Growing Beef Newsletter May 2021 - Beef Month

News from Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University

View this email in your browser Iowa Beef Center, Iowa State University May 2021   Volume 11, Issue 11 In this issue Higher Retail Beef Prices - New Grilling Options? Creep Feed & Milk EPD: What We Learned From Tracking Individual Calf Intake BIF 2021 - Register by May 14 and Save $50 IBC Director Column Iowa Cow-Calf Commentary Beef Quality Assurance Certification Sessions Education and information for All Higher Retail Beef Prices May Have You Considering New Options This Grilling Season By Terry Houser, ISU extension meat specialist   Normally I would suggest most consumers try a ribeye steak on their grill this summer for maximum beefy enjoyment. However, if you haven't noticed, beef retail prices are on the rise. According to the most recent USDA Carlot Meat Report, wholesale prices for Choice ribeye rolls, strips, and tenderloins are running $11.05/lb., $7.72/lb., and $13.56/lb. respectively. When adding a typical retail gross margin of 50% and including cutting loss we are easily looking at steak prices from $12.00-25.00/lb. for ribeyes, strips, and tenderloins this spring. So how do we still enjoy a great steak and not have to take out a second mortgage on our house? The answer may be to try a cut from the chuck or sirloin. Research sponsored by the Beef Checkoff has identified several cuts from the chuck that are gaining in popularity including the flat iron steak, petite tender/shoulder tender steak, and Denver steak. These three cuts perform very well using traditional grilling methods and are usually priced 1/3 to 1/2 the price of a ribeye or strip steak. In addition, most retail stores will carry a chuck-eye steak that is compositionally similar to a ribeye steak but priced significantly lower. The current average USDA wholesale price for a Choice top sirloin butt is $4.31/lb. representing a great value for retailers and consumers. The top sirloin butt primal includes the sirloin cap muscle a.k.a. "Coulotte or Picanha" as well as the center-cut or "Top of Iowa" sirloin. The sirloin cap may be cut into steaks or grilled as a whole piece as is traditional with Brazilian BBQ. Before serving the sirloin cap when grilled or smoked whole, it is extremely important to cut across the grain of the muscle fibers to ensure maximum tenderness is achieved. The center-cut sirloin is also a great choice for the grill but should never be overcooked!!! Maximum tenderness for a center-cut sirloin can be achieved if cooked between medium-rare (145° F) to medium (160° F) doneness. When using a thermometer to determine end-point cooking temperature it is important to pull the steak off the heat source 5° F below your desired endpoint temperature. For instance, if your target is a medium-rare steak, pull off the heat source at 140° F and let rest 5 minutes before serving.   Creep Feed & Milk EPD: What We Learned From Tracking Individual Calf Intake By Patrick Wall, ISU extension beef specialist   Genetic trends for Milk EPD across most breeds have continued an upward trend, although direct selection pressure on Milk EPD has not been an over-arching goal of seedstock breeders in recent years. However, creep feeding has become wildly popular in the seedstock industry to maximize animal performance and to condition animals destined for a production sale. Unfortunately, the animal behavior aspects of creep feeding and the individual impact on the dam's Milk EPD have rarely been studied or quantified. This study used the Super SmartFeed™ (C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD) feeder to monitor calf creep feeding behavior and individual intake of creep feed during mid-to late-lactation.   We initially set out to track individual feed consumption amongst calves being creep fed relative to their dam's Milk EPD. Then track individual performance differences of calves offered ad libitum, limit-fed, or no creep feed. Ultimately, we wanted to determine if creep feed consumption was significantly influencing Milk EPD.   We used 81 spring-calving registered Angus cow-calf pairs (age 3-5) at the McNay Research Farm were used to monitor cow and calf performance as impacted by creep feeding. Pairs were rotationally grazed across cool-season, fescue-based pastures and the mobile Super SmartFeed™ feeder was moved throughout the paddocks. The feeder controlled animal intake and measured total intake per day, number of feeder visits per day and duration of each stay through electronic identification (EID tags).   The calves were split into two milk EPD classifications, based on their dam (Low & High). They were then split again into three creep feeding strategies: 1) No creep feed, 2) limited creep feed access (up to 2 lbs. per calf per day), or 3) ad libitum creep feed access (up to 15 lbs. per calf per day). The calves were born in March 2020; the test started July 30, and concluded October 13 (75 days).   The results were quite alarming! Of the calves that had access to creep feed, 73% from the High Milk (HM) EPD group visited the feeder and consumed feed; only 48% of the Low Milk (LM) group visited the feeder. It is unclear if the unique Super SmartFeedTM design influenced 'traditional' creep feeding behavior, additional trials are underway to test this unknown. However, this study indicates that creep feeding behavior could be an aspect of selection for increased Milk EPD, especially since weaning weight is the predominant performance trait used to calculate it.   As one would assume, calves with ad libitum access to creep feed had higher ADG (2.44 for the HM group, 2.28 for the LM group) compared to calves that either refused to consume creep feed or those that weren't allowed access (1.72 for HM, 1.75 for LM). The limit-fed creep group appeared to gain intermediate to the ad libitum and non-creep groups with the exception of the LM calves offered no creep. Ironically, those calves gained 1.94 pounds per day. The weigh-suckle-weigh data also indicated that the LM no creep cows offered more milk than any other group (6.52lbs.) The poorest milking cows were the HM cows whose calves had ad libitum access to creep feed (5.53lbs.). These findings agree with other previous research that Milk EPD is a rather poor indicator of actual milk production in beef cattle.   If performance information at weaning was submitted on these calves, on average, the calves from the HM group would have a 54-pound advantage over those that either refused to enter the feeder or weren't allowed. The same holds true in the LM group, where the advantage is 40 pounds. In the genetic evaluation, both the Weaning Weight (WW) and Milk EPDs would reflect the added performance, even though the environmental conditions and the calf's willingness to enter a creep feeder may actually explain much of the differences in performance.   This data indicates that breed associations may consider alternative methods for calculating Milk EPD, or potentially exclude WW records from calves offered ad libitum access to creep feed. Uncoupling the portion of Milk EPD actually due to additional creep feed consumption versus cow productivity could help commercial producers make better selection decisions by finding genetics that more closely mirror their environmental conditions.   A more in-depth discussion of this trial will occur during the Beef Improvement Federation meetings held this June 22-25 in Des Moines. We hope you'll join us for the event. Also, a repeat study of fall born calves just recently concluded at the McNay Research Farm. Look to future issues of Growing Beef for those results.   BIF 2021 - Register by May 14 and Save $50 For the first time in two years, the Beef Improvement Federation's annual meeting and research symposium will be held in person.  ISU faculty and staff are excited to host this year's event, set for June 22-25 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The symposium features two and a half days of educational programming and a full day of tours.General sessions are set for Wednesday and Thursday mornings, and panel discussions on a variety of beef production and genetic improvement topics begin late each morning and continue through those afternoons. The Young Producers Symposium kicks off the event on Tuesday afternoon, June 22, with the theme of Profitability in Balance. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Patrick Wall is on the planning committee and said the group is excited to see this presented to open up the BIF 2021 events. You'll start by learning to manage your operation to make a living, and then how to effectively market what you produce. Finally, you'll hear from a producer panel who have successfully traveled this path, and will have the opportunity to ask questions of each of them. Speakers and topics in presentation order are: Managing for profitability. John Locke, Ranching for Profit instructor and J.D. Hudgins Inc manager, Building a brand. Rachel Cutrer, Ranch House Designs owner. Breeding for profitability. Producer panel: Steve Radakovich, Bart Jones and Mary Ann Kniebel. Moderated by Brian McCulloh. The symposium is included with full BIF registration, but if you can't make the whole conference, you can register for the Young Producers Symposium only for $50. Registration is open and hotel information is now available on the symposium website. Early registration (May 14 deadline) is $345; $125 for students; Full registration (May 15 and after) is $395; $145 for students; Tours: $45, East Tour capacity is 52; West Tour capacity is 40.   Iowa Beef Center Director column What Consumers Want and How We Provide it to Them By Dan Loy, IBC director As we celebrate Beef Month it is interesting to reflect on how the pandemic disrupted the beef supply and changed how consumers eat beef. As restaurants closed, more beef was sold in grocery stores. Price, availability and value trumped value-added characteristics. What is unknown is whether we will now go back to business as usual or some of these changes will be carried forward. Will restaurants fully reopen? If so what will they look like? Will consumers be looking once again for verification of how the beef was raised? Will consumers continue to pay for quality? How will these changes affect how cattle are raised? Every decision in the value chain from breeding decisions to production practices and marketing is impacted by these factors. The opening general session (The Beef Industry: Where is it Going?) of the 2021 Beef Improvement Federation Symposium will address these questions. To kick off this session, Michael Uetz, Managing Principal at Midan Marketing will share insights his company has gathered on consumer purchasing trends and expectations. Jim Pillen, owner of Pillen Family Farms, will share how the swine industry is using genetics to meet consumer demands. And in his presentation, "We Can Sell More Beef," Dr. Dan Thomson, ISU animal science department chair, will explain how transparency in sharing information can help assure consumers that they're getting the product they desire. The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) is an annual symposium that draws a large group of leading seedstock and commercial beef producers, academics and allied industry partners. We are hosting the event in Iowa on June 22-25 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. This year's theme is "Innovation to Application." We have an exciting lineup of nationally recognized speakers and leaders in beef improvement from around the U.S. in attendance. We hope you can join us at this information-packed event. For more information or to register go to www.bifsymposium.com. Read all of this column on the IBC website.   Iowa Cow-Calf Commentary How Are You Utilizing Your Calving Records? By Erika Lundy, ISU extension beef specialist, and Beth Reynolds, IBC extension program specialist Benchmarking is a unique tool that allows producers to compare their enterprise's strengths and weaknesses to other herds and compare year to year herd performance. In order to make improvements in the cow herd, it is important to know where we are coming from and measure growth overtime, as you can't manage what you don't measure. Many cattlemen take calving records but don't fully utilize the data to make informed decisions. As we enter breeding season, which sets the tone for next year's calf crop, now is a great time to take a step back and analyze this year's calving records to get a more accurate representation of needed herd changes. Evaluating the calving distribution can tell you a lot about how successful last year's breeding season was or wasn't. Calculating the calving distribution percentage is done by simply tallying the cumulative number of calves born by day 21, 42, 63 and beyond in the calving season divided by the total number of cows calved. Read the entire article in the online ICA magazine.   Beef Quality Assurance certification sessions  The Iowa Beef Center is cooperating with the Iowa Beef Industry Council to host Beef Quality Assurance training and certification sessions across Iowa. BQA is a nationally coordinated, state implemented program that raises consumer confidence through offering proper management techniques and a commitment to quality within every segment of the beef industry. BQA certification is increasingly being encouraged, and in some cases required, by market outlets for finishing cattle and this trend is expected to increase. BQA is a voluntary program and the Iowa BQA Program is funded by the IBIC and the Beef Checkoff.  The education component is delivered as a joint effort by Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University and IBIC. The IBIC website lists in-person sessions as they are scheduled.   Education and information for all One more Foreign Animal Disease Webinar in series from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the Center for Food Security and Public Health (CFSPH) at Iowa State University. "Resource Coordination Center Support during COVID-19 Supply Chain Disruption: Role of IDALS, ISU Extension, Industry" is May 18 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. Registration is FREE and required here https://iowaagriculture.gov/foreign-animal-disease-webinars to get the webinar connection details sent directly to you.  === The North Central Integrated Pest Management Center is offering a free webinar May 19 on management of the stable fly. "A Push-Pull Strategy to Manage Stable Flies" will start at 12:30 Central Time. Read about this and other webinars offered by the center on their website. You'll need to register ahead of the session to receive the Zoom link and can do that on the webinar web page. === Annual forages can provide flexibility when managing forage supply whether filling forage production gaps or serving as a primary forage source. Erika Lundy, ISU Extension and Outreach beef specialist, said everyone is invited to learn more about annual forages and integrating them into a cropping rotation in an upcoming virtual field day set for June 3 beginning at 8:30 a.m. === On June 8, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a field day in rural Marion County addressing several alternatives to traditional forage management. The meeting is open to the public, and a free steak sandwich dinner will be provided to all who preregister. There is no fee for this event, thanks to sponsorship from the Iowa Forage and Grassland Council. === The Fencing and Grazing Clinic, organized and hosted by Iowa Beef Center, Department of Animal Science, and ISU Beef Teaching Farm at Iowa State University, is set for June 17 at the Beef Teaching Farm in Ames. Iowa State Extension beef specialist Erika Lundy said a variety of topics, speakers and learning opportunities make this clinic a "must-attend" for anyone who works with cattle, grazing and fencing in their operations. === The popular program, Feedlot Forum 2021, will be at the Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center on June 29. Built grassroots up, it focuses on issues critical to beef feedlot producers and cutting-edge technology available from agri-business professionals. This year's theme is "Producing and Marketing in Today's Era" and registration is now open for the in-person event. === Dealing with stress: Serious financial and other stresses continue to impact and affect those in our agricultural community. Here are links to some resources to help deal with a variety of stress concerns and grief. Remember also that the Iowa Concern Hotline is always available at 800-447-1985, iowaconcern@iastate.edu and at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/ PRIMER Farm Stress Keys When Married to Farm Stress From One Dairy Girl to the Next (appropriate for all farm women) Men and Farm Stress Youth and Farm Stress Good Grief-Dealing with Loss How to Help When You Don't Know What to Say (free download)   Iowa Beef Center Iowa State University, 313 Kildee Hall, 806 Stange Rd., Ames, IA  50011-1178 Phone 515-294-2333     Email  beefcenter@iastate.edu www.iowabeefcenter.org   YouTube   Twitter     Facebook Iowa State University Extension and Outreach policies Copyright © 2021 Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you signed up for our monthly newsletter, Growing Beef. 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