Extension

Producers participate for prime progress
The Oklahoma Steer Feedout improves herd management programs
By Cody Ann Bainter, Plevna, Mont.

For more than 4,000 years, ranchers have branded cattle to mark their ownership. A brand symbolizes the excellence and integrity of cattle producers.

The Oklahoma Steer Feedout recognizes the pride and quality cattle producers have in their product, making a brand more than a mark on a hide.

Founded in 1984, the Oklahoma Steer Feedout provides carcass and feedlot data to cow-calf producers, said Greg Highfill Oklahoma State University area extension livestock specialist.

"The feedout allows cow-calf producers to evaluate the genetic ability of their calf crop on traits pertaining to carcass value and feedlot performance," Highfill said. "Data collected serves as a tool for producers to evaluate their herd's genetic potential."

Wayne Shearhart, founder of the feedout and retired Muskogee County extension director, said data are collected from the steers during the feeding period.

"Data are categorized into cattle characteristics, feeding performance and carcass performance measures," Shearhart said.

Feeding data for the program includes days on feed, average daily gain, estimated feed consumption, feed conversion, and processing and medical costs.

Carcass data include carcass weight, dressing percentage, fat cover, ribeye area, internal fat percentage, marbling score and carcass index.

Additionally, cattle characteristics include birth date and age at harvest, beginning and ending hip height, beginning and ending frame score, and beginning and ending weight.

The Oklahoma Steer Feedout committee is comprised of area livestock specialists and oversees the feedout program, Highfill said.

"The committee organizes all cattle deliveries, cattle management, cattle weighing, harvest data collection, data management, data reporting and educational programming associated with the feedout," Highfill said.

Shearhart said 5,214 steers have been processed and 41 breeds have been fed since 1984.

"There has been continued participation from nine other states," Shearhart said. "Something interesting is Welsh Blacks have participated in the feedout, and they aren't a common breed in the United States."

Additionally, Shearhart said the feedout purifies producer's breeding programs.

"In this cattle market, we need to know what we are producing," Shearhart said. "The feedout changes breeding programs and proves expected progeny differences work."

Highfill said producers can now provide marketing information to buyers, have adjusted their breeding program to meet production goals, and have made major changes to improve their weaning management system based on data from the feedout.

"Producers have utilized the information," Highfill said. "We have been excited over the years when producers have come to us with testimonials that they have improved their herd and their breeding program through the feedout."

George Beckloff, a cattle producer from Oakwood, Okla., said the feedout has helped small operators because they can see how their cattle perform.

"Through the feedout, I have changed the genetics in my herd," Beckloff said. "I have changed the bulls I use through artificial insemination. This not only has changed the genetics but also the marbling in my calves."

Cheyenne, Okla., cattle producer Lynda Lucas has participated in the feedout for eight years.

"The program gives an idea how cattle gain," Lucas said. "It helps make cull decisions and helps pick out the cattle that are producing. I highly recommend the feedout for small producers. The program gives a way to market the calves later in the year."

Along with Lucas, Beckloff is grateful toward the feedout.

"I really appreciate all the help OSU and the feedout committee provide," Beckloff said. "They have a good program, and I am very happy to participate."
The learning does not stop once the beef is ready to hit the plate.

Not only are producers encouraged to stop by the feedlot to evaluate the progress of their cattle, but also they have the opportunity to participate in educational programs, Highfill said.

"We have a field day every other year called Oklahoma Beef Congress where we have an educational program in the morning and an evaluation of the feedout calves in the afternoon," Highfill said. "Many take advantage of this field day to see their calves."

During the other years, producers can participate in a bus tour that travels to the Excel Corp. in Dodge City, Kan. Producers tour the facility that includes steer harvest and carcass fabrication. Observing firsthand about the beef-processing business is a first for many producers.

"Seeing the vastness and complexity of a modern beef-processing facility is a real eye opener for most beef producers," Highfill said. "The tour allows producers to see first-hand the innovations and technology in place to improve the food safety aspects of our product."

Beckloff said he learned a lot from the Excel tour and was happy that experience was
made available.

The opportunity to participate in the feedout is made available not only to past participants but also new producers, as well.

The Oklahoma Feeders Inc. feedlot, located northeast of Guthrie, Okla., on Highway 105, is the facility used for the feedout.

The feedout has two tests during the year — fall- and spring-born tests. To participate in the fall-born test, the steers must be born before Jan. 1 of the test year and be delivered to the feedlot the third Wednesday of August. To participate in the spring-born test, steers must be born after Jan. 1 of the test year and be delivered the first Wednesday of November.

Producers may enter an unlimited number of cattle groups into the program, but each group must contain five steers of at least 500 pounds.     

Producers pay a $25 entry fee per group of steers. The only additional cost for producers is the feed bill for their steers.

Producers must deliver their steers to the feedlot and must submit an entry form to the committee one week before delivery.

Highfill said to have a successful feeding test, the calves need to be weaned for 45 days prior to participating in the feedout and are encouraged to follow the Oklahoma Quality Beef Network guidelines for vaccinations.

"Everyone in the cattle business needs to know what they are producing," Shearhart said. "You need to know what you are selling; the more you know, the more you can sell — that is the
bottom line."

Fall-born test calves are delivered to Oklahoma Feeders Inc. the third Wednesday of August.

Oklahoma Steer Feedout Committee member Kent Barnes oversees the program.

Oklahoma Steer Feedout Committee members Greg Highfill (left) and Kent Barnes join Angus breeder Clarence Frey to weigh in a pen of steers. (Photos by Cody Bainter)