F&R LivestockResource
Summer 2023 | Volume 6, Issue 4
Your direct source for livestock news and information
Published by Farmers & Ranchers Livestock, Salina, Kansas
In this Issue: 1 Post-Pasture Learning The American Hereford Association Feedout Program and National Junior Hereford Association Fed Steer Shootout are providing important genetic and end product performance data for both seedstock suppliers and commercial producers using Hereford genetics. Participants learn about cattle feeding and beef packing sectors as they receive performance “report cards” on the cattle.
7 Marketing Feeder Cattle? Begin With the End in Mind Paul Dykstra, Certified Angus Beef, reminds producers marketing feeder cattle to understand what constitutes value. Today packers look for cattle that will meet high quality benchmarks (Certified Angus Beef ®, Prime, 100% Choice) and have excellent red meat yield. Selecting above-average genetics for important end product traits, like marbling and feed conversion, give you a head start on the progeny being worth more.
12 Cattle Prices on Record Pace Cash fed steer prices set a nominal record high price in early April and have continued to rise. Reasons behind the prolonged, steeply higher price path have everything to do with fewer cattle and reduced beef production in tandem with resilient beef demand.
16 Prolonged Drought Leaves Mark on Beef Industry Drought throughout the Southern Plains has taken a toll on Oklahoma and southwest Kansas cattle producers over the past two years. Drought Monitor maps from the Oklahoma Mesonet consistently displayed a drought line from northeast to southwest. Recent rains have provided relief to some, but difficult decisions may yet to come relative to further herd reductions.
Post-Pasture Learning Hereford Feedout Programs continue to grow interest and value. By Wes Ishmael
“We would all love to identify that one bull that does it all—easy birth weight, his cattle all grow and they all grade well and feed well,” says Lee Mayo, general manager of HRC Feed Yards, Scott City, Kansas. “The only way to get the information needed to identify that bull is by testing the genetics. That’s what these programs are about.” Mayo refers to the American Hereford Association (AHA) Hereford Feedout Program1 and the National Junior Hereford Association Fed Steer Shootout2. Both provide Hereford breeders and commercial users of Hereford genetics the opportunity to send a few head or entire pens to feed
at HRC Feed Yards. Participants learn more about the cattle feeding and beef packing sectors while collecting performance data from their cattle. “As a registered breeder, we just needed to do it, and all of the stars aligned this year,” explains first-year participant, Matt Beery of Beery Land and Livestock (BLL), Vida, Montana. “We’re hoping to bring this information back to our bull customers and say, ‘Here’s how your bulls’ younger brothers do in the feedlot and as carcasses.’ ” The BLL program includes both seedstock and commercial herds. The
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