What makes the ideal feedlot weaner?

This article looked at what the feedlot manager looks for in an animal.

Quality is in the eyes of the beholder. That saying should be the guiding maxim of the man who has the job of buying for feedlots and finishing off the animals. So says Dave Ford Kanhym, feedlots manager at Middelburg and Pietermaritzburg. He is responsible for finishing 198 000 cattle a year at these feedlots. Buying calves at the price higher than the going market price for beef and finishing them in a feedlot over 100 to 120 days needs somebody who knows exactly what they are doing and how to assess an animal’s potential. Otherwise, they won’t be in business for long. 

The ideal feedlot animal utilises the least feed per kilogram gained, has a good final carcass mas of 220-240kg, and grades Super after 120 to 130 days. Feedlots are looking for animals with good potential and frames on which beef can be packed economically. Ford says the purchase price of the initial calf comprises 66% of the total cost of feedlotters. Feed is the next highest cost at 22%, overheads 10% and interest 2%. “It is therefore vital that the 66% is spent to the best advantage to the feedlotter.”

 Expressed in terms of a financial carcass mass of 220kg, dressing at 57%, he says the feedlotter has in effect bought 230kg weaner dressing at a 100kg carcass or 50% of the slaughter carcass. “The feedlotter therefore buys half and produces half.”

DESIRABLE CARCASS