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National Hereford feedout reportProving the efficiency and worth of Hereford cattle to the beef industry The results are in and once again the National Hereford Feedout has shown the efficiency and worth of Hereford cattle to the beef industry. Hereford breeders from many states sent a minimum of five steers to Royal Beef in Scott City, Kan., in December and again in February. These steers represented a diverse cross section of Hereford genetics, both horned and polled and carried the mantel well for our breed. At Royal Beef, these steers were all handled the same. They were sorted by weight and body type and after 75 days on feed were ultrasounded for carcass quality and marketed according to the ultrasound, with a desired backfat thickness of .4 inches. In this manner, the cattle would all be subjected to the same environmental conditions and feed and could therefore be compared against each other to come up with some very interesting results. Participants in the December 2007 start date were: Shumaker Polled Herefords, Wetmore, Kan.; Katherine Krauss (junior member), Russell, Kan.; Ridder Hereford Ranch, Callaway, Neb.; ML Cattle Co., Dalhart, Texas; Ray Allaman, Junction City, Kan.; Linton Polled Herefords, Miller, Neb.; Phillip Moon, Harrison, Alaska; KEG Herefords, Valentine, Neb.; Dvorak Herefords, Lake Andes, S.D.; Bookcliff Herefords, Russell, Kan.; Harmony Herefords, Quinter, Kan.; Brad & Dixie Hollenbeck, Brownlee, Neb.; Zero Hereford Ranch, Miller, Neb.; Schu-Lar Polled Herefords, Lecompton, Kan.; Wayne Sweeley, Burwell, Neb.; and MM Ranch, Chanute, Kan. In the production phase, this group of Hereford and Hereford cross steers (mostly straight Hereford) had an average daily gain of 3.66 (Range of 2.82 to 4.95) lbs per day. The Kansas Yard average for the same time period was 3.45 lbs per day. The cost of gain on this group was .67 per pound of gain and they converted at 5.64 pounds of dry feed per pound of gain. Range (COG: .4942 to 100.42 & Conversion: 3.85 to 7.65). Kansas yard average for the same time frame was 5.81 pounds of dry feed per pound of gain. The average marketing weight on this groupdof steers was 1,231 lbs of pay weight and the average number of days on feed was 168 (Yard averages 164 days). These cattle far exceeded the yard averages in all of the traits that make us as ranchers and cattlemen a living. This group also did very well in the carcass traits. The average backfat was .48 and they had an average marbling score of 4.9. They had an average Ribeye area of 12.98 (more than 1.0 square inches per cwt live), and an average hot carcass weight of 782 pounds, ideal beef carcasses, which is proven by their average yield grade of 2.44. Starting in February of 2008 was another group of Hereford and Hereford sired steers. Participants in this group was Shumaker Polled Herefords, Wetmore, Kan.; H Bar Ranch, Modoc, Kan.; Kumm Herefords, Davey, Neb.; Nelson Polled Herefords, Tracy, Minn.; Krieg Herefords, Basco, Ill.; Ray Allaman, Junction City, Kan.; Miller Ranch, Manhattan, Kan.; and Granzow Herefords, Herington, Kan. This group also did a good job of representing the breed, both horned and polled. The average daily gain came in at 3.95 (range: 3.21 to 4.38). The Kansas yard average on gain for the same feeding period was 3.62. The cost of gain averaged .66 per pound of gain (range: .49 to 1.08) with a dry matter conversion average of 5.14 (range: 3.44 to 7.41). The Kansas yard average was .87 per pound of gain and 5.92 pounds of dry matter per pound of gain. This group had an average market weight of 1,211 pounds of pay weight after being fed for and average of 141 days. The Kansas yard average market weight was 1,349 and the average days on feed for cattle marketed at the same time was 152 days. In the carcass traits, this group averaged a 12.26 sq. inch REA. With an average backfat of .38 and an average marbling score of 5.01 (Low Choice), and an average YG of 2.45, they once again showed that good doing and efficient Hereford cattle can be good on the rail, too. The average hot carcass weight was 743 pounds, once again, just what the industry wants and needs. Once again, this was a diverse group of steers and represented a complete cross section of Hereford genetics, both horned and polled. In June of 2008, the average U.S. steer marketed gained 3.45 pounds a day, converted at 6.5 pounds of dry matter to a pound of gain and had a cost of gain of .8934 (feed only, all above data is a complete cost of gain). This data came from LMIC and Bloomberg Financial data. The above National Hereford Feedout data should impress everyone and should be used to help promote and sell Hereford seedstock to a commercial beef industry that is crying for efficiency that comes naturally, not in some new and improved, high cost feed additive. We can offer the commercial industry all of this and not compromise carcass quality or fertility in the white faced replacement female. The National Hereford Feedout is open to everyone. It only takes five steers to get involved and the fees are minimal. Complete feedlot and carcass data will be collected on each steer. It is sanctioned by the American Hereford Association and the Kansas Hereford Association and is administered by the Kansas Hereford Association. To get involved, contact the Kansas Hereford Assocaition at 765 South 3000 Road, Herington, KS 67449. Tom Granzow is the Secretary/Manager of the KHA and his phone number is 785-466-2247 or 785-466-6790 (cell). Email at: kansashereford@tctelco.net. Tom Krauss, Russell, Kan., is the chair of the KHA's Hereford Feedout committee and can be reached at 785-483-3004 or by email at thomas.krauss@rwisp.com. 11/3/08 Date: 10/24/08 Advertisement
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