The Dakota Feeder Calf Show and a Backgrounding Seminar series are two events for cattle feeders in October.  These programs are for learning more about cattle feeding through backgrounding or finishing cattle.

The Dakota Feeder Calf Show is held in October 20 in Turtle Lake, ND.  While the event is a celebration by the community, it revolves around cattle producers consigning groups of 3 or 4 calves to be fed to harvest.  The calves are delivered to and then displayed at the Turtle Lake Weighing station on Saturday morning October 20.  That afternoon the calves are shipped to the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center Livestock Feedlot for feeding to finish.  In May 2019, the calves will be shipped to slaughter in Nebraska.  Calf owners are provided feedlot performance, carcass and financial information.

During the 2017‐18 DFCS feedout, the calves gained an average of 649 pounds in 207 days, with a total feeding cost (excluding interest) of 74.8 cents per pound of gain. The average sale weight was 1,311 pounds. The calves were fed with a market weight break‐even point of $121 per hundredweight.

In the 2017‐18 feedout, the spread in net return per head between the average of the top and bottom five herds was $170.17. The spread ($242.77 per head) is more noticeable between the top and bottom herd. Weight gain per day of age was 3.58 pounds for the top‐profiting herd and 3 pounds for the bottom herd.

To consign calves to the Dakota Feeder Calf Show Feedout, contact Karl Hoppe 701-652-2951 or Darwin Chesrown, Turtle Lake Farmers Union Oil, at 701‐448‐2356.

The NDSU Backgrounding seminar series will be held in multiple locations during October 16-18, 2018.

Topics for the meetings and presenters are:

• Local issues for cattle feeders
• Cost of gain and calf-growing rations
• Backgrounding calf management and budgets
• Weaning management

The dates, times and locations for the backgrounding series are:

• Oct. 16 - 8:30 a.m. CST, McVille, McVille Cafe
• Oct. 16 - 7 p.m. CST, Spiritwood, Sportman’s Bar
  
  
• Oct. 17 - 8:30 a.m. CST, Napoleon, Napoleon Livestock Auction
• Oct. 17 - 7 p.m. CST, Granville, McGillicuddy Center
• Oct. 18 - 8:30 a.m. CST, New Salem, Fairgrounds
• Oct. 18 - 7 p.m. MST, Killdeer, Ezra Barrows American Legion Hall Post 46

For more information, contact John Dhuyvetter at 701-857-7682 or john.dhuyvetter@ndsu.edu; Janna Kincheloe at 701-567-4323 or janna.kincheloe@ndsu.edu; Karl Hoppe at 701-652-2951 or karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu; or your local Extension agent.

Karl Hoppe, Ph. D.
Karl.Hoppe@ndsu.edu
Extension Livestock Specialist