13 Effect of housing cow-calf pairs on dry lots vs pasture on calf performance and behavior

Abstract

Abstract The objectives were to analyze the effects of housing cow-calf pairs in dry lots (DL) or pasture (PAST) on calf performance and behavior through the receiving phase. Simmental × Angus (n = 108; 87 ± 11.5 d postpartum) spring-calving cows were stratified by age, BW, BCS, and calf sex and allotted to six groups. Cows were limit-fed a ration consisting of corn silage, dried distillers grain, corn stalks, dry rolled corn (DRC), and soybean hulls to meet protein and energy requirements. Calves had ad libitum access to same diet in an adjacent pen. Calves on PAST were rotationally grazed with free-choice mineral. After weaning (177 ± 11.5 d of age) all calves were fed a diet consisting of corn silage, wet distiller grains, DRC, and grass hay during the receiving phase (42 d). At the age 87, 142, 177, 198, and 219 ± 11.5 d, BW was measured. Hair coat score (HCS) and dirt score (DS) were measured on d 0 and d 90. Calf behavior was observed after feedlot arrival. Average daily gain, DMI and feed efficiency were also analyzed. The data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Dry-lot calves had greater (P < 0.01) BW and ADG prior to weaning. Calves from PAST had lower (P < 0.01) DS and greater (P < 0.01) HCS at weaning. Upon feedlot arrival, more (P < 0.01) DL calves were walking and had increased (P < 0.01) vocalizations. Calves from PAST had greater (P < 0.01) ADG, DMI as a percent of BW, and gain:feed than DL calves during the receiving phase. Calves raised in a dry lot had greater BW and ADG prior to weaning, but PAST calves had fewer behavioral signs of stress and greater growth performance in feedlot.