Purdue News

November 6, 1998 IBEEF helps put Indiana beef producers on top WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Indiana beef producers are practically standing in line for a chance to participate in Indiana's Beef Evaluation and Economics Feeding program. In its second year, IBEEF helps cow-calf operators evaluate their breeding and management program and compare sires within herds for feedlot performance and carcass merit. Last year, 15 producers from 11 counties participated in the program, for a total of 144 steers. This year, more than three times as many producers nominated cattle for the program. "The response was overwhelming and really pleasing," said Kern Hendrix, beef specialist in the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service. This year, 46 producers nominated 470 cattle for the 320 spots available in the program, which is designed to enhance the quality and market reputation of Indiana cattle and establish a data base for Indiana-produced cattle. "The goal of the IBEEF program is to help cow-calf operators have a greater understanding of the quality and the consistency concerns faced by producers in raising feedlot cattle," said Phillip Anderson, executive vice president of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association. IBEEF is a cooperative effort between the IBC, the Indiana Beef Evaluation Program, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service and Smoker Farms of Wanatah, Ind. IBEEF allows producers to nominate representative steers from their herd. The program coordinates shipping of the animals to the feedlot at Smoker Farms. Before shipping, the cattle follow a specialized health regimen, including specific vaccinations. This ensures that all cattle in the program start off on about even ground, Anderson said. At the feedlot, the cattle all go through the same feeding program, allowing cow-calf operators to see how their steers perform. This information can be especially important to cow-calf operators, because many of them sell their steers to feedlots for finishing. "The program can really help producers look at the bottom line and ask themselves if their cattle are making money in the feedlot," Anderson said. "This allows them to see things from the feedlot operator's point of view and to make the appropriate management changes. For example, one gentlemen in the program last year had some cattle that just didn't perform very well. Being involved in IBEEF allowed him to see that first-hand and implement changes. He immediately sold his bulls to improve performance." Participating producers pay for the feed and health bill incurred by their cattle and receive the money from the packer when the cattle are sold. Anderson said that allows them to have an experience similar to that of a feedlot operator using their cattle. "All of the information, as far as an individual producer is concerned, is kept confidential," said Byron Fagg, a Purdue Extension educator in Washington County involved in the program. "Only a few people involved in the program's management actually know what steer numbers belong to what producers. This is an information-gathering program, not a competition. It's designed to find out if Indiana cattle are meeting the needs of the packers and eventually the consumers." While one of last year's producers lost approximately $22 per head, another had a profit of $96 per head, for a profit differential of $118. According to Hendrix, because of last year's poor cattle prices and high feed costs, an average producer could expect to earn about $33 a head. But, he said, being average is not good enough. He said he hoped to see Indiana producers in the top 25 percent to 50 percent when it comes to profitability. "This program allows producers to see where they stand against other producers," Hendrix said. "They can learn from producers with larger returns how to increase their profitability. The potential is huge." All cattle in the IBEEF program are steers born between Jan. 1 and April 30, and they must weigh at least 500 pounds by the mid-November delivery date. Producers nominate a minimum of three head of cattle, with dam identification, the sire breed, calf breed, and calf identification. The program costs $25 per nomination, plus the cost of feeds, health, processing, medication, trucking and yardage of 25 cents daily per head. The average cost per head last year was $300. The average sale value was $836.50. Last year, the cattle gained an average of 3.25 pounds per day, with an average carcass weight of 844 pounds. Hendrix said an average daily gain above 3 pounds is considered good. The cattle averaged a dressing percent of 65.3, with 0.47 percent backfat, and 67.2 percent of them graded choice or prime. Hendrix said these cattle stacked up fairly well against industry standards, where a 63 percent dressing percentage is typical. He said the backfat on these cattle also was close to average, but there is room for improvement throughout the Corn Belt in the percent of cattle yielding prime or choice grades For more information on participating in the IBEEF program, contact Hendrix at (765) 494-4832 or by e-mail at khendrix@ansc.purdue.edu. Sources: Phillip Anderson, (317) 872-2333 Byron Fagg, (812) 883-4601 Kern Hendrix, (765) 494-4832; e-mail, khendrix@ansc.purdue.edu Writer: Jane Houin, (7655) 494-2722; e-mail, news_students@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page