Shumaker Herefords
     HomeHistory herd_sires cow_herd feedlot for_sale links

For the last 12 years steer calves have been fed out through the American Hereford Association's Genetic Outreach  Program/National Hereford Feedout (GOP/NHF). The calves are shipped to the feedlot at 8 to 11 months of age and are harvested at 13 to 17 months of age. At the packer, actual carcass data was collected on individuals and reported with the feedlot performance. This information combined with ultrasound data on the replacement heifers allow identification of the combination of genetics to produce superior feedlot performance. The calves have returned a profit for 11 out of the 12 years through a wide range of cattle prices, feed costs and weather!  Note that both the steers and heifers in the Spring 2010 test topped the net return rankings.

  Since 2009 the cull heifers were also sent to the feedlot. They preformed well with 70% grading choice in 2009 and 67% grading choice in 2010.



 Head
 Days
 Marbling
 Fat
 Rib
 Yield
 Average
 Feed
 Net

Count
 on
 Score
 Thickness
 Eye
 Grade
 Daily
 Conversion
 Return
 Location


Feed

Area
Gain


2000(winter)(steers)
 6
 165
 4.7
 0.5
 11.6
 3.3
 3.28
 5.12
 $13.49
 Lane County Feeders
2001(winter)(steers) 9
 188
 4.9
 0.6
 11.6
 3.8
 3.71
 5.22
 $112.58
 North Platte Feeders
2002(winter)(steers) 9
 153
 4.5
 0.7
 12.8
 3.6
 3.79
 5.91
 -$15.36
 North Platte Feeders
2003(winter)(steers) 10
 172
 4.7
 0.6
 13.0
 3.3
 3.83
 4.90
 $151.39
 North Platte Feeders
2004(winter)(steers) 10
 148
 4.1
 0.5
 13.1
 2.4
 3.31
 4.93
 $8.76
 Royal Beef
2005(winter)(steers) 10
 142
 4.4
 0.4
 12.5
 2.6
 3.68
 4.58
 $152.20
 Royal Beef
2006(winter)(steers) 17
 179
 4.6
 0.5
 13.8
 2.9
 3.80
 4.90
 $103.24
 Royal Beef
2007(winter)(steers) 15
 146
 4.5
 0.5
 12.2
 3.0
 3.51
 4.52
 $154.11
 Royal Beef
2008(winter)(steers) 12
 155
 4.4
 0.4
 13.2
 2.7
 3.84
 5.04
 $40.95
 Royal Beef
2008(spring)(steers) 11
 136
 4.9
 0.5
 11.8
 3.1
 4.25
 4.26
 $128.52
 Royal Beef
2009(winter)(steers) 15
 164
 4.7
 0.4
 12.9
 2.7
 3.65
 4.51
 $10.21
 Royal Beef
2009(spring)(steers) 15
 169
 5.1
 0.5
 12.5
 3.1
 3.93
 4.37
 $59.25
 Royal Beef
2009(spring)(heifers) 11
 165
 5.5
 0.5
 12.2
 2.8
 3.39
 4.92
 $39.49
 Royal Beef
2010(spring)(steers) 28
 179
 5.0
 0.5
 13.7
 3.1
 3.90
 5.05
 $204.17
 Royal Beef
2010(spring)(heifers) 12
 179
 5.3
 0.5
 12.4
 3.1
 3.40
 5.52
 $172.67
 Royal Beef
2011(spring)(steers) 26







Fairleigh Feed Yard
2011(spring)(heifers) 10







Fairleigh Feed Yard

While we have very little control over weather, feed costs or fed cattle prices, we can control other variables that effect profit in the feedlot.
Fortunately carcass traits are moderately heritable so we can control feedlot performance through genetics. Here is a graphic analysis of the feedlot
performance for the steers over the last 11 years.

conversion

rea

adg

imf

Consignment ranking in the 2010 GOP (National Hereford Feedout) (steers)
Consignment
Rank
 Head
Count
Marbling
Score
 Fat
Thickness
 Rib Eye
Area
 Yield
Grade
 Average
Daily Gain
 Feed
Conversion
 Carcass
Weight
1
 5
 6.20
 0.42
 14.50
 2.70
 4.10
 4.56
 872
2
 5
 5.30
 0.45
 13.90
 2.80
 3.90
 4.85
 870
3
 12
 5.20
 0.52
 13.80
 3.00
 3.80
 4.89
 868
4
 20
 5.10
 0.52
 13.60
 3.10
 3.80
 4.99
 867
5
 28
 5.00
 0.52
 13.60
 3.20
 3.70
 5.00
 850
6
 46
 5.00
 0.52
 13.50
 3.30
 3.70
 5.28
 843
7
 65
 4.60
 0.65
 13.10
 3.60
 3.70
 5.78
 835

Consignment ranking in the 2010 GOP (National Hereford Feedout) (heifers)
Consignment
Rank		 Head
Count		 Marbling
Score		 Fat
Thickness		 Rib Eye
Area		 Yield
Grade		 Average
Daily Gain		 Feed
Conversion		 Carcass
Weight
1
 12
 5.4
 0.51
 12.90
 3.00
 3.40
 5.64
 794
2
 ?
 5.2
 0.54
 12.50
 3.40
 3.10
 6.05
 725

According to data compiled by Kansas State University on closeouts from Kansas feedlots in August 2010, the ADG for steers was 3.74 lb/day with a
conversion of 5.77 lb/lb (dry basis) and the average cost of gain was $0.67/lb. The average cost of gain (total) for the GOP steers was $0.61/lb.
This translates to a savings of $36 per head feeding Herefords compared to the average (black) feeder steer. The Kansas feedlot ADG for heifers was
3.20 lb/day with a conversion of 6.17 lb/lb (dry basis) and the average cost of gain was $0.74/lb. The average cost of gain (total) for the GOP heifers was
$0.64/lb. Feeders that have been chasing CAB premiums might want to reconsider how cost effective that strategy actually is!