Beef Research

The vision of the CRF members’ beef research program is to improve the feed efficiency and economics of beef production via research-based feeding programs. Since CRF’s first beef trial in 1960 the members have conducted 322 large scale trials to develop marketable products which increase feed sales and enhance the ability of beef producers to compete in the food arena.  CRF members apply our research to 900,000 metric tons of beef feeds each year.  Together, the CRF members have created a successful beef research program with many highlights such as:

• Dietary DCAD Levels to Manage Intake of Pelleted Grain Mixes by Feedlot Cattle…
  • DCAD levels influence intake and growth rate.
  • Equations can be used to determine appropriate DCAD level to use in self-fed grain mixes to achieve desired intake, growth rate, and feed conversion.
• Supplemental Chromium for Feedlot Cattle…
  • Benefit of 300 ppb chromium fed early in the feedlot to 260 kg steers.
  • Best response when steers had respiratory disease challenges (days 14 to 28 in feedlot).
• Self-limiting pasture supplement program for stocker cattle…
  • Supports consistent gains as pasture maturity and availability changes.
  • Keeps cattle on target to reach the desired weight at shipping deadlines.
  • Prevents producers from hand feeding daily… saving time and labor expense.
• Rumen Modifiers to Limit Pellet Intake of Brood Cows…
  • Rumen modifiers can be used to limit pellet intake of self-fed brood cows short-term.
  • More research is needed to evaluate alternative rumen modifiers.
  • Methods to increase duration of controlled intake are needed.
• Complex supplements for growing and finishing cattle…
  • Markedly better growth rate and improved feed efficiency compared to conventional programs.
  • More profit opportunity for the beef producer.

CRF utilizes universities and private research facilities in the beef research program. Facilities and research capabilities are evaluated by our Research Managers and the CRF Beef Research Team to determine whom will best assist CRF in meeting the research requirements for each specific project.

The CRF members have identified four specific areas of beef production & management that would be advantageous to conduct research in…..

• Cow / Calf:  Develop programs to increase the pounds of beef weaned per exposed cow.
• Stocker/Backgrounder:  Improve feed efficiency, decrease morbidity & mortality, improve value of feeding non-traditional byproducts, develop early weaning/receiving programs, and develop optimal feeding programs for “All-Natural Beef”.
• Finishing:  Develop nutritional programs to promote protein deposition, improve feed efficiency, and optimize carcass quality, develop optimal feeding programs for “All-Natural Beef”, and improve the value & utilization of feeding  byproducts in finishing rations.