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NALF concludes Visions Quest Round 2The cattle-feeding and carcass-data-collection phases of Visions Quest Round 2, the North American Limousin Foundation's cattle-feeding and carcass-discovery project with Colorado State University, concluded Aug. 2 at the Swift and Co. packing plant in Greeley, Colo. Data analysis recently began, and it promises to provide critical lessons for the breed's long-term success in providing the most profitable genetics and crossbreeding solutions for commercial cattle producers. "We were impressed with these cattle," said Kent Andersen, Ph.D., executive vice president for NALF. "They have demonstrated how Limousin and Lim-Flex producers are addressing the needs of today's beef industry." The 311 head (including a "control group" of 10 Angus steers) in the project averaged 1,316 pounds of liveweight at harvest, with an 864-pound average carcass that dressed at about 66 percent. With backfat and ribeye area averaging 0.5 inch and 15 square inches, respectively, the typical Yield Grade was 2.5. Forty-one percent of the cattle graded Choice. Considering the harsh winter the cattle faced at the CSU Ag Research, Development and Education Center north of Fort Collins, their health performance was outstanding. With no deaths, total treatment costs for VQ Round 2 were $114. Most of the cattle--42 percent--gained between 3 and 3.5 pounds per day, with another 19 percent performing even better than that. The 113 Lim-Flex steers led in average daily gain at 4.5 pounds. The 27 Lim-Flex heifers averaged 4.0 pounds; the 122 Limousin steers, 3.9 pounds; and the 39 Limousin heifers, 3.7 pounds. The Limousin steers finished the heaviest at 1,369 pounds, followed by the Lim-Flex steers (1,361 pounds), then the Limousin heifers (1,212 pounds) and the Lim-Flex heifers (1,130 pounds). The largest share of the cattle--42 percent--finished within YG 2, and another 26 percent were in YG 1. Of the Limousin heifers, 82 percent finished in the top two yield grades; and 80 percent of the Limousin steers earned that distinction. Fifty-five percent and 50 percent of the Lim-Flex steers and heifers, respectively, achieved YG 1 or 2. Only 3 percent of the animals fell into YG 4. From the marbling perspective, the Lim-Flex heifers were the best performers, with 75 percent grading Choice. The Lim-Flex steers finished at 58 percent Choice. NALF created VQ as follow-up to the Limousin Visions Symposium, which it conducted in December 2004. The project's primary purpose was to provide an educational experience in retained ownership and to generate critical performance and carcass data for genetic evaluation and ongoing breed improvement. The NALF Board of Directors approved VQ Round 3 in April, and some pen space still is available. NALF staff members will attempt to coordinate transportation so the cattle arrive at CSU between Nov. 1 and 15. Program guidelines and the enrollment form are available in the "Programs" section of the NALF website (www.nalf.org). For enrollment information, contact Bo Sexson, NALF director of commercial programs, at bo@nalf.org or (303) 220-1693. 9/24/07
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