A total of 395 calves (180 ± 25 kg) were purchased from sale barns in Oklahoma and Texas in the fall of 3 consecutive years to measure the effect of USDA feeder cattle frame and muscle grades on performance and profitability. Individual purchase weight and price were recorded, and steers were assigned USDA feeder cattle grades of Large (LG), Medium (MED), or Small (SM) frame size and Number 1 or Number 2 muscle thickness by the same official USDA market graders. Steers were grazed on rye pasture and were then valued by commercial order buyers in frame and muscle grade groups. Muscle grade did not affect (P > 0.60) animal performance or profitability during the grazing phase. Grazing ADG increased linearly (P < 0.001) as frame grade increased, but purchase price was lower (P < 0.001) for SM steers than for MED and LG frame steers, respectively, resulting in greater (P < 0.001) grazing-phase net returns for SM steers. Following finishing on a high-concentrate diet, the lesser total weight gain during finishing of SM steers (P < 0.001) resulted in lesser per animal revenue. Feed and interest costs were also less (P < 0.001) and marbling score greater (P < 0.001) for SM steers, resulting in greater finishing net returns and carcass price. In a post hoc analysis in which frame and muscle grades were reassigned to cattle based on HCW and LM area, only 44% of the cattle remained in their original grade.

The stocker cattle grazing enterprise in the Southern Plains regions of the United States is an important economic activity. The objective of the study was to determine the difference in the expected net return of a no-till forage establishment system relative to the intensive clean-till establishment system typically used in the region. Results show a reduction in fuel, lube, repairs and labor expenses, and fixed machinery costs of the conventionaltill system outweigh the expenses associated with herbicide and herbicide application of the no-till system. Over the eight-year duration of the study, the no-till system realized an average of 11 greater days of grazing compared to the conventional-till system. The expected net return of the no-till establishment system was $36.44 per acre greater than the conventionaltill system; however, this economic advantage is sensitive to relative differences in cattle performance between systems. It is also sensitive to the price of herbicide and price of diesel fuel.

Implementation of best management practices into the beef cow enterprise is critical for long-term success. Previous literature suggests that pregnancy testing is valuable to the beef cow operation; however, less than half of producers in the southern Plains region of the United States utilize pregnancy testing. The objective of this research is to determine the expected value of pregnancy testing and the subsequent adoption of an effective culling practice on first-time non-pregnant beef cows relative to a system that does not use pregnancy testing or a culling strategy. Results show that the value of adopting pregnancy testing and an effective culling practice for first-time non-pregnant cows ranged between $54 and $76 head -1, depending upon the year. With the cost of pregnancy testing ranging between $2 and $5 head -1, the value of the risk-reducing information gleaned from pregnancy testing tends to warrant