The 2007-08 Missouri Steer Feedout Finale reviewed the performance of the 243 head of steers that entered the finishing program last November in southwest Iowa as part of the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity. Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist, told the participants this was one of the most difficult feedouts he’d been involved with since they were first held in 1981. Respiratory disease (BRD) hit the calves almost as soon as they arrived in Iowa.
"When you treat 46 percent of your steers in a feedlot pen and 12 out of 243 die or are condemned, thus contributing no income, and corn is priced over $5, you don’t expect positive feeding phase returns. However, even though our scenario was pretty bleak, four of our 28 groups of steers in the recently completed feedout did make some money," Cole said.
Overall, the steers averaged losing $92.26 per head during the feeding phase. They were divided into two groups, heavy and light, at the lot. The heavy group sold in April and early May with the light end going in May and on June 19. Unlike most years, the later-sold cattle lost less money, $53.47 vs. $134.04, than the heavy pen.
Grades and Yields
Even though the entire group finished showing losses, four participant’s groups of steers showed a feeding profit. Weaver Forest, of Verona, Mo., had a group of five Senegus-sired calves that made an average of $38.14 per head. The group had 40 percent grade Choice, 100 percent made Yield Grade 1 or 2 and there were no discounted cattle.
"The 49 percent Choice is below the industry average which is about 8 to 10 percentage points above that. One bright light is our Yield Grades continue to beat the national average and be close to the industry goal of 70 percent," Cole said.
The Profit Picture
The factors involved in their profit picture included: a lower initial set-in price; no pulls/treatments/deaths; all cattle received a Yield Grade premium; all cattle sold in the later harvest group which averaged bringing about $4 per hundred more in the carcass that steers sold earlier.
In addition to the Forest cattle, profits were shown on the following: Darin Adwell, Ravenwood, Mo., Russell Marion, Pierce City, Mo., and Mi Tierra Cattle Co., Granby, Mo.
Due to the sickness and wet, snowy weather, rates of gain for the Missouri Feedout cattle fell to 2.80 pounds per day on average. The range was from 3.95 to 1.71 pounds. The cost of gain for the first harvest group was $85.02 and $82.74 for the second.
The weighted average carcass price for the early sold cattle was $145.20 and $149.52 for the last pen. Premiums of $20 to $30 per head were given to each calf as they were all age verified.
"Some feedouts seem a little lackluster with not too many exciting revelations. This was not one of those feedouts.
"In one example we had second high gainers, made 70 percent Choice, 89 percent Y 1’s & 2’s (Y equals yield grades, which estimate the amount of boneless, closely trimmed retail cuts from the high-value parts of the carcass–the round, loin, rib, and chuck, and is evaluated on a 1-5 scale, 1 being the highest) with one head out.
"The other nine steers produced some phenomenal figures.
"The Iowa State evaluation of the overall results use two telling figures, Retail Value/Day On Feed and Retail Value/Day Of Age. Six of these steers ranked in the top 10 for the two harvest groups in one or both of the above categories. Bart Renkoski, Purdy, Mo., is the consignor and he’s been in a number of feedouts and has been in the top half most of the time, but never this good.
"Now, the rest of the story. Bart purchased the sire of all but one of these calves in our regional tested bull sale at Springfield in October, 2005. The seller was Harold Francis, Pierce City, Mo. The bull was AI-sired and has some eye-opening EPDs for carcass and feedlot performance. For instance his yearling weight EPD puts him in the top 15 pecent of the Gelbviehs. His marbling, carcass value and feedlot merit values place him in the top 10 percent for each trait. After looking at his progeny’s performance it should make you have more confidence in EPDs."
Cole said data from feedout/carcass results should not be hid in your files. Share it with persons who either market your cattle or may be potential buyers of them. Of course the larger the number of head involved, the greater impact it will have. If your herd size is 200 head, naturally a five head sample isn’t that impressive.
Cole said plans are already underway to begin the next feedout in early November. The signup deadline is October 10. Brochures which list the protocol for participation are available through the extension centers. He stresses that to avoid a repeat of this past year’s sickness problems, participants should wean calves 45 days prior to the early November collection. Modified live immunizations should be given ahead of weaning and boostered according to label directions.
For more information on the feedout program contact your nearest University of Missouri Extension center.
