

Steer progeny (n = 80) produced by mating British crossbred females to one of three terminal (Charolais) sires or one of five maternal (Angus or Red Angus-Composite) sires were evaluated from birth to harvest to compare the effects of sire type (terminal vs. maternal) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and net return per head. Steers sired by terminal bulls were heavier (P < 0.05) at most stages of production from birth to harvest, and grew faster (P < 0.05) from birth to weaning compared with steers sired by maternal bulls. Feed intake was greater (P < 0.05) for terminal-cross steers, but feed conversion and cost of gain during finishing were not affected by sire type. Carcasses of steers sired by terminal bulls were heavier (P <0.05) than carcasses from steers sired by maternal sires, however, carcass grade traits did not differ between the two groups. Profitability of the two groups was compared using two different marketing scenarios. In the first scenario, which simulated selling calves at weaning, progeny of terminal sires would have generated more (P <0.05) gross revenue and $39.52 more net return per head than did calves sired by maternal bulls. In the second scenario, which involved retained ownership through harvest, terminalcross calves generated more (P < 0.05) gross revenue per head than did maternal-cross calves and returned an average of $83.66 more net revenue per head than did maternal-cross calves.