Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
9/5/02
Contacts:
Denise Schwab, 4-H Youth Development, (515) 294-3187, dschwab@iastate.edu
Dennis DeWitt, Beef of Merit Superintendent (712) 336-3488, dewitt@iastate.edu
Tracy S. Petersen, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515)
294-9915
Iowa State Fair Beef of Merit Champions Selected
AMES, Iowa -- Fifty-one steers were evaluated in the annual Iowa State Fair Beef of Merit competition. The 2002 high cutability grid market overall champion belongs to Jeff Baird, Morning Sun.
Baird's steer also was named the champion in the live show. The 1,294-pound steer gained 4.17 pounds per day. The choice, yield grade one steer won with $3.21 added retail value per day on feed. Baird took top honors in this category last year and in 1999.
The competition's 51 steers were evaluated in either Window A: High cutability grid market or Window B: High quality grid market. The evaluation is modeled on the commercial cattle feeding business, so the steers need 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 steers averaged .40 inches backfat, 13.8 square inches ribeye area, 2.54 yield grade, 65.7 percent retail product and $2.12 carcass value added per day on feed.
"What is good about this set of steers is 86 percent were yield
grade one and twos; however, only 57 percent were low choice or higher,"
DeWitt said.
Kurt Pille, Marshalltown, exhibited the reserve high cutability grid market
champion. The 1,390-pound steer was a low choice, yield grade one carcass
with $2.87 added retail value per day on feed.
Jake Hooper, Conrad exhibited the high quality grid market overall champion. His 1,283-pound steer had an average choice, yield grade two carcass. According to DeWitt, the steer added $2.52 in retail value per day on feed.
The overall high quality grid market reserve champion was exhibited by Chasity Longnecker, Ames. Her steer was an average choice, yield grade two carcass with $2.49 added retail value per day on feed.
The 4-H Beef of Merit exhibitors competed for more than $4,000 in premiums. The two champions were awarded $500 by the Sale of Champions Winner's Circle Club, Vermeer Manufacturing of Pella, Al and Jeanne Conover of Baxter and the Iowa State Fair.
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