Effects of Silage-Based Diets and Cattle Efficiency Type on Performance, Profitability, and Predicted CH4 Emission of Backgrounding Steers

Feed costs are the largest expense in commercial beef production. Increasing cattle (Bos taurus) feed efficiency should reduce feed costs and increase beef profitability. This study used data from two years of a backgrounding trial conducted in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. The evaluation looked at economic and predicted CH4 emission impacts of diet quality and cattle efficiency type in backgrounding systems. The hypothesis was that diet quality from use of barley (Hordeum vulgare c.v. Canmore) or triticale (x Triticosecale c.v. Bunker) silage-based diets and cattle efficiency type defined by residual feed intake would interact to affect profitability and CH4 emissions. Effects of diet and cattle efficiency type on profitability and CO(2)e emissions were assessed using statistical and stochastic risk simulation. The profitability of beef backgrounding was affected by cattle efficiency type and diet quality with higher quality barley silage also lowering CO(2)e emissions. The difference in certainty equivalent (CAD~30 steer(-1)) of efficient steers on barley silage and inefficient steers on barley silage or efficient or inefficient steers on triticale silage supports a beef backgrounding producer focus on diet quality and cattle efficiency type. This study did not address potential agronomic differences, including yield, which could provide nuance to forage choice.