Continuing Education and
Communication Services
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
8/30/01
Contacts:
Denise Schwab, 4-H Youth Development, (515) 294-3187, dschwab@iastate.edu
Tracy S. Petersen, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515)
294-9915
Iowa State Fair Beef of Merit Champions Selected
Three of the four live show champions at the 2001 Iowa State Fair Beef of Merit show also were selected as overall champions by Judge Mark Venner, Arcadia.
The 43 steers were evaluated in either Window A: High Cutability Grid Market or Window B: High Quality Grid Market. The steers needed to meet specific grid specifications in each window to receive premiums.
"That's just like the real world of marketing beef on grids today," Dennis DeWitt, Iowa State Fair Beef of Merit Coordinator, said.
This year's 43 steers averaged .41 inches backfat, 13.9 square inches ribeye area, 2.5 yield grade, 65.8 percent retail product and $2.42 carcass value added per day on feed. "What is great about this set of steers is 79 percent were yield grade one and twos with 81.5 percent low choice or higher," DeWitt said.
The 2001 high cutability grid market overall champion belongs to Jeff Baird, Morning Sun. His steer also was named the reserve champion in the live show. The 1,315-pound steer gained 4.15 pounds per day. The choice yield grade two steer won with a $3.58 retail carcass value added per day on feed. DeWitt said that means the steer gained $3.58 per day in retail value for the 233 days that Baird fed it.
Kyle Lauridsen, Audubon, exhibited the reserve high cutability grid market champion. His 1,300-pound steer was a low choice yield grade 2 carcass that had a $3.09 retail carcass value added per day on feed. Last year Lauridsen exhibited the champion high cutability grid market steer.
Bryan Whitman, Grand Mound, was named the high quality grid market overall champion. His 1,335-pound steer yielded an average choice quality yield grade two carcass. According to DeWitt, the steer added $3.01 in retail value per day on feed.
The overall high quality grid market reserve champion selected as the live show champion was exhibited by Heather Ricke, Westside. Her steer yielded a prime yield grade 2 reserve champion carcass.
The 4-H Beef of Merit exhibitors competed for more than $4,000 in premiums. The two champions were awarded $500 prize money provided by the Sale of Champions Winner's Circle Club/Vermeer Manufacturing, Pella/Al & Jeanne Conover, Baxter and the Iowa State Fair.
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