Located on the western side of the farm are 22 individual two acre paddocks.  This is the location of the grazing trials that USDA FAPRU conducts every summer at Eden Shale. This season once again, the paddocks were utilized for the purpose of USDA research.

For the past three years we have used the paddocks to develop our replacement heifers.  With enough data gathered for the girls, we decided this year to use the boys. 

40 of our 2023 spring born steers were the subjects of this year’s study. After weaning last fall, the steers were coasted through the winter on stockpiled fescue, grass hay, and a minimal amount of grain.

For this group of steers I calculated their average daily gain from birth to marketing.  Assuming a 75 pound average birth weight this group of steers gained 508 lbs in 180 days. Their weaning weight average was 583 lbs. This resulted in 2.8 lb ADG at weaning.

The next phase was fall/winter (weaning to grass turnout). This was 233 days long and they added another 330 lbs of gain (total 913 lbs) resulting in 1.4 lb ADG.

The final phase was summer grazing in the paddocks as part of the USDA trial. Summer grazing resulted in an additional 120 lbs in 97 days (total 1,033 lbs) resulting in a 1.2 lb ADG. In all, from birth to marketing the steers had a 2.1 ADG while at Eden Shale.

Just as in previous years, we sold our steers directly to the same feedyard in Illinois. This year we shipped the steers on August 21st, at an average age of 16 months.  We weighed and loaded out at Blue Grass Stockyards in Lexington. Once hauled and shrank the pay weight for the steers was 995 lbs. We got $2.28/lb or approximately $2,270/head.
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I was pleased with the performance of this group of steers, and with the market upturn proved to be profitable as well.  After investing 25 months in a calf crop isn’t that all that we can hope for?