The North Dakota Angus Association is again partnering with the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC) in sponsoring the third annual North Dakota Angus University (NDAU) calf feed-out program.

In the summer and fall of 2013, the second NDAU project was held with great success.  One hundred and eighty two head of yearling and fall steer calves where consigned in the feedout program at the CREC.  In addition to the valuable information producers received regarding the feedlot performance of their cattle; the steers were used in a feedlot research trial.  No treatments were imposed that would reduce performance of the animals.  In the 2013 feedout program, cattle gained an average of 4.6 lbs per head per day, had a feed efficiency of 6.50 pounds  of feed intake (dry matter) per pound of live weight gain, had a dressing percentage of 62.91%, with 87% grading choice or better.

If you are interested in gaining a better understanding of how your Angus sired cattle perform in the feedlot, their quality grade and the potential profitability available through retained ownership; Angus University would be a viable option for steers from your operation.  Participants in NDAU will receive periodic progress reports on their calves’ performance as well as a final report on the overall performance, efficiency, and carcass traits for their calves.

Mike Wendel from LaMoure, ND, has consigned cattle both years of the program and has been happy with his calves results in the NDAU trials.  Mike has been able to use information generated from the program as a benchmark comparison in his own herd.   “Not only did we get the carcass data back from the cattle we had at the University, but we also did a carcass and profit comparison to the calves we had there against the calves we kept at home,” says Wendel. “I think that was a huge bonus for us. We compared our rate of gain and carcass performance. It was a nice, unbiased comparison, and the whole process has been very educational.”

The NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center requests that animal consignments be between 800 and 900 pounds and in multiples of four from each individual producer.  If you are interested in participating or have questions, contact Chanda Engel, M.S.  at the CREC at (701) 652-2951 or email chanda.engel@ndsu.edu.