Mississippi Cattle Producers Gain Insight into Temperament Effects on Feedlot Performance and Subsequent Meat Quality

The Mississippi Farm to Feedlot program has supplied producers with information about feedlot cattle performance since 1993. To add to this information, the effects of temperament score on feedlot growth performance and subsequent carcass value were evaluated. Steers consigned to the Farm to Feedlot program in 2004 were evaluated for temperament in a cattle restraint chute [chute scores (CS) ranged from 1 = calm and no movement to 5 = rearing, twisting, or struggling] and for pen temperament [pen score (PS) ranged from 1 = nonaggressive, docile, not excited by humans or facilities to 5 = very aggressive, excitable, runs into fences and toward humans]. Analyses were conducted to determine the effects of feed group and farm of origin and correlations of exit velocity (EV) and chute and pen temperament with feedlot performance. Exit velocity and PS were positively correlated (r = 0.70; P < 0.0001). Farm of origin had a direct effect on PS, CS, and EV. Sire breed had an effect on CS, PS, EV, pay and final weight, total gain, ADG, hot carcass weight, and USDA QG and YG. Medicine costs, days treated, and net profits were influenced by PS and EV. As EV increased, final BW, total gain, and ADG decreased (P < 0.05). As EV increased, there was a tendency for net returns to decrease and the number of days treated to increase (P < 0.07). These results indicate the importance of educating beef cattle producers on cattle temperament and its relationship to cattle feeding production and economic measures.