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September 29, 2005 Enroll in Eastern N.D. Feedout to Discover Calf Value North Dakota State University livestock specialists are looking for cattle producers to consign calves to this year’s Eastern North Dakota Cattle Feedout Project. “It's a project that allows you to understand the feeding value of your herd's genetics,” says Karl Hoppe, livestock specialist at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center. The calves will be fed at the center’s feedlot until ready for harvest. Center staff will provide the cattle’s owners with feedlot performance and carcass information. The deadline to enroll cattle for this year’s program is Oct. 20. Cattle should be delivered to the center on Nov. 2. Calves in last year's project averaged 636 pounds at delivery, gained 3.43 pounds per day, converted feed at 6.74 pounds of dry matter per pound of live gain, averaged 1,197 pounds at slaughter and netted a profit of $124.21 per head. “Last year, cattle were priced at $114.47 per hundredweight at the beginning of the feedout and were sold for an average of $91.64,” Hoppe says. “Good pricing and excellent performance contributed to an excellent dollar return.” Producers can consign one or more groups of six spring-born steer calves. Calves should be vaccinated for BVD, IBR, PI3 and BRSV, plus seven-way clostridial, two weeks prior to delivery. Upon delivery, feedlot staff will revaccinate, deworm, delice, weigh and ear tag the calves. Feedlot staff will place the calves on a high percentage grain finishing ration within two to three weeks after delivery. The target for harvesting calves will be when they reach 0.5 inch backfat and choice marbling. Harvest in last year’s project was in April, with a total cost per pound of gain (without interest) of about 44 cents. "Understanding performance measurements and how that relates back to pricing weaned or backgrounded calves helps you capture more value in the calf crop,” says Lesley Lubenow, Steele County Extension Service agent. “Comparing how your calves perform to other consigned calves really opens producers’ eyes." For more information or to register calves, contact Hoppe at (701) 652-2951 or Lubenow at (701) 524-2253. ### Source:
Karl Hoppe, (701) 652-2951, karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu |
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North Dakota State University |
