Feeder Calf Grades:Feeder Calf Grades:Do Better Grades Really Pay?Do Better Grades Really Pay?

David GonsoulinDavid GonsoulinUSDAUSDA

What is a Number 1 Calf?What is a Number 1 Calf? I Do not know how to describe it, but when I see one, I I Do not know how to describe it, but when I see one, I

know it.know it.

It has to be a good doing calf.It has to be a good doing calf. It has to be a black hided, stand up, big boned, straight It has to be a black hided, stand up, big boned, straight

backed type animal.backed type animal.

It has to be Medium to Large Frame with thick muscle.It has to be Medium to Large Frame with thick muscle.

If it fits the order, it will do.If it fits the order, it will do.

Number 1?Number 1?

Is this a Number 1?Is this a Number 1?

Is this a Number 1?Is this a Number 1?

Are these 1 ½?Are these 1 ½?

Do I Get Paid For What I Have?Do I Get Paid For What I Have?

Current Feeder Cattle Grades Current Feeder Cattle Grades 1979 -20061979 -2006

Frame SizeFrame Size

Muscle ScoreMuscle Score

ThriftinessThriftiness

Frame SizeFrame Size

Refers to the animals skeletal size –Refers to the animals skeletal size –

Height and body length—in relation to its age.Height and body length—in relation to its age.

Thus frame size evaluations are related to Thus frame size evaluations are related to differences in mature size.differences in mature size.

Refers to weight (under normal feeding and Refers to weight (under normal feeding and management conditions) an animal will produce management conditions) an animal will produce a carcass which will grade Choice. a carcass which will grade Choice.

Evaluating Frame SizeEvaluating Frame Size

Flank to Flank

Hip Height

Chest to

Ground

What are the Frame Sizes?What are the Frame Sizes?

Large Large

MediumMedium

SmallSmall

Large Frame Large Frame

Large Frame cattle are thrifty, tall and long Large Frame cattle are thrifty, tall and long bodied for their age.bodied for their age.

Steers grade Choice at weights greater Steers grade Choice at weights greater than 1250 lbs. than 1250 lbs.

Heifers greater than 1150 lbs Heifers greater than 1150 lbs

Large FrameLarge Frame

Medium Frame Medium Frame

Medium Frame cattle are thrifty, are slightly Medium Frame cattle are thrifty, are slightly tall and have slightly long bodies.tall and have slightly long bodies.

Steers grade Choice between 1100 lbs Steers grade Choice between 1100 lbs and 1250 lbs.and 1250 lbs.

Heifers grade Choice between 1000 lbs Heifers grade Choice between 1000 lbs and 1150 lbs and 1150 lbs

Medium FrameMedium Frame

Small FrameSmall Frame

Small Frame cattle are thrifty, and not as Small Frame cattle are thrifty, and not as tall or long bodied as the Medium Frame tall or long bodied as the Medium Frame

animal animal

Steers grade Choice below 1100 lbs.Steers grade Choice below 1100 lbs.

Heifers grade Choice below 1000 lbsHeifers grade Choice below 1000 lbs

Small FrameSmall Frame

Frame Steers HeifersFrame Steers Heifers

Large Large 1250 lbs 1250 lbs 1150 Lbs1150 Lbs Medium Medium 1100 lbs1100 lbs 1000 lbs1000 lbs Small Small under 1100 lbsunder 1100 lbs 1000 lbs 1000 lbs

What do buyers pay for?What do buyers pay for?Summary of Sale BarnsSummary of Sale Barns

Frame Frame OK.OK. KS.KS. AR.AR. AL.AL. AvgAvg

High High LargeLarge

-4.78-4.78

LargeLarge BaseBase BaseBase BaseBase BaseBase BaseBase

Upper Upper MediumMedium

-1.33-1.33 -.06-.06 BaseBase BaseBase -.69-.69

MediumMedium -3.40-3.40 -1.16-1.16 -5.84-5.84 -2.28-2.28

SmallSmall -18.86-18.86 -8.93-8.93 --22.8422.84

-10.60-10.60 -16.55-16.55

Muscle Score Muscle Score ThicknessThickness

Thickness refers to the development of the Thickness refers to the development of the muscle system in relation to skeletal size. muscle system in relation to skeletal size.

Thicker feeder cattle will have a higher Thicker feeder cattle will have a higher ratio of muscle to bone when fed to the ratio of muscle to bone when fed to the same degree of fatness and will have same degree of fatness and will have higher yield grades. higher yield grades.

Muscle GradesMuscle Grades

#1#1

#2#2

#3#3

#4#4

= = Thick Or Heavy MusclingThick Or Heavy Muscling

= = Average MusclingAverage Muscling

= Thin Or Light Muscling= Thin Or Light Muscling

= Extremely Light Muscling = Extremely Light Muscling (Starved Jersey)(Starved Jersey)

# 1 Muscle# 1 Muscle

1++ 1--

Average #2Average #2

# 3 Muscle# 3 Muscle

3++ 3--

# 4 Muscle# 4 Muscle

Muscle GradesMuscle Grades

# 1 # 2 # 3 # 4

Possible Feeder Cattle GradesPossible Feeder Cattle Grades Large Frame #1,#2,#3 or #4Large Frame #1,#2,#3 or #4

Medium Frame #1,#2,#3 or #4Medium Frame #1,#2,#3 or #4

Small Frame #1,#2,#3 or #4Small Frame #1,#2,#3 or #4

Inferior – This grade will include sick Inferior – This grade will include sick unthrifty cattle and double muscled cattle unthrifty cattle and double muscled cattle due to their inability to Quality grade.due to their inability to Quality grade.

Prices for MusclePrices for MuscleOk. Ok. KS.KS. AR.AR. AL.AL. Avg.Avg.

11 HeavyHeavyMuscleMuscle

BaseBase BaseBase BaseBase BaseBase

22 Average Average MuscleMuscle

-9.37-9.37 -3.50-3.50 -9.14-9.14 -5.86-5.86 -6.97-6.97

33 ThinThinMuscleMuscle

-26.48-26.48 -15.30-15.30 -24.17-24.17 -18.39-18.39 -21.08-21.08

44 Very Very ThinThinMuscleMuscle

-22.65-22.65 -38.24-38.24 -30.45-30.45

Thrifty/HealthyThrifty/Healthy

OK.OK. KS.KS. AR.AR. AL.AL. AvgAvg

Dead Dead Hair/MudHair/Mud

-2.62-2.62 -1.11-1.11 12.5512.55 -5.42-5.42

Bad EyeBad Eye -9.71-9.71 -2.83-2.83 -13.71-13.71 -8.75-8.75

StaleStale -6.91-6.91 -5.06-5.06 -18.09-18.09 -10.02-10.02

LameLameLumpsLumps

-21.56-21.56 -14.00-14.00 -33.36-33.36 -22.97-22.97

SickSick -28.62-28.62 -17.95-17.95 -37.88-37.88 -28.15-28.15

USDA Feeder Cattle GradesUSDA Feeder Cattle Grades

InferiorInferior

Feeder CattleFeeder CattleValue Determining FactorsValue Determining Factors

Background Color Fill Horns Personal

Preference Vaccinations

Breed Condition/

Flesh Frame Muscling Sex Weight

Does Color Make A Difference?Does Color Make A Difference?Arkansas Extension 2005Arkansas Extension 2005

ColorColor Deviation From AverageDeviation From AverageYellowYellow +2.19+2.19BlackBlack/Whiteface/Whiteface +1.93+1.93BlackBlack +1.14+1.14WhiteWhite -2.09-2.09RedRed/Whiteface/Whiteface -3.52-3.52RedRed -4.18-4.18SSppoott -10.73-10.73

Other FactorsOther Factors

FactorFactor Deviation Deviation from Averagefrom Average

Calf with HornsCalf with Horns -3.23-3.23

Fleshy CalfFleshy Calf -5.82-5.82

Fat CalfFat Calf -16.12-16.12

Full CalfFull Calf -8.05-8.05

Throw It All TogetherThrow It All Together

You have a Small Frame, Number 3 Muscle, Full, You have a Small Frame, Number 3 Muscle, Full, Red Calf with Horns.Red Calf with Horns.

Small (-16.55) Number 3 (-21.08), Full Small (-16.55) Number 3 (-21.08), Full (-8.05), Red Calf (-4.18) with Horns (-3.23) (-8.05), Red Calf (-4.18) with Horns (-3.23) Total -53.09 Total -53.09

David GonsoulinDavid Gonsoulin

USDA, Livestock & Grain Market USDA, Livestock & Grain Market NewsNews