2005 Ranch to Rail Contest: Pick the 5 Top Net Return Calves

Cattleman, The, Jul 2005 by Hale, Dan

Have you ever driven by a pasture on a farm-to-market road, spotted a group of calves and said to yourself, "That is a good looking calf? Or maybe, "That calf is sure sorry."?

Here is your chance to test your ability to separate the good ones from the sorry ones. Review the 20 steers on the next two pages. Identify the five steers that you think will generate the highest amount of net dollars when harvested. Fill in your selections on the card on page 73, tear it out of this magazine, fax it to Dan Hale, or fold and stamp it and drop it in the mail box, or e-mail your answers to dhale@tamu.edu.

For the 2005 Ranch to Rail Contest we have presented 20 steers that were delivered last October as feeder calves to the Hondo Creek Feedyard in Edroy, Texas. These steers were fed for either 164 or 192 days in the feedyard and then harvested at the Sam Kane Beef Processing facility.

The cattle are from the Ranch to Rail program, an information feedback program to give ranchers data on the progeny produced from their ranch management system. Like the rancher who consigned these steers, you will see how these 20 steers performed in the feed-yard and then in the cooler as carcasses.

In the September issue of The Cattleman we will present the feed-yard, carcass and economic data on the 20 contest steers. Along with the data, we will present information on beef quality and best cattle management principles.

Cattle selection

These calves are diverse representing more than 13 breed combinations and 13 ranches. When the cattle initially came to the feedyard they were weighed and assessed an initial feeder calf value based on frame size and muscling.

The initial weights of the calves ranged from 556 pounds to 700 pounds with the average weight being 667 pounds. Also, there was a $17 per hundredweight swing in initial feeder calf value - $82 to $109/cwt.

Cattle care and feeding

Upon entry to Hondo Creek Cattle Co. Feedyard the steers were vaccinated against feedyard diseases, implanted and dewormed and later reimplanted. The cattle were fed in the feedyard either 164 or 192 days and handled as a typical set of steers in a commercial feedyard setting.

Carcass data

Carcass data collected on each steer included USDA Quality Grade, ribeye area, fat thickness and USDA Yield Grade. Also, the carcasses were examined for abnormalities.

Net return (income from the carcass minus expenses)

The objective of the contest will be for you to choose the top five net return cattle from the group. Net return (income minus expenses) will be determined by subtracting the expenses (feed costs, animal health costs, initial feeder calf costs and other costs) from the income derived from selling the carcass to the packer on a carcass grid basis.

The type of grid that will be used to sell the steers is often referred to as a "quality grid." This type of grid favors cattle that have a USDA Quality Grade of Choice and a USDA Yield Grade between 1 and 3. It discounts severely for dark cutters, USDA Yield Grade 4 and USDA Standard cattle.

Also, this grid includes substantial discounts for steers that are designated as being older than 30 months of age.

The grids will be developed using information from USDA Market News Reports (http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsmnpubs/NatSum.htm) and industry contacts.

Contest information/rules

To win the 2005 Ranch to Rail Contest you must successfully identify the top five steers according to net return and answer the tiebreaker questions correctly. You may enter by filling out the form attached to this issue of The Cattleman magazine and sending it to:

Dan Hale

Ranch to Rail Contest

348 Kleberg Center

Texas A&M University

College Station, Texas

77843-2471

Or faxing it to 979-845-9454.

Or e-mailing the information to dhale@tamu.edu.

Contest rules

* Entries must be received on or before August 1, 2005.

* Only one entry form per person will be allowed.

* Only one entry form per feedyard for the Feedyard Division will be allowed.

* Feedyard personnel may enter as individuals and enter their feedyard in the Feedyard Division.

* Employees of the Texas A&M University Meat Science and Animal Science Extension groups, Texas Beef Council, Hondo Creek Cattle Co. Feedyard or The Cattleman/TSCRA are not eligible to compete in this contest.

* For any ties, after the tiebreaker have been applied, the tying forms will be randomly selected to determine a winner.

The categories are:

* 13 and younger - $250 cash prize.

* 14 to 18 years - $250 cash prize

* Older than 18 years as of July 1, 2005. - Two free full registrations to the 2006 TSCRA convention, March 26-29, San Antonio.

* Feedyards - Two free full registrations to the 2006 TSCRA convention, March 26-29, San Antonio.