The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association concluded the eighth year of its Carcass Challenge program.

The 2017-18 Carcass Challenge, a contest to evaluate the production efficiency of Iowa cattle, crowned several winners from around the state. In addition to individual winners, the contest compares Iowa cattle to cattle raised across the U.S., showing that Iowa's cattle compete and rise above the national average.

Over the years, many cattle producers from around the state have contributed calves to this fed steer competition to support ICA and see how their cattle stack up.

About the Carcass Challenge program
As Iowa’s only statewide fed-beef cattle competition, the ICA Carcass Challenge was created to:

• showcase Iowa’s beef cattle genetics, feedyard management and modern technology

• offer Iowa’s cattle industry a fun and competitive statewide fed-beef contest to highlight Iowa’s beef production advantages

• generate additional ICA revenue to grow Iowa’s beef business through advocacy, leadership and education

• provide leadership and learning opportunities through the ICA Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP)

Each November, sponsors donate a number of 700-pound steer calves to compete in this Iowa fed-beef contest. Steers complete 180 to 200 days on feed to an average 1,400-pound, market-ready endpoint.

Cattle efficiency, carcass value
Cash prizes and special awards are presented to contributors of the top 10% of individual steers based on the “Retail Value per Day on Feed,” recognizing both feedyard performance and end carcass merit. A $5,000 cash prize is awarded to the Champion Steer donors. Awards for outstanding individual carcass results are also presented. Every effort is made to deliver maximum cattle efficiency, carcass value and net revenue of all steers.

This year, 75 steers were entered in the contest from various breeders across Iowa, with several different breed compositions represented. The steers were delivered in November and harvested at the Tyson plant in Dakota City the last week of April.

“We were excited to work with Kennedy Cattle Co. of Atlantic, Iowa, to feed the steers again this year,” says Casey Allison, ICA staff member who helps manage the contest. “Throughout the testing period, we collected data on growth progression of each animal by using ultrasound technology, EIDs and recording weights on test, at the interim period and off-test weights.”

Evaluating cattle management decisions
Steer donors and YCLP participants received regular communication throughout the test via email to stay up-to-date on progress in the feedyard.

The expertise and guidance of David Trowbridge and Faye French with Gregory Feedlots alongside Matt Groves with the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity enabled ICA to provide more in-depth data analysis, building on one of the program’s core goals: sharing educational information with donors. In addition to several performance tabulations, the charts and graphs show donors how cattle performed, both individually and compared to their pen mates. This provokes conversation about how and why the management decisions from birth to harvest have impact, and how or if an animal maximizes its genetic potential.

ICA thanks the program’s primary sponsor, Elanco, for donating the animal health products, Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity Co-op for facilitating data collection at the plant and assistance with marketing, Kennedy Cattle Company (Zak and Mitch Kennedy) for feeding the steers, the CUP Lab for interpretation of the ultrasound scan images, Shnurman Sire Services for ultrasounding the steers, Thielen Trucking for hauling the cattle to the plant, and FNB Bank for sponsoring breakfast at the ICA open house.

Iowa a leader in producing quality cattle
As in years past, this year’s Carcass Challenge proved that Iowa is a national leader in producing and feeding high-quality cattle and beef. Comparing this year’s Carcass Challenge steers to national benchmarks from the 2016 National Beef Quality Audit, 7% more of the cattle graded as yield grades 1, 2 or 3 compared to the national average, while nearly 50% fewer Carcass Challenge steers were marked as yield grades 4 and 5. As yield grade correlates to value, these figures speak to the economic advantage Iowa cattle offer.

When it comes to quality grade, an overwhelming 81% of the Iowa cattle graded Prime or Choice, compared to the national average at 71%. There were 34% fewer steers in the select or no roll category. The top-gaining steer averaged 5.5 pounds per day; the highest marbling steer had a marbling score of 734; and the overall winner marked a Retail Value per Day on Feed of $7.52.

Carcass Challenge winners
“This is a true testament that not only can Iowa cattle compete, but they can and do lead the way nationally,” Allison says. This year’s winners in the various categories of the contest are:

Retail Value per Day on Feed. Program awards cash prizes to the top 10% of steers for retail value per day on feed. This is a dollar value that accounts for hot carcass weight, percent retail product, carcass price, and days on feed, balancing the important factors that ultimately drive profitability.

• Raised by Radloff Angus; sponsored by Winneshiek, Clayton and Fayette county Cattlemen’s Associations, this purebred Angus steer gained the highest of the pen for the first half of the feeding period at 6.86 pounds per day and recorded an overall average daily gain for the entire test of 5.5 pounds. At slaughter, he hung a 988-pound carcass and had the highest dressing percent of the top 10% of the steers in the contest and a 15.1-inch ribeye. This steer secured his title as Champion by performing well across the board and marking a $7.52 Retail Value per Day on Feed, setting him apart from the second-place steer by a whopping 72 cents. This steer earned a $5,000 prize and the travelling trophy.

• Raised by Collison Angus; sponsored by Collison Veterinary Service of Rockwell City and Lytton Farm Equipment, the second-place steer is a January-born registered Angus sired by EXAR Denver. He recorded an average daily gain of 4.99 pounds and went off test at 1,611 pounds. The steer graded Choice and qualified for Certified Angus Beef for a $52.29 premium and maintained efficiency with a 6.24 feed-to-gain ratio. He marked a retail value per day on feed of $6.80.

• R.L. Fleckvieh, B&B Farm Store, Buchanan County Cattlemen’s Association, and Winthrop Vet Clinic sponsored this steer. Placing third, this is a Simmental/Red Angus/Fleckvieh cross steer with a yield grade 1 and quality grade of choice that captured a $64.22 premium. He had a ribeye area of 16.53 inches. This steer gained an average of 4.38 pounds per day and hung a 988-pound carcass. He boasts a retail value per day on feed of $6.78.

• Raised by Longinaker Farms, sponsored by Longinaker Farms and the Taylor County Cattlemen’s Association. The fourth-place steer comes from an Angus bull and a Red Angus cow. Born in March and weaned in September, he entered the test period at 720 pounds and went off at 1,374 pounds, giving him an average daily gain of 4.61 pounds. Another yield grade 1, Choice steer, this steer’s data shows a $6.63 retail value per day on feed.

• Raised by Lawton Simmentals and sponsored by Lawton Simmentals and the Greene County Cattlemen’s Association this fifth-place steer is a Simmental born in March that was creep-fed before weaning in August. He gained an average of 4.59 pounds throughout the test and gained exceptionally well especially in the first half of the test period gaining almost 5 pounds per day. At slaughter, he received a $58 premium as a yield grade 1 and quality grade choice with a 16-inch ribeye. This steer’s retail value per day on feed came out at $6.60.

• Raised by Jeff Kock and sponsored by the Carroll County Cattlemen’s Association, this steer placed sixth. He’s an April-born steer sired by a Charolais bull and an Angus cross cow. This steer was not creep fed but entered test at 871 pounds and gained an average of 4.42 pounds per day. A yield grade 1 and quality grade choice, he had a ribeye area of 16.54 inches and a retail value per day on feed of $6.50.

• Pixley Family Simmentals, Sterling Family Cattle Company, and the Iowa Simmental Association had this seventh place Simmental steer. Born in April he was creep-fed and was weaned in early September and went on test at 912 pounds. He gained an average of 4.27 pounds per day and weighed 1,519 pounds when he went off test. He recorded an impressive ribeye area of 16.83 and had a retail value per day on feed of $6.45.

Highest Average Daily Gain. This winning steer was raised by Radloff Angus in Luana, Iowa and donated by the Winneshiek, Clayton and Fayette County Cattlemen. It’s a purebred Angus steer that went on test at 783 pounds and went off test at 1,566 pounds, giving him an average daily gain of 5.5 pounds.

Largest Ribeye Area. Bloomfield Livestock Auction and Schooley Cattle sponsored this one. The winner had a ribeye area of 18.24 inches, which is all more impressive when compared to the national average of 13.9 inches. He’s a March-born Simmental steer sired by LLSF Pays to Believe.

Highest Marbling Score. Brian McCulloh, Woodhill Farms had this Angus, March-born steer. He scanned an impressive intramuscular fat percentage of 8.66% which converts to a marbling score of 734 which is “slightly abundant.” Unsurprisingly, this steer graded prime for a $66.92 premium.

Chef’s Award. Brian McCulloh of Woodhill Farms. This award is presented to the steer with a 12- to 14-inch ribeye with the highest marbling score. Sired by Tehama Sierra Cut Z118, this winning Angus steer had a ribeye area of 13.71 inches and slightly abundant marbling with a %IMF of 8.66%.

For a summary of performance and carcass data from 2017-18 Carcass Challenge, visit the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.

Source: Iowa Cattlemen’s Association