On Monday evening, August 10, 4H and FFA members who exhibited market beef and choose to participate in the carcass contest met with Iowa State University Extension Beef Specialist Dale Thoreson to discuss the importance of the information in making management decisions and learn the placings in the competition.
Thoreson explained how the real-time ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to “see inside” the animal while it is still alive. He then demonstrated how the me information was combined with carcass gain information to rate animals on cost of production, cutability and quality. Cutability is measured by the amount of fat, bone and internal organs compared to the lean meat. Quality is the tenderness, flavor and juiciness traits of the carcass that are important to consumers.
This year 32 animals were entered in the competition from 18 exhibitors. This included market steers, heifers and dairy beef. This year’s values ranged from a high of $3.36 of carcass value added per day on feed to a low of $2.05. The top carcass was from a steer owned by Cody Schneider who’s carcass value added per day on feed was $3.359. Mike Tupper’s steer earned second place with a value of $3.26. The other top ten entries, in placing order are: Megan Crooks, Griffin Poppe, Jake Holschlag, Shawn Kuehn and second entries from Mike Tupper, Cody Schneider and Griffin Poppe. Other area youth who participated in this year’s competition included: Sara Schwickerath, Nathan Schmitt, Stephanie Tupper, Chet McGregor, Jada Pleggenkuhle, Andrew Fisher, Joseph Jordan, Keegan Crawford, Cameron Hall, Jason Fisher, Susan Schwickerath and Nichole Wurzer.
For the third year, the Chickasaw County Cattlemen supported the youth competition by providing funds to offset the cost of scanning for those exhibitors who scanned animals and attended the educational program. In addition, the carcass competition winner receives a $100 savings bond from the local cattlemen.
For more information on this or other youth programs, contact your local Extension office. In Chickasaw County the office is located at 104 East Main St in New Hampton or information can be accessed on their internet website at www.extension.iastate.edu/chickasaw.