Effect of corn- and soybean hull-based creep feed and backgrounding diets on lifelong performance and carcass traits of calves from pasture and rangeland conditions1

Industry perceived lifelong benefits associated with starch-based creep feeding are increased weight gain and improved carcass quality. The objective of the following studies was to investigate the lifelong effect of creep feeding within 3 separate environments. These environments included spring calving with bermudagrass pastures, fall calving with ryegrass pastures, and fall calving with native range. Creep intake was targeted at 1% BW, as-fed, beginning 90 d before weaning. Creep feeding increased preweaning ADG for bermudagrass (P = 0.01) and native range (P < 0.01) environments, but not in the ryegrass (P = 0.18) environment. Backgrounding diet energy source did not affect backgrounding ADG for the bermudagrass (P > 0.10) or ryegrass (P > 0.10) environment. Creep-fed calves on bermudagrass and native range entered the feedlot at a heavier weight than those not offered creep feed (P = 0.01 and P = 0.06, respectively). Creep feeding, source of creep feed (corn versus soybean hulls), and backgrounding energy source (corn versus soybean hulls) did not affect (P ≥ 0.67) USDA QG (as reported in the bermudagrass- and ryegrass-based studies) or marbling score (as reported in the native range study). In conclusion, creep feeding improved ADG of calves in environments of lower forage quality (bermudagrass and native range), with the additional weight carrying over into feedlot entry. Creep feeding, whether corn- or soybean hull-based, did not improve marbling or carcass QG.