Marketing strategy influences optimum marketing date of steers in relation to corn price and days on feed1

Seven trials conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln feeding similar diets were used to evaluate HCW change over the feeding period and to determine the influence of corn price on profit potential on a finished BW and HCW basis. Regression analysis of DP change over the feeding period was used to calculate HCW gain and HCW transfer in relation to BW gain. Economics were calculated with diet costs at $3.50, $5.50, and $7.50/25.4 kg corn price and cattle marketed at 75, 100 (1.2 cm of backfat), and 125% days on feed on both a BW and HCW basis. Results of the analysis demonstrate HCW increased quadratically (P < 0.01) at an increasing rate, whereas BW increased quadratically at a decreasing rate (P < 0.01). Transfer of BW to HCW increased linearly (P < 0.01), reaching 90% at final days on feed. Because DMI increased linearly (P < 0.01) and ADG decreased for both BW (linearly; P < 0.01) and HCW (quadratically; P < 0.01), BW G:F decreased in a linear (P < 0.01) fashion, whereas HCW G:F decreased in a quadratic (P < 0.01) manner. Economic analysis showed, regardless of marketing scheme, cattle received similar returns when marketed at 1.2 cm of backfat for all corn prices. Feeding cattle longer and marketing on a HCW basis observed the greatest returns and minimized losses. Overall, feeding cattle longer increased HCW gain and profit potential when selling on a HCW basis, which provides a biological explanation for the incentive to feed cattle longer.