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Holstein Finishing Diets

The lack of profitability in cattle farming has induced farmers to closely monitor Holstein management programs. Of the four million Holstein calves born in the United States annually, the majority are raised for beef production. Finishing diets in Holstein cattle for meat production influence the quality of the flesh and dollar amount at which the beef can be sold.

  1. Meat From Holstein Dairy Cows

    • The average dairy cow is utilized for milk production for approximately two lactation periods. Afterward, they are slaughtered for their meat. However, meat from dairy cows can be very tough. The composition of a finishing diet can produce leaner and tenderer meat. A study published in the January 2011 issue of "Meat Science" evaluated a finishing diet to improve the quality of meat from dairy cows. The researchers used 10 pairs of Holstein dairy cows, sired by the same bull. Within each pair, one was fed a compensatory diet of barley straw and water for four days followed by a high-energy and protein diet for six weeks. The study found that the texture and the flavor of the meat improved and a lower shear force was required to cut the carcasses.

    Steam-Flaking of Corn

    • An article appearing in the January 2011 issue of the "Journal of Animal Science" compared finishing diets of steam-flaked white corn and conventional yellow dent corn. The researchers implanted cannulas, tubes to collect samples, into the digestive tracts of four Holstein steers to monitor the digestion of their feed. The study found that steam-flaked white corn increased starch and total nitrogen digestion and that steam-flaking greatly increases the feeding value.

    Straw and Grass Diets

    • The July 2010 issue of "Meat Science" included an article to evaluate finishing diets on meat quality. The study included 56 Holstein dairy cows that were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group that was slaughtered on the first day, a group fed a 25:75 percentage diet of straw to grass and a third group that was fed grass ad litum. The study found that the cows fed the grass and straw diets reached the optimum slaughter weight of 600 lbs (cold carcass weight) more than 30 days before the others.

    Dry-Rolled Corn

    • A study in the November 2009 issue of the "Journal of Animal Science" evaluated the digestibility of diets consisting of dry-rolled or steam-flaked corn in Holstein steers. The researchers implanted cannulas into the digestive tracts of the steers and monitored the test animals for 15 days. The study found that steers fed dry-rolled corn excreted less starch as compared to those fed steam-flaked corn, which indicated greater digestion and absorbance of starch. The authors concluded that dry-rolled processing of corn significantly increases its nutritional value for steer.

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