Steer and Calf Grading

Steer and Calf Grading

Grading Demonstration

To Be At 0*Bannon’s' c

By W. H. Lyn«, Co. Agent

The grade of feeder calves anA feeder steers has a tremendous influence on the price per hundred-weight that the farmer gets or has to pay for his cattle. Feed* et calves and Feeder steers are also quoted by grade; however, many fanner buyers and sellers do not know how to recognise these, grades. Also, grades have been changed. Consequently, ill is smart for a farmer, whether he or she be a buyer or purchaser, to know grades of cattle. Grade , also is a means by (which a steer’s efficiency to convert feed into meat can be predetermined.

For these reasons, the Rappahannock Livestock Committee selected as one of its 1951 goals a demonstration conducted <by official graders on grading feeder f calves and feeder steers on a Rappahannock farm and thereby afford cattle-producers an opportunity to learn why some cattle fetch 94 to |5 more than others. Or, to put it the other way around, to give him an opportunity to learn when or when not someone wss trying to pat something off an him.: Demonstration Friday

On Friday, September 18, ai| “Clover Hill," near Woodville, at 10 o’clock in the morning, M. L. Dalton, beef cattle marketing specialist of VJP.I., will give some marketing and purchasing pointers beef cattle producers should employ. Also, C. P. McClaugherty, in charge of livestock grading of the Virginia Division of Marketing, will demonstrate and explain grades and grading of feedor steers and calves. "" Mr.-*iO’Banpon will have at Clover Hill, his farm on Route 512 near Woodville, eight feeder steers which have just been put on feed. These steers will have metal ear tags as means of permanent identification. They will probably be fed until mid-February. Thus we hope to follow through, say on Steer-X, to* sew what he will grade as a finished product. ^7

Then, should the cattle be marketed at a nearby slaughter house, ' how will his carcass grade? , . . Get the idea? See the grade at the beginning and end an foot and then on the hook!

Also, to what extent can you visualize or be assured of how a feeder calf gracing “good” on September 28, 1951, look or gTade as a feeder steer a year hence?

After all’s said and done, when cattlemen get together anywhere at any time, the mere exchange of knowledge proves very worthwhile. The “p’int” is bo bo sure and be at O’Bannon’s come the tenth hour tomorrow.