Source: CLEMSON UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
INTEGRATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT BEEF PRODUCTION SYSTEMS FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA COASTAL PLAINS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0191972
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2002
Project End Date
Jun 30, 2007
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
CLEMSON,SC 29634
Performing Department
ANIMAL & VETERINARY SCIENCES
Non Technical Summary
The National Beef Quality Audit indicates non-uniformity in beef quality, carcass size and taste costs the industry $100's of millions annually. The IRM Beef Production Systems project evaluates the productivity and profitability of integrating EPD's, breeds, crossbreeding, and breed complementarity with available management, feed, forages, herd health, etc. resources into a total conception to consumer production system for South Carolina's Coastal Plains that maximizes genetic and phenotypic uniformity.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3073310106060%
3033310108040%
Knowledge Area
303 - Genetic Improvement of Animals; 307 - Animal Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
3310 - Beef cattle, live animal;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1080 - Genetics;
Goals / Objectives
Evaluate the integration of available and new genetic, nutritional, forage and management resources into efficient, productive, profitable and environmentally-friendly beef production systems for South Carolina's Coastal Plains. 1. Evaluate the effectiveness of using expected progeny differences (EPD's) in sire selection and high accuracy, proven AI sires for genetic improvement in cow-calf production. 2. Evaluate the production of uniform crossbreds with acceptability and profitability for all segments of the beef industry - cow-calf producer, feedlot operator, packer and consumer. 3. Evaluate feedlot, packer and consumer acceptability of the Angus (AN) vs Gelbvieh-Angus (GV-AN), Simmental-Angus (SM-AN) and Charolais-Angus (CH-AN) vs 3/4 AN- 1/4 GV, SM or CH crossbred steers. 4. Evaluate the ability of real time ultrasound measurements taken after a 49-day preconditioning program to predict the carcass yield and quality of finished steers. 5. Perennial cool-season forages for the Coastal Plains vs traditional warm-season grasses and winter annuals will be evaluated for productivity and sustainability under actual cow-calf production conditions. 6. Production, performance and economic analyses will be conducted on all components of the production system. 7. Information developed from this project will be used to educate cattlemen, extension agents and industry about IRM beef cattle production via semiannual field days, semiannual progress reports, extension in-service training and an internet web site.
Project Methods
Three herds of mature cows will be developed to evaluate the productivity and profitability of crossbred cows vs Angus cows: 1. Angus A Herd - 50 mature registered Angus cows with Angus calves 2. Angus B Herd - 60 mature registered Angus cows with 2-breed crossbred calves 3. Crossbred Herd - 30 mature SM-AN, 30 mature GV-AN and 30 mature CH-AN cows with AN sired calves Angus and crossbred replacements will be selected each year and developed to maintain these mature cow herds. In 2002, mature Angus cows will be AI'd one GV bull for crossbreds in 2003. In 2003, mature Angus cows will be AI'd to a SM or CH bull for crossbreds in 2004. Genetic and phenotypic uniformity will also be maximized by mating all crossbred cows to one Angus AI sire each year. The Angus A Herd of mature registered Angus cows will under an intensive genetic improvement program to evaluate the effectiveness of EPD's in sire selection. The Angus B Herd for producing crossbred replacements to maintain the crossbred herds will be developed from the A Herd. A 61-day breeding season (April 1 - May 31) - 30 days synchronized AI then 31 days natural service. The 61-day calving season is January 9 - March 10. Calves will be weaned in September at an average age of 220 days, then preconditioned for 49-days. Steers will be evaluated with real time ultrasound to evaluate phenotypic uniformity and to predict future carcass merit and quality before they are shipped to a western feedlot then harvested to get carcass information. Replacement heifers will be selected from the preconditioned Angus and two-breed crossbred heifers. Mature Angus cows will graze coastal bermuda-bahia-crabgrass pastures, which are overseeded with rye and ryegrass for winter grazing. Mature crossbred cows will graze coastal bermuda and MaxQ fescue pastures. Productivity and sustainability of cool season perennials such as Max-Q fescue and Matua bromegrass will be evaluated. Replacement heifer development will be on prepared land with rye and ryegrass during the winter and hybrid pearl millet in the summer. Grazing management systems for the different forages will also be evaluated. Since this project will be managed as an actual cow-calf operation, no random matings will be made. Sires and cows will be matched to produce genetic objectives for herd improvement. In the Angus herd, sires and years will be confounded. This is not a breed or sire within breed evaluation. Integrating what previous research has shown about using EPD's, heterosis, breeds and breed complementarity into a total production system which minimizes genetic and phenotypic variation is the goal. Within a crossbred cow group, all cows will be sired by one bull. In the Angus herd producing F1 crossbreds, only one sire breed and one AI sire will be used in a year in order to produce enough females to make a functional herd as soon as possible. Crossbred cows will be mated to the same Angus AI sire within a year.

Progress 07/01/02 to 06/30/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Charolais-Angus, , Gelbvieh-Angus, Polled Hereford-Angus and Simmental-Angus two-breed crossbred calves were produced in Phase 1 of the project. The last calf crop was produced in January-February, 2006 and weaned in August, 2006. The steers were preconditioned for 45-days before they were shipped in October, 2006 to the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity Program in southwest Iowa to collect feedlot and carcass data. This final data collection for Phase 1 was completed in May, 2007. The crossbred birth, preweaning and postweaning data is currently being compiled and analyzed for preparation of a manuscript for publication. With the 2007 calf crop, all four groups of two-breed crossbred females produced in Phase 1 are in production in Phase 2, which will evaluate the productivity of the crossbred cows. South Carolina was in a very severe drought throughout 2007. Forage production for grazing and hay production were well below normal and very limited at times. There was no stockpiling of MaxQ fescue and Tifton-85 Bermudagrass in the fall of 2007 or work on the development of grazing management systems utilizing these new forage varieties. A progress report on Phase 1 was presented to 125 cattlemen, extension agents and agribusiness people at the 2007 Edisto Fall Field Day on September 6, 2007. Development of the IRM Beef Production Systems web site continued with the addition of 2007 genetic, production and economic information developed for each of the functioning components of the project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Cow-calf producers, extension agents and agribusiness people

Impacts
On average, two-breed crossbred calves are 5% heavier at weaning, at yearling and on the rail than straightbred calves due to individual heterosis or hybrid vigor. They have greater value and profitability at these endpoints. Cow-calf operations that utilize the advantages of the crossbreeding should have higher pregnancy rates, sell more pounds of calf at weaning and have significantly higher income and profitability. Preconditioning calves for 45-days after weaning before they are marketed increased profitability $50-125 per calf over selling them at weaning during the last five years. Even if a producer retains ownership thru the feedlot period, preconditioning improves feedlot performance, profitability and carcass merit by greatly reducing feedlot death losses, sickness and days on feed. The average cost of a feedlot steer getting sick is estimated at $95 per head due to reduced performance, more days on feed, reduced carcass weight and lower carcass quality. If available, grazing stockpiled MaxQ fescue and Bermudagrass will significantly reduced the number of days for feeding of hay in the fall before the start of the calving season - 30-35 lbs/hd/day for mature cows and 20-25 lbs/day for 2-year-olds. When hay is $120 per ton or $0.06 per pound, stockpiling significantly reduces winter feed costs $1.80-2.10 per mature cow per day and increases profitability.

Publications

  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2007. IRM Beef Production Systems web site: http://www.clemson.edu/edisto/beef/beef.htm.


Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06

Outputs
The last calf crop of the four two-breed crossbred calves was produced in the 2006 Crossbred 1 Cow-Calf Production component - Charolais x Angus, Gelbvieh x Angus, Polled Hereford x Angus and Simmental x Angus. The first calf crop was produced in the 2006 Crossbred 2 1st-Calf Heifer Development component from breeding two-breed crossbred heifers to Angus bulls. After weaning in mid-August, the crossbred calves from both crossbred components were preconditioned for 45 days. All of the crossbred steers were shipped to the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity Cooperative to get feedlot performance and carcass data. This final group of two-breed crossbred heifers were sent to the 2007 Crossbred 2 Yearling Heifer Development component for development and breeding in spring, 2007. The second group of two-breed crossbred heifers were bred to Angus bulls in the 2006 Crossbred 2 Yearling Development component. Pregnant heifers then went into the 2007 Crossbred 2 1st-Calf Heifer Development component. AI matings were made in the 2006 Angus Cow-Calf Production and Angus 1st-Calf Heifer Development components to produce bulls in 2007 with a range of % intramuscular fat expected progeny differences {EPD's) for use in the Crossbred 2 components. The 2006 Progress Report was published and distrubuted to 250 cattlemen, extension agents and agribusinessmen at the 2006 Edisto Fall Field Day on September 7, 2006. Presentations were made to this audience on 2006 results from the IRM project components to this audience. The progress report information was added to the IRM Beef Production Systems web site.

Impacts
Profitability of Angus cows producing crossbred calves in Crossbred 1 Cow-Calf Production per calf weaned was $519.87 above out-of-pocket production costs, if all calves were sold at weaning. Preconditioning after weaning for 45 days increased profitability to $588.96 per calf weaned. Two-breed crossbred cows producing 3/4 Angus calves in Crossbred 2 1st-Calf Heifer Development had a profitability above out-of-pocket production costs of $430.83 per calf weaned if all calves were marketed at weaning. Preconditioing these calves for 45 days after weaning increased profitability to $484.38 per calf weaned. Grazing stockpiled MaxQ fescue in the fall from mid-October to mid-December significantly reduced the number of days and amount of hay and cottonseed that were fed before the start of the calving season in early January. Reducing winter feed costs increases profitability.

Publications

  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2006. 2006 Preconditioning Program Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. 2006 Progress Report. p 26.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2006. 2006 Angus Cow-Calf Production Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. 2006 Progress Report. p 3.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2006. 2006 Angus 1st-Calf Heifer Development Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. 2006 Progress Report. p 7.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2006. 2006 Angus Yearling Heifer Development Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. 2006 Progress Report. p 11.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2006. 2006 Crossbred 1 Cow-Calf Production Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. 2006 Progress Report. p 13.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2006. 2006 Crossbred 2 Cow-Calf Production Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. 2006 Progress Report. p 16.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2006. 2006 Crossbred 2 1st-Calf Heifer Development Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. 2006 Progress Report. p 20.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2006. 2006 Crossbred 2 Yearling Heifer Development Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. 2006 Progress Report. p 23.


Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
The 2005 calf crop in the Crossbred 1 Cow-Calf Production component was the first in which all 4 types of two-breed crossbred calves were produced - Charolais-Angus, Simmental-Angus, Gelbvieh-Angus and Polled Hereford-Angus. The first group of Charolais-Angus and Simmental-Angus yearling heifers along with Gelbvieh-Angus heifers in the Crossbred 2 Yearling Heifer Development component were bred to Angus bulls. In the Crossbred 2 1st-Calf Heifer Development component, the first group of Gelbvieh-Angus crossbred heifers produced 3/4 Angus calves. After all of the two-breed and Angus backcross crossbred calves were preconditioned for 49-days in the Preconditioning Program component, the steers were shipped to Lane County Feeders at Dighton, KS to get feedlot and carcass data. This was the second group of crossbred steers in the Feedlot-Carcass component. The 2005 Progress Report was published and distributed to 250 farmers, extension agents and agribusness people at the 2005 Edisto Fall Field Day on September 1, 2005. Five presentations on 2005 results of components were made to this audience. Development of the IRM Beef Production Systems web site continued with the addition of generated in the components of the project. Grazing MaxQ fescue and Tifton-85 bermudagrass continued to be evaluated. Also, the economic impact of stockpiling MaxQ in the fall to reduced winter feed costs continued to be evaluated.

Impacts
Grazing stockpiled MaxQ fescue from late October, 2004 until early January, 2005 eliminated feeding hay and cottonseed to 90 dry, pregnant cows in the Crossbred 1 Cow-Calf Production component for 77 days before the start of the calving season. In the Angus Cow-Calf Production component, stockpiled MaxQ saved 66 days of hay and cottonseed feeding to 70 cows.

Publications

  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2006 Angus Yearling Heifer Development Summary . IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 21.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2006 Crossbred 1 Cow-Calf Production Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 22.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2006 Crossbred 1 1st-Calf Heifer Development Summary . IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 24.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2006 Crossbred 2 1st-Calf Heifer Development Summary . IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 26.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2006 Crossbred 2 Yearling Heifer Development Summary . IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 27.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2006 Preconditioning Program Summary . IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 28.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2005 Feedlot & Carcass Summary . IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 37.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2005 Angus Cow-Calf Production Summary . IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 2.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2005 Angus 1st-Calf Heifer Development Summary . IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 6.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2005 Angus Yearling Heifer Development Summary . IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 8.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2005 Crossbred 1 Cow-Calf Production Summary . IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 10.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2005 Crossbred 2 1st-Calf Heifer Development Summary . IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 13.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2005 Crossbred 2 Yearling Heifer Development Summary . IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 16.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2006 Angus Cow-Calf Production Summary . IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 18.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2005. 2006 Angus 1st-Calf Heifer Development Summary . IRM Beef Production Systems. 2005 Progress Report. p 20.


Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
The 2004 calf crop was the first in which Charolais-, Simmental- and Gelbvieh-Angus crossbred calves were produced. The first group of yearling Gelbvieh-Angus crossbred heifers were bred by natural service to an Angus bull. In the Preconditioning component, 21Gelbvieh-Angus and 44 Angus steers were preconditioned for 49 days. Then, they were shipped to the Precision Beef Alliance program in southwest Iowa to collect feedlot and carcass data. The Angus Cow-Calf Production component reached the 70-head goal in Fall, 2004 with the addition of 20 donated and 7 purchased registered Angus cows. The decision was made to add Hereford-Angus crossbreds to Crossbred Cow-Calf Production Phase 2 to serve as a reference crossbred group. All commercial Angus 1st-calf heifers in the Angus Heifer Development component were bred to two Polled Hereford bulls by artificial insemination in April, 2004. Ninety Angus cows in Crossbred Cow-Calf Production Phase 1 produced Charolais-, Simmental- and Gelbvieh-Angus crossbred calves. Work on the development of grazing management systems utilizing new forage varieties of MaxQ fescue and Tifton-85 bermudagrass was initiated. The 2004 Progress report was published and distributed to 300 participants at the 2004 Edisto Fall Field Day on September 2, 2004. Development of the IRM Beef Production Systems web site continued with the addition of information development in the functioning components of the project.

Impacts
Grazing stockpiled MaxQ fescue in the fall eliminated the feeding of hay in the fall before the start of the calving season. Feeding Tifton-85 bermudagrass hay when cows were moved to the calving pastures eliminated the need to supplement dry, pregnant cows with cottonseed. Both practices significantly reduce winter feed costs and increased profitability.

Publications

  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2004 Updates and Additions to the IRM Beef Production Systems web site: http://www.clemson.edu/edisto/beef/beef.htm
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2005 Angus Cow-Calf Production. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 3.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2004 Angus Cow-Calf Production. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 11.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2005 Angus 1st-Calf Heifer Development. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 19.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2004 Angus 1st-Calf Heifer Development. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 24.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2005 Angus Yearling Heifer Development. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 29.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2004 Angus Yearling Heifer Development. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 34.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2005 Crossbred Cow-Calf Production. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 38.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2004 Crossbred Cow-Calf Production - Phase 1. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 47.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2005 Crossbred 1st-Calf Heifer Development. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 52.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2005 Crossbred Yearling Heifer Development. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 57.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2004 Crossbred Yearling Heifer Development. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 63.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2005 Herd Bulls. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 66.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2004 Preconditioning Program. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 74.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2005 Preconditioning Program. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 80.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Davis. 2004. 2004 Retained Ownership - Feedlot and Carcass Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems Project 2004 Progress Report. Edisto Research & Education Center. Blackville, SC. p 86.


Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03

Outputs
The Angus Cow-Calf Production component was increased with the addition of raised, bred coming 3-year-olds and more breeder donated cows. With the addition of 52 acres of grazing as part of the Forages and Grazing Management component, the Angus Cow-Calf Production component herd will be increased from 50 to 70 cows.In 2003, the first calf crop of crossbred calves was produced in the Crossbred Cow-Calf Production - Phase 1 component - Gelbvieh sires, Angus dams. In order to make Charolais-Angus and Simmental-Angus crossbred females for the Crossbred Cow-Calf Production - Phase 2 component, these Angus cows were AI'd to a Charolais and Simmental bull. Cleanup breeding was with a Charolais, Gelbvieh or Angus-Gelbvieh bull. All of the Angus and Gelbvieh-Angus calves went through the Precondtioning Program componet after weaning. After 52-day preconditioning program, the Gelbvieh-Angus heifers went into the Crossbred Heifer Development component for development and breeding to AN bulls in spring, 2004. In order to gather feedlot and carcass data, all of the AN and GV-AN steers produced in the IRM project were sent to Iowa in late October to be fed out in the Iowa State University extension sponsored Precision Beef Alliance program. No steers have been harvested at this time. Charolais-Angus and Simmental-Angus embryos were transfered into 28 mixed crossbred cows to accelerate initial production of the crossbred females for Phase 2. Components of the IRM Beef Production Systems project were featured in two field days - 2003 Edisto Forage Field Day on May 17, 2003 and the 2003 Edisto Fall Field Day on September 4, 2003. Approximately 400 farmers, extension agents and agribusiness people participated in these two events. Over 50 pages of information was added to the IRM Beef Production Systems web site during 2003. Several state and county presentations were made based on results of the 2003 IRM Beef Production Systems program. A progress report was not published and distrubuted in 2003 because of the 20% budget cuts during the year.

Impacts
Although crossbred cows will not be in production until winter of 2005, the Forages and Grazing Management component has already produced some important benefits. MaxQ fescue can be grown on Coastal Plains farms that have wetter areas with less sandy soils. The addition of the cool-season perrienial grass can extend spring grazing and fill the gap between winter annuals and warm season grasses such as coastal bermuda and bahiagrass. Stockpiling MaxQ in the fall so dry, pregnant cows can graze it in November and December can signifcantly reduce annual cow-calf production costs and increase profitability by decreasing the amount of hay fed before calving season begins. As a result of this work in the IRM project, several Coastal Plains cow-calf producers have already added this new forage to their forage programs.

Publications

  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2003. IRM Beef Production Systems web site: http://www.clemson.edu/edisto/beef/beef.htm.


Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02

Outputs
Spring, 2002 and Fall, 2002 progress reports were published and distributed to 400 producers, extension agents and agribusiness people attending the 2002 Edisto Spring Field Day and 2002 Edisto Fall Field Day. A web site was created. The Angus Cow-Calf Production component herd of registered Angus cows - the base herd for developing and maintaining the other components - was expanded to 54 head with donations of cows from breeders and the transfer of 15 cows from the Clemson Beef Unit. In the Crossbred Cow-Calf Production - Phase 1 and Angus Heifer Development components, 80 commercial Angus cows and 1st-calf, 2-year-old heifers were AI'd to a Gelbvieh bull to produce F-1 two-breed crossbred calves in January-February, 2003. These Gelbvieh-Angus females will be developed in Crossbred Heifer Development for Crossbred Cow-Calf Production - Phase 2. After weaning, the crossbred steers will be preconditioned then sent to a feedlot, probably in Iowa, to get feedlot and carcass information. In order to speed up the creation of Simmental-Angus and Charolais-Angus females for Phase 2, 14 mature Angus and 46 mature mixed crossbred cows plus 8 2-year-old mixed crossbred heifers were brought in from the Clemson Beef Unit as embryo transfer recipents. Frozen embryos from flushing 7 donated registered Angus cows to either a Simmental or Charolais. 122 steers and heifers were preconditioned for 49-days after weaning last fall. The Preconditioning Program component is the first step in Angus and Crossbred Heifer Development. In the Forages and Grazing Management component, several demonstrations evaluating forages such as Matua, switchgrass, MaxQ fescue, several ryegrass varieties and a hybrid pearl millet variety were conducted. Some of these demos were in cooperation with county extension agents and commercial companies.

Impacts
Increasing the phenotypic and genetic uniformity of calves increases their value and profitability for cow-calf producers, feedlots and packers. Performance and carcass merit are more predictable. A cool-season perrienal grass in conjunction with the base forages of coastal bermudagrass and bahiagrass has the potential to reduce winter feed needs and costs, increase calf performance and increase profitability of cow-calf operations.

Publications

  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Cow-Calf Production. Calving Season. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 11.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Cow-Calf Production. Estrus Synchronization and AI Breeding Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 12.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Replacement Heifer Development - Yearling Heifers. Management Plan. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 21.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Replacement Heifer Development - Yearling Heifers. EPD's. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 24.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Replacement Heifer Development - Yearling Heifers. Yearling Performance. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 26.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Replacement Heifer Development - Yearling Heifers. Target Breeding Weights. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 28.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Replacement Heifer Development - Yearling Heifers. Estrus Synchronization and AI Breeding Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 33.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Replacement Heifer Development - 1st-calf Heifers. Management Plan. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 42.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Replacement Heifer Development - 1st-calf Heifers . EPD's. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Report. p 45.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Replacement Heifer Development - 1st-calf Heifers. Calves. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 46.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Replacement Heifer Development - 1st-calf Heifers . Calving Season. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 47.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Replacement Heifer Development - 1st-calf Heifers . Estrus Synchronization and AI Breeding Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 48.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Crossbred Cow-Calf Production Program - Phase 1. Management Plan. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 55.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Crossbred Cow-Calf Production Program - Phase 1. EPD's. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 58.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Crossbred Cow-Calf Production Program - Phase 1. Calves. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 60.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Crossbred Cow-Calf Production Program - Phase 1. Calving Season. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 62.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Crossbred Cow-Calf Production Program - Phase 1. Estrus Synchronization and AI Breeding Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 63.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. Forages. MaxQ Tall Fescue. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 71.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. Grants & Industry Support. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 4.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Cow-Calf Production. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 6.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Cow-Calf Production. Management Plan. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 9.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Cow-Calf Production. Calf Performance. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 12.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Cow-Calf Production. Production Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 15.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Cow-Calf Production. Annual Production Costs, Income and Profitability. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 16.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Heifer Development - Yearling Heifers. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 19.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Heifer Development - Yearling Heifers. Management Plan. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 20.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Heifer Development - Yearling Heifers. Production Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems Center. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 23.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Heifer Development - Yearling Heifers. Annual Production and Net Costs. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 24.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Heifer Development - 1st-calf Heifers. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 28.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Heifer Development - 1st-calf Heifers. Management Plan. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 30.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Heifer Development - 1st-calf Heifers. Calf Performance. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 33.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Heifer Development - 1st-calf Heifers. Production Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems Center. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 36.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Heifer Development - 1st-calf Heifers. Annual Production Costs, Income and Profitability. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 37.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Crossbred Cow-Calf Production - Phase 1. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 40.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Crossbred Cow-Calf Production - Phase 1. Managment Plan. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 43.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Preconditioning Program - Management Plan. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 23.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Crossbred Cow-Calf Production - Phase 1. Production Summary. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 49.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Crossbred Cow-Calf Production - Phase 1. Annual Production Costs, Income and Profitability. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 50.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Preconditioning Program. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 53.
  • 2002 Preconditioning Program. Management Plan. IRM Beef Production Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 54
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2003 Angus Cow-Calf Production. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 56.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2003 Angus Cow-Calf Production. Genetic Trends. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 57.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2003 Angus Cow-Calf Production. EPD's. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 58.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2003 Angus Heifer Development - Yearling Heifers. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 68.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2003 Angus Heifer Development - Yearling Heifers. EPD's. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 69.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2003 Angus Heifer Development - 1st-calf Heifers. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 71.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2003 Angus Heifer Development - 1st-calf Heifers. EPD's. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 73.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2003 Crossbred Cow-Calf Production - Phase 1. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 81.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2003 Crossbred Cow-Calf Production - Phase 1. EPD's. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 83.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. Forages and Grazing Management. IRM Beef Production Systems Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 88.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. Forages and Grazing Management. 2002 MaxQ Tall Fescue. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 92.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. Forages and Grazing Management. 2002 Winter Grazing. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 93.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. Forages and Grazing Management. 2002 Pennleaf Hybrid Pearl Millet. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progess Report. p 95.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. Forages and Grazing Management. 2003 Winter Grazing. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 96.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Crossbred Cow-Calf Production - Phase 1. Calf Performance. IRM Beef Production Systems. Fall - 2002 Progress Report. p 46.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. IRM Beef Production Systems web site: http://www.clemson.edu/edisto/beef/beef.htm
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. Grants & Industry Support. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 4.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Cow-Calf Production. Management Plan. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 5.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Cow-Calf Production. EPD's. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 8.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Cow-Calf Production. Genetic Trends. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 9.
  • Olson, Larry W. and Rebecca H. Williams. 2002. 2002 Angus Cow-Calf Production. Calves. IRM Beef Production Systems. Spring - 2002 Progress Report. p 10.