Comparison of Machine Milkout and Calf Nursing Techniques for Estimating Milk Yields of Various Two-Breed Cross Range Cows

13.5 Ib indicated a very desirable level of tenderness. A high level of consumer acceptability would be anticipated for meat from these carcasses. An economic evaluation of feedlot performance ofCharolais and Limousin sired steers and heifers is presented in Table 4. Feed costs, overhead costs and carcass sale value were based on prevailing prices for January 7, 1980. Limousin sired steers returned $11.16 more per head above feedlot expense than Charolais sired steers. Conversely, Charolais cross heifers returned $36.98 more per head than Limousin cross heifers. There is no apparent reason for the relatively large differences in feedlot performance and carcass traits between Limousin cross steers and heifers as compared to the Charolais cross steers and heifers. Additional data will be required to clarify these sex differences. Although these Charolais and Limousin bulls were mated to a diverse group of crossbred cows, calves produced were quite uniform in muscling and conformation, performed adequately in the feedlot and yielded very desirable carcasses. These data would suggest that eith.er sire breed could be successfully utilized in a terminal cross mating system. The choice of available bulls within each of these breeds may be as important as the selection of breed to sire the calves.