Data were collected on over 52,000 head of feeder cattle by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and analyzed by the University of Tennessee Agricultural Economics Department. Keep in mind this premium would only be available to the producer willing to control his breeding program. The survey also compares selling bull calves versus steers. Although intact bulls do gain faster than steers, they also add management problems as bull and heifer calves approach puberty. Heifers also sell at a discount to steers of the same description due to performance differences.
Heifers gain at a slower rate than steers, thus prospective buyers discriminate against heifers.
The lighter the feeders, the more these performance differences affect returns and the greater the heifer discounts. Breed, breed combination or color of feeder cattle has a substantial impact on price. In North Carolina, black and black white faced cattle typically sell at the top of any given feeder market. Zebu influenced feeder cattle sell at similar prices to red feeders. A third aspect of the Tennessee survey evaluates frame size discounts.