Grain supplementation of stocker cattle during the grazing period has improved grazing performance, but effects on subsequent feedlot performance have been inconsistent. Potential carryover effects from protein and mineral supplementation also have been inconclusive. Lack of congruence among studies is puzzling but may be the consequence of highly varied production systems, differences in experimental procedures, and changes in gut fill or mass of internal organs. Based on the studies reviewed, the expression or absence of compensatory growth during the finishing phase appears to be related to the nutritional quality of forages utilized in the grazing period, with higher quality forages tending to yield greater compensatory effects. The bulk of evidence with suckling cattle and stocker implants suggests that effects on subsequent finishing performance are minimal.
Attention is drawn to the noticeable lack of research pertaining to integrated production systems.
A more thorough understanding of the interactions among grazing nutrition and management, finishing performance, and carcass traits is needed to facilitate greater economic exploitation of these relationships. Implications Frequent bias in the estimation of animal weight severely limits the ability to ascribe true value to various phases of production in integrated systems. Management strategies can be used to effect changes in growth of grazing cattle without detrimental effects on subsequent finishing performance or carcass traits. Further characterization of the relative responses to pasture supplementation and effects on subsequent performance in the feedlot may prove useful for identification of alternative more profitable beef production systems. All rights reserved.