Cattle Producers Required For 2010-11 Cattle Feedout
US - The North Dakota State University Extension Service is seeking cattle producers to participate in the 2010-11 Eastern North Dakota Cattle Feedout.
23 November 2010
2 minute read
Producers will be able to consign calves to the programme, and the calves will be fed until they're ready for harvest.
The programme helps producers understand the value of their herd's genetics in a feedlot situation, according to Karl Hoppe, area Extension livestock specialist at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center, which conducts the feedout.
Centre staff will give the producers periodic reports on their calves' feedlot performance, as well as carcase data after the calves are harvested.
The programme is open to producers from eastern North Dakota and the surrounding region. The deadline to enroll is December 3. Producers should deliver their calves to the Pipestem Feeders feedlot on December 7. The calves will be fed at Pipestem Feeders, a commercial feedlot near the Carrington Research Extension Centre.
Producers can consign one or more groups of six spring-born steer calves to the feedout programme. Calves should be vaccinated for BVD type I and II, IBR, P13 and BRSV, and with a seven-way clostridial two weeks before being delivered. The calves will be revaccinated, dewormed, deliced, weighed and ear tagged after they're delivered to the feedlot.
Two to three weeks after the calves arrive at the feedlot, they will be placed on a high-grain diet. The target for harvesting the cattle is 0.5-inch backfat and choice marbling.
Producers retain ownership of the calves during the feeding period, and they're responsible for the feeding costs. The costs are deducted from the proceeds of the carcase sales. The remaining income goes to the producers after the feedout programme.
The 2009-10 feedout's calves were sorted for harvest by ultrasound and sold in May and June. The calves, which were on feed for 177 days, averaged 691 pounds at delivery. They gained 3.4 pounds per day, converted feed at 6.8 pounds of dry matter per pound of live gain and averaged 1,294 pounds at slaughter.
They also achieved a feed plus yardage cost-per-pound gain of 59 cents and a breakeven point of $85.01 per hundredweight. The feeding profit averaged $153 per head.
"Feedout programmes allow producers to benchmark their herds," Karl Hoppe, Extension manager says. "This allows the owners to compare their cattle's feedlot and carcase performance under similar feed and management conditions. Then they can adjust their breeding decisions accordingly. Also, feedouts allow for an introduction to retained-ownership programmes."
For more information or to consign calves to the project, contact Mr Hoppe at (701)652-2951 or [email protected].
