Feeder Cattle Grading

January 2001

Warren Beeler, Kentucky Department of AgricultureCertified USDA Livestock Grader

Edited for Georgia by Frank B. FlandersGeorgia Agriculture Education Curriculum OfficeMarch 2002

Feeder Cattle Grading

The information in this presentation is correct to the best of our knowledge as of the time this presentation was created.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age , or disability in employment or the provision of services necessary to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participat e in all programs and activities.

The purpose of this presentation is to:

P Introduce the concept of feeder calf grading to individuals and/or groups that have limited or no previous experience with USDA grading of feeder cattle.

P Examine the requirements and benefits of feeder cattle through graded, co-mingled sales.

Feeder Cattle Grading

Why Preconditioned and Graded?

P Offers large groups of like kindP Helps small producersP Helps large producer with more than one grade

of cattleP Improved health and feedlot successP Improved customer satisfaction

Feeder Cattle Grading

Successful KY Graded Sales

P CPH Sales -Hopkinsville, Guthrie, and Bowling Green

P Paris Central KY FeedersP Owensboro Area (2,200

head)P Breckinridge County Sale

Feeder Cattle Grading

The AdvantageHopkinsville CPH Sale,

December 4, 2000 (787 head)

$700-790 pound steersreturned an average of $8.34/cwt. over the average market reported for the Green River Area that week.

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GROWTH CURVES

Frame

Age of animal

Wei

ght

of a

nim

al

MuscleFat

900 lbs

1,400 lbs

Steers

Frame Size/Finish Weight

Feeder Cattle Grading

What Makes the Grade on Frame?

# Large / over 1,250

# Medium / 1,100-1,250

# Small / under 1,100

(At 0.4" Backfat)

Heifers

Frame Size/Finish Weight

# Large / over 1,150

# Medium / 1,000-1,150

# Small / under 1,100

(At 0.4" Backfat)

Feeder Cattle Grading

What Makes the Gradeon Muscle?

#1 = Thick or Heavy Muscling

#2 = Average Muscling

#3 = Thin or Light Muscling

#4 = Malnourished Dairy Animal

What Does Not Make the Grade?

P Poor EyesP StagsP Odd Color With No MatchP Double MuscledP InjuriesP HornsP Sick or Unthrifty

Feeder Cattle Grading

Possible Feeder Cattle Grades

P Large Frame 1, 2, 3, or 4P Medium Frame 1, 2, 3, or 4P Small Frame 1, 2, 3, or 4P OutsP ShortsP Fats

Feeder Cattle Grading

Common Breeds Used for Sorting/Grouping

P Blacks - Angus X, Black BaldyP Charolais - White, ChocolateP Crossbred - Red=s, Red Baldy, Simmental

X, Big BlacksP Earred - Brahman XP HerefordP Striped - Striped Simmental, Skunk Tail

Feeder Cattle Grading

GRADING TEST: LARGE, HORNS = OUT 350

MEDIUM, BLACKS 270

SMALL, BLACKS 290

MEDIUM, HEREFORD 270

MEDIUM, EARRED 370

LARGE, CHAROLAIS 100

MEDIUM, BLACK, STAGY? 130

LARGE, NO MATCH 330

SMALL, FAT, CHAROLAIS 270

LARGE, EXCELLENT CONDITION, BLACKS 170

SMALL, BLACKS 380

LARGE, CROSSBRED, SICK = OUT 370

MEDIUM, CROSSBRED, SICK? 220

LARGE, CROSSBRED OR BLACK 160

LARGE, EARRED 360

MEDIUM, CROSSBRED 280

MEDIUM, BLACKS 110

MEDIUM, CROSSBRED 490

MEDIUM, BLACK, OLD 360

SMALL, NO MATCH 340

STAG, OLD, SMALL #2 = OUT

Medium # 135% Large & 50% Large &

Medium # 2 Medium # 310% Large & 5% Small #1

or #2

Typical Distribution of Feeder Cattle in KY Graded Sales

Feeder Cattle Grading

Feeder Cattle Grading

MIXED GROUP

LOAD LOTS

Feeder Cattle Grading

UNIFORM FINISHED PRODUCT

THE REAL BUSINESS!

Feeder Cattle Grading

Warren Beeler

Kentucky Department of Agriculture

100 Fair Oaks Lane, Suite 252

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

502-564-5665 Ext. 223 502-843-9191