Date: March 28, 2003
CARCASS DEFECTS - WHAT AND HOW MUCH?
What are the primary carcass defects and how much do they decrease value? In a survey in the Texas Panhandle of almost 7000 carcasses, the main defects (and average discount per 100 lb carcass) were for Yield Grade 4 ($15), Standard Quality Grade ($22), weight < 550 lb or > 950 lb (($19), dark cutter ($27), and miscellaneous ($30). The average loss for all defects totaled $24.47 per carcass. Of that, Yield Grade 4 accounted for 31%, Standard Grade 35%, outlying weight 17%, dark cutter 11%, and miscellaneous 6%. In addition to these losses, trimming excess fat to 1/4 inch for boxed beef averaged costing $65.80 per carcass.
BREEDTYPE FORMULAS AND CARCASS DEFECTS
The average loss per carcass from discounts is about the same for Standard Quality Grade and for Yield Grade 4. The most commonly prescribed breedtype formula calls for a minimum of 1/2 British, maximum of 1/2 Continental, and maximum of 1/4 Bos indicus (from Brahman or Brahman-derived breeds). This formula precludes a cross such as a Continental sire on Brahman X British cows, producing calves that are only 1/4 British. Higher percentages of Continental or Brahman increase the chance of Standard. But higher percent British increases the chance of YG 4. The most appropriate formula is a minimum of 1/4 British, not 1/2, with higher percentages to improve Quality Grade and lower percentages to improve Yield Grade
LIQUID FEEDING METHODS - CONSUMPTION AND RESPONSE
Montana researchers compared unsupplemented controls with free-choice (F) and restricted (R) methods of providing liquid supplement to 2- through 6-year-old dry cows on < 6% CP winter range. The R method involved a computer-controlled lick-wheel feeder that periodically dispensed supplement during the day in small amounts. Supplementation averaged increasing digestibility by 34%, being slightly higher for R than F. R cows consumed 48% more forage and F 23% more, possibly because F spent over twice as much time at the feeder and ate over twice as much supplement. Supplement intake was more variable for R. Both groups of supplemented cows lost less body condition (about 0.5 BCS) but there were no significant differences among the three groups for birth weight, weaning weight, pregnancy rate, or calving interval.
BEEF COWS HERDS - HOW MANY AND WHO HAS THEM?
According to the USDA, There were 805,080 beef cow operations in the U.S. last year, a decline of about 1% from 2001. The percent of operations (and percent of total cow numbers in those operations) for different size herds was: under 50 cows, 78% (29%); 50-99 cows, 12% (19%); 100-499 cows, 9% (38%); 500-999, 0.5% (8%), and 1000+, 0.2% (7%). Texas had 151,000 operations, and the corresponding percent of operations for the five herd sizes was 68%, 15%, 15%, 1.5%, and 0.9%. So, producers with less than 100 head still have almost half of the nation's cows. While smaller producers may not be able to participate in things such as marketing alliances, they also are not solely dependent on their cows to make a living.
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