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Compensatory gain or compensatory feed efficiency is a potential trait of cattle used to predict future performance. When buying cattle, the risks and returns are evaluated every time a "trade" is made. The buyer looks at many factors. Fast decisions are made at the auction barn, observing over the fence, or looking at the video screen. These important observations can effect buying decisions: Are the cattle thin and will they make extra gain? Do they have the genetics for gain potential? Are they healthy? Have they had their virus preconditioning shots before shipment? Do they have extra fill? What will be the weighing conditions of a pasture deal? Are they bunk broke for a fast start? Plus many more observations. Winter Gain at the Expense of Summer Gain A classic example of compensatory gain is the old program of wintering cattle on native grass pasture with a supplement. The winter gain may be only one third pound per day. Then the following summer pasturing period may produce gain up to three pounds per day. Another example of potential compensatory gain is fall and winter grazing of cornstalks, followed by a period on wheat, rye, oat pasture or a feedlot finishing phase Compensatory Cost Performance is the Goal The economic advantage of the extra gain following a period of low gain may be a lack of total gain and money generated for the two periods. If the winter gain is low, the cost of the pasture rent, general expenses and interest may not off set the high gain in the next period. Predicting Compensatory Performance There are so many variables that an accurate prediction is impossible. The University of Nebraska has looked at both the length of time on grazing and restriction in the feedlot before the finishing phase. Further study of this research in the UN 1999 Beef Cattle Report gives a detailed evaluation. The article provides this summary which explains the difficulty of predicting compensation gain or performance: "The range in compensation observed with cattle grazing season-long is 19 to 88 percent. From these grazing studies, days of restriction appears to be related to percent of compensation. In the feedlot, even relatively short restrictions trigger compensatory gain; however, feed efficiency response to compensatory gain is highly variable and difficult to predict." Prediction Analysis Nutritionists and feedlot managers now have many least-cost programs to predict the performance of cattle in growing and finishing programs. The Dalex program by Carl and David Alexander is an aid in evaluating feeding programs and predicting performance. Your nutritionist, feedman or your custom feedlot manager can evaluate a lot of cattle when put on feed and compare the outcome with the actual performance. Direct questions or comments about this article to Dr. Jim Sprague, 1021 N. 2nd, Garden City, KS 67846 or call (316) 276-8966. |
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