By Scout Nelson
North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension and the Carrington Research Extension Center partner with the Dakota Feeder Calf Show to give ranchers a chance to see how their calves perform beyond the cow-calf stage of production.
This program, called a feedout project, helps producers learn about growth, carcass traits, and profit potential.
For over 26 years, this project has shown ranchers how their breeding decisions affect herd performance. According to Karl Hoppe, NDSU Extension livestock specialist, feeding calves past weaning highlights superior growth rates and meat quality, revealing how bull and heifer selection improves genetics over time.
Animal scientist Colin Tobin explains that feeding out an entire calf crop provides the most detailed data, but a feedout project is a cost-effective option. By consigning a small group of calves, producers still receive valuable information about rate of gain, feed costs, and carcass value.
During the 2024–25 feedout, calves gained an average of 830 pounds in 242 days, with a total feeding cost of $0.90 per pound of gain. The average sale weight reached 1,460 pounds, and the market weight break-even point stood at $175.88 per hundredweight.
The profit difference between the top and bottom herds reached $660.65 per head, proving that small production changes can greatly impact profit.
Interested ranchers can consign one or two pens of three or four 500- to 700-pound steer calves before 10 a.m. CST on show day. Calves are shown, evaluated, and then shipped to the NDSU Carrington feedlot until they reach market weight.
All calves must be pre-vaccinated for BVD, PI3, IBR, BRSV, Mannheimia, Clostridials, and Histophilus somni, with booster shots given on arrival. The entry fee is $20 per calf, and awards are presented after the trial ends.
This program offers ranchers a practical way to measure genetic progress, control feeding costs, and improve profits while learning how small herd improvements create significant financial returns.
Photo Credit: istock-simplycreativephotography
Categories: North Dakota, Livestock, Beef Cattle