Karl Hoppe,
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T |
he Dakota Feeder Calf Show provided cattle producers with an understanding of cattle
genetics and cattle feeding in
The calves were received in
groups of three or four on October 13, 2003, at the Turtle Lake Weighing
Station for weighing, tagging, processing and showing. The calves were evaluated for conformation
and uniformity with the judges providing a discussion to the owners.
The calves were then shipped
to the
An open house was held on
February 6, 2004, at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center Livestock
Unit, where the owners reviewed the calves and discussed marketing
conditions. Backfat
and marbling were estimated by ultrasound on March 23, 2004, and the calves
were sorted into market groups based on back fat, marbling and live weight.
The first market group of
cattle (41 head) was harvested on April 2, 2004. The second sell group (80 head) was harvested
on May 5, 2004. The third sell group (20
head) was harvested on May 13, 2004, and the last sell group (34 head) was
harvested on May 27, 2004. Cattle were sold to Tyson Fresh Meats,
Cattle consigned to the Dakota
Feeder Calf Show Feedout project averaged 577.5 lbs upon delivery to the
Carrington Research Extension Center Livestock Unit on October 13, 2003. After an average 201-day feeding period with
1.69% death loss, cattle averaged 1252.8 lbs (at plant, shrunk weight). The
early sell group (41 head) averaged 1236.1 lbs (shrunk) at harvest. The second sell group (80 head) averaged
1295.25 lbs. (shrunk) at harvest. The
third sell group (20 head) averaged 1258.5 lbs (shrunk) at harvest and the last
sell group (34 head) averaged 1170.0 lbs (shrunk) at harvest. Average daily feed intake per head was 28.74
lbs, as fed basis, and 20.9 lbs, dry matter basis. Pounds of feed required per pound of gain
were 8.85, as fed basis, and 6.44 lbs, dry matter basis.
Overall feed cost per pound of
gain was $0.317. Overall yardage cost
per pound of gain was $0.077. Combined
cost per pound of gain including feed, yardage, veterinary, trucking and other
expenses except interest was $0.453.
The number of cattle consigned was
178 of which 126 competed in the pen-of-three contest. Carcass characteristics
were collected and used in calculating indexes for scoring. The first market group, harvested April 2,
2004, contained USDA Quality Grades at 60.1% Choice or better (including 17.0%
Certified Angus Beef) and 39.9% Select and USDA Yield Grades at 24.4% YG2 ,
70.7% YG3, and 4.9% YG4. The second
market group, harvested May 5, 2004, contained USDA Quality Grades at 1.25%
Prime, 52.5% Choice (including 11.25% Certified Angus Beef), 45% Select, and
1.25% Standard and USDA Yield Grades at 6.25% YG1, 45% YG2, and 48.75%
YG3. The third market group, harvested
May 13, 2004, contained USDA Quality Grades at 50% Choice, 45% Select, and 5%
Standard and USDA Yield Grades at 65% YG2, and 35% YG3. The last market group, harvested May 27,
2004, contained USDA Quality Grades at 44.2% Choice, 52.9% Select, and 2.9%
Standard and USDA Yield Grades at 8.8% YG1, 70.6% YG2, and 20.6% YG3.
Carcass value per cwt was
calculated by using the actual base carcass price plus premiums and
discounts. Grid prices were: April 2,
2004 - $130.00 Choice YG3 base with premiums of CAB $8, YG2 $2.50, and
discounts of Select $-6, and YG4 $-20;
May 5, 2004 - $142.10 Choice YG3 base with premiums of Prime $23.65, CAB
$6.12, YG1 $6.50, YG2 $2.50, and discounts of Select $-9.60, Standard $-11.90;
May 13, 2004 - $146.72 Choice YG3
base with premiums of YG2 $2.50, and discounts of Select $-12.40, Standard
$-14.70; and May 27, 2004 - $143.08
Choice YG3 base with premiums of YG2 $2.50, and discounts of Select $-15.25, NR
$-17.55.
Retail product value was
calculated as carcass weight, lb. * percent retail product *(((carcass value
per cwt /100)/ retail product yield) / retail product markup) where retail
product yield = 0.65, and retail product markup = 0.75. Percent retail product value was calculated
as 0.825 - (calculated yield grade *0.05).
Overall, the pen-of-three calves
averaged 397.4 days of age and averaged 1261.5 lbs per head at harvest. Overall pen-of-three average daily gain was
3.40 lbs while weight per day of age was 3.19 lbs. Overall pen-of-three marbling score was 415.8
or 15.8% into low choice/small marbling.
Retail product value averaged $1545.62 per head. Retail product value divided by weight per
day of age averaged $3.90.
The highest combined index score
per pen-of-three was 3.57. While the highest overall scoring pen did
not place first in average daily gain, weight per day of age, marbling score,
or percent retail product value divided by weight per day of age and profit,
the pen did rank first for harvest weight 1367.5 lbs.
Profit or loss was calculated
using initial calf price as price per pound, $ = 147.6253 – (0.05781 * initial
calf weight). Profit or loss accounted
for initial calf price, feed, yardage, veterinary, freight, brand inspection,
beef check off, ultrasound and carcass data collection costs. Interest costs on cattle or feeding expenses
were not included in calculating profit or loss. Final carcass value was assessed using the
actual grid pricing for the harvest group.
Overall, cattle feeding provided a
$112.27 profit before interest was included.
However, the top profit pen-of-three calves returned $279.69 per head
while the bottom pen-of-three calves returned
-$267.10 due to death loss.
Calf value is greater with
superior carcass traits. Feedlot
performance is also important for increased weight gain and heavier carcass
weights. While feed efficiency was not
measured for producer groups of calves, it is a significant factor in profit. Exceptional average daily gains, weight per
day of age, marbling score and retail product value can be found in