Effects of days on feed on performance and carcass characteristics of crossbred beef x dairy heifers

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effect of days on feed (DOF) on performance and carcass characteristics of crossbred beef x dairy heifers. Materials and Methods: Beef x dairy heifers (n = 3,765; initial BW = 508 +/- 8.55 kg) were blocked by arrival date and lot (n = 6 blocks at feedyard 1 and n = 7 blocks at feedyard 2) and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 DOF treatments of 323, 344, 362, or 385 when administered a Revalor-200 (200 mg of trenbolone acetate [TBA] and 20 mg Results and Discussion: Dry matter intake was not from 593 to 655 kg. As DOF increased, ADG and gain: calculated YG, and marbling score increased linearly as DOF increased. Across the 63-d serial slaughter period, hot carcass weight increased 0.67 kg/d. Dressing percentage and backfat thickness increased in a quadratic manner across DOF. Further, QG and YG distribution increased linearly as DOF increased. Liver abscess prevalence or severity did not increase with DOF. Implications and Applications: Results of this study dairy crossbred heifers.