Fifth Annual AMAA National
Feeding Trial
by Dave Steen, commercial marketing
director
The fifth annual American
Maine-Anjou Association (AMAA) National
Maine-Anjou Influenced Steer and Heifer
Feeding Trial has ended with the last
group harvested on June 28, 2007. A
total of 193 head of outstanding
Maine-Anjou influenced steers and
heifers were entered.
This was the second year that junior
Maine-Anjou members could enter pens of
three heifers and steers. Thirteen
juniors represented the states of
Colorado, Oklahoma, Nebraska and
Michigan, and entered a total of 48 head
30 steers and 18 heifers. The junior
consignors and their parents are as
follows:
Callie Bauer, Wade and Vicki Bauer,
Arcadia, Neb.
Clay Bauer, Wade and Vicki Bauer,
Arcadia, Neb.
Rashele Blakely, Mr. and Mrs. Lyle
Blakely, Oologah, Okla.
Morgan McDonald, Rick and Samantha
Kusek, Loup City, Neb.
Shyann Kusek, Rick and Samantha Kusek,
Loup City, Neb.
Jesse Deane, Rick and Landon Deane,
Aspen, Colo.
Riley Setlik, Doug and Joy Setlik, Ord,
Neb.
Cole Simpkins, Duane and Charity
Simpkins, Gladwin, Mich.
Trevor Schultz, Troy and Melissa
Schultz, Loup City, Neb.
Abbie Rademacher, Scott and Amy
Rademacher, Loup City, Neb.
April Rademacher, Scott and Amy
Rademacher, Loup City, Neb.
Jakob Piontkoski, Scott and Amy
Rademacher, Loup City, Neb.
Cody Chilewski, Rick and Tina
Chilewski, Loup City, Neb.
Thank you to the parents for giving
these junior members the opportunity to
enter their cattle to compete and learn
about the cattle feeding industry. These
junior members are the future lifeblood
of the cattle industry. In the national
division, 17 consignors from the seven
states Nebraska, Minnesota, Michigan,
South Dakota, Colorado, Missouri and
Oklahoma delivered 125 steers and 20
heifers to this years trial. The
national consignors were:
Green Valley Cattle, Atkinson, Neb.
Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup City,
Neb.
Moon Creek Cattle Co., Inc., Loup
City, Neb.
SAR Maines, Loup City, Neb.
Chilewski Ranch, LLP, Loup City, Neb.
Rick and Landon Deane, Aspen, Colo.
Clay Knoll Farms, Gladwin, Mich.
Five Star Cattle Company, Trenton, Mo.
Schultz Properties, Inc., Loup City
and Columbus, Neb.
GTM Maines, Stuart, Neb.
MDS Maine-Anjou, Strasburg, Colo.
Van Slyke & Dobrovolny, Ord, Neb.
Brad Hohbach, White Lake, S.D.
Paul & Pam Millhisler, Beaverton,
Mich.
John Rappette, Cornell, Mich.
A.W. Thorne Land & Cattle, Inc.,
Adair, Okla.
Arlin Vant Hof, Edgerton, Minn.
The steers and heifers were delivered to Peterson Farms, Inc., Ord,
Neb., Oct. 25-26, 2006. Upon delivery,
all cattle were vaccinated and put on a
40-day warm-up ration. During this
period, the cattle gained an average of
3.12 lb. per day. We wanted to moderate
the health on all of the cattle before
getting them started on a four step-up
ration. The final finishing ration was
comprised of 30% distillers
by-products.
To assist with the selection of the optimum time to harvest, the
cattle were ultrasounded on March 17,
2007, by Jolene Grunhaupt, Sandhills
Ultrasound Service, Crookston, Neb. The
cattle were scanned using the John
Brethour System from Kansas State
University to measure the amount of fat
cover and intramuscular fat (marbling)
to help identify marketing times. The
cattle were harvested at Swift &
Company, Grand Island, Neb., using the
GeneNet grid.
The winter and spring weather was, to say the least, horrible, and
not very conducive to good performance.
The spring was long, filled with
lingering snow, ice and mud. Chuck and
Tim Setlik did an outstanding job of
managing the weather- elated problems
and moved the steers to a larger pen in
an attempt to avoid the ongoing muddy
conditions. Four steers died from causes
of enterotoxaemia, kidney stones and
blockage, kidney failure and a twisted
gut. Feedyards have very little control
over these types of deaths.
The heifers gained 2.54 lb. per day and
had a dry matter feed conversion of 7.47
lb. of feed per pound of gain. The
steers gained 2.51 lb. per day and had a
dry matter feed conversion of 7.51 lb.
of feed per pound of gain. Rations that
are higher in moisture and contain a
larger percentage of distiller
by-products usually require more feed
per pound of gain. The difference is
usually offset by a lower ration cost.
The cattle were harvested in three groups on April 20, June 6 and
June 28, 2007. Days on feed varied from
175, 222 and 244 days with an average of
213.7 days on feed. The number of days
should have been more than ample time
for the cattle to finish. Cost of gain
for the entire group of heifers without
interest was $73.56 per
hundred and $81.25 with interest. Cost
of gain for the steers without interest
was $72.74 per hundred and $80.83 with
interest. Increased feed costs of
approximately 30-40% over last year also
played a major role in pressuring the
overall net profit line. Also, the feed
conversions were somewhat higher than
the average of past trials, which in
part, could be largely attributed to the
harsh winter and spring weather
conditions. The harvest results for each
division of steers and
heifers are below in the charts.
The complete set of data from entry day through harvest was
analyzed and ranked by Dr. Duane Wulf,
Professor of Animal and Range Science at
South Dakota State University,
Brookings, S.D. Thank you to Dr. Wulf
for the final contest placing of the
individuals and groups. His efforts are
very much appreciated.
Awards were presented in each division of junior heifers and
steers, national heifers and steers for
carcass gain, carcass premium and
combined carcass gain and premium.
Prizes were paid in each category with
selection of the champion and reserve
individuals and groups. Here are the
winners of the fifth annual AMAA
National Maine- Anjou Influenced Steer
and Heifer Feeding Trial:
INDIVIDUAL HEIFER WINNERS
NATIONAL HEIFER DIVISION
Individual National Heifer for
Combined Carcass Gain and Carcass
Premium:
Champion: Chilewski Ranch, LLP, Loup
City, Neb.
Reserve Champion: Larry Rademacher &
Sons, Loup City, Neb.
3rd Place: Moon Creek Cattle Co., Inc.,
Loup City, Neb.
4th Place: Chilewski Ranch, LLP, Loup
City, Neb.
5th Place: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
Individual National Heifer for
Carcass Premium
1st Place: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
2nd Place: Chilewski Ranch,, LLP, Loup
City, Neb.
3rd Place: Moon Creek Cattle Co., Inc.,
Loup City, Neb.
4th Place: Arlin Vant Hof, Edgerton,
Minn.
5th Place: Moon Creek Cattle Co., Inc.,
Loup City, Neb.
Individual National Heifer for
Carcass Gain
1st Place: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
2nd Place: Chilewski Ranch, LLP, Loup
City, Neb.
3rd Place: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
4th Place: Chilewski Ranch, LLP, Loup
City, Neb.
5th Place: Moon Creek Cattle Co., Inc.,
Loup City, Neb.
Top Individual National Heifer for
Average Daily Gain
1st Place: 3.155 lb./day - Moon Creek
Cattle Co., Inc., Loup City, Neb.
GROUPS OF FIVE HEIFERS WINNERS
NATIONAL HEIFER DIVISION
Group of Five National Heifers for
Combined Carcass Gain and Carcass
Premium
Champion: Chilewski Ranch, LLP, Loup
City, Neb.
Reserve Champion: Larry Rademacher &
Sons, Loup City, Neb.
3rd Place: Arlin Vant Hof, Edgerton,
Minn.
4th Place: Moon Creek Cattle Co., Inc.,
Loup City, Neb.
Group of Five National Heifers for
Carcass Premium
1st Place: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
2nd Place: Chilewski Ranch, LLP, Loup
City, Neb.
3rd Place: Moon Creek Cattle Co., Inc.,
Loup City, Neb.
4th Place: Arlin Vant Hof, Edgerton,
Minn
Group of Five National Heifers for
Carcass Gain
1st Place: Chilewski Ranch, LLP, Loup
City, Neb.
2nd Place: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
3rd Place: Arlin Vant Hof, Edgerton,
Minn.
4th Place: Moon Creek Cattle Co., Inc. ,
Loup City, Neb.
Top Group of Five National Heifers
for Average Daily Gain
1st Place: 2.640 lb./day - Chilewski
Ranch, LLP, Loup City, Neb.
INDIVIDUAL STEER WINNERS
NATIONAL STEER DIVISION
Individual National Steer for
Combined Carcass Gain and Carcass
Premium
Champion: Larry Rademacher & Sons,
Loup City, Neb.
Reserve Champion: Larry Rademacher &
Sons, Loup City, Neb.
3rd Place: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
4th Place: GTM Maines, Stuart, Neb.
5th Place: Van Slyke & Dobrovolny, Ord,
Neb
Individual National Steer for Carcass
Premium
1st Place: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
2nd Place: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
3rd Place: John Rappette, Cornell, Mich.
4th Place: Clay Knoll Farms, Gladwin,
Mich.
5th Place: Chilewski Ranch, LLP, Loup
City, Neb.
Individual National Steer for Carcass
Gain
1st Place: Van Slyke & Dobrovolny,
Ord, Neb.
2nd Place: John Rappette, Cornell, Mich.
3rd Place: Arlin Vant Hof, Edgerton,
Minn.
4th Place: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
5th Place: John Rappette, Cornell, Mich.
Top Individual National Steer for
Average Daily Gain
1st Place: 3.376 lb./day - A. W. Thorne,
Adair, Okla.
GROUPS OF FIVE STEERS WINNERS
NATIONAL STEER DIVISION
Group of Five National Steers for
Combined Carcass Gain and Carcass
Premium
Champion: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
Reserve Champion: GTM Maines, Stuart,
Neb.
3rd Place: John Rappette, Cornell, Mich.
4th Place: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
5th Place: A. W. Thorne, Adair, Okla.
Group of Five National Steers for
Carcass Premium
1st Place: GTM Maines, Stuart, Neb
2nd Place: Moon Creek Cattle Co., Inc.,
Loup City, Neb.
3rd Place: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
4th Place: Van Slyke & Dobrovolny, Ord,
Neb.
5th Place: Ken Bower, Trenton, Mo.
Group of Five National Steers for
Carcass Gain
1st Place: John Rappette, Cornell, Mich.
2nd Place: A. W. Thorne, Adair, Okla.
3rd Place: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
4th Place: Larry Rademacher & Sons, Loup
City, Neb.
5th Place: Clay Knoll Farms, Gladwin,
Mich.
Top Group of Five National Steers for
Average Daily Gain
1st Place 0.930 lb./day - A. W. Thorne,
Adair, Okla.
INDIVIDUAL HEIFER WINNERS
JUNIOR HEIFER DIVISION
Individual Junior Heifer for Combined
Carcass Gain and Carcass Premium
1st Place: April Rademacher, Loup City,
Neb.
2nd Place: Clay Bauer, Arcadia, Neb.
3rd Place: Abbie Rademacher, Loup City,
Neb.
Individual Junior Heifer for Carcass
Premium
1st Place: Callie Bauer, Arcadia, Neb.
2nd Place: April Rademacher, Loup City,
Neb.
3rd Place: Jakob Pointkowski, Loup City,
Neb.
Individual Junior Heifer for Carcass
Gain
1st Place: Abbie Rademacher, Loup City,
Neb.
2nd Place: Clay Bauer, Arcadia, Neb.
3rd Place: April Rademacher, Loup City,
Neb.
Top Individual Junior Heifer for
Average Daily Gain
1st Place: 0.087 lb./day - Abbie
Rademacher, Loup City, Neb
GROUPS OF THREE HEIFERS WINNERS
JUNIOR HEIFER DIVISION
Group of Three Junior Heifers for
Combined Carcass Gain and Carcass
Premium
Champion: Morgan McDonald, Loup City,
Neb.
Reserve Champion: April Rademacher, Loup
City, Neb.
3rd Place: Clay Bauer, Arcadia, Neb.
4th Place: Abbie Rademacher, Loup City,
Neb.
5th Place: Callie Bauer, Arcadia, Neb.
6th Place: Jakob Pointkowski, Loup City,
Neb.
Group of Three Junior Heifers for
Carcass Premium
1st Place: Callie Bauer, Arcadia, Neb.
2nd Place: Clay Bauer, Arcadia, Neb.
3rd Place: Jakob Pointkowski, Loup City,
Neb.
Group of Three Junior Heifers for
Carcass Gain
1st Place: Abbie Rademacher, Loup City,
Neb.
2nd Place: Morgan McDonald, Loup City,
Neb.
3rd Place: April Rademacher, Loup City,
Neb.
Top Group of Three Junior Heifers for
Average Daily Gain
1st Place 2.784 lb./day - Morgan
McDonald, Loup City, Neb.
INDIVIDUAL STEER WINNERS JUNIOR STEER
DIVISION
Individual Junior Steer for Combined
Carcass Gain and Carcass Premium
1st Place: Trevor Schultz, Loup City,
Neb.
2nd Place: Cody Chilewski, Loup City,
Neb.
3rd Place: Jesse Deane, Aspen, Colo.
Individual Junior Steer for Carcass
Premium
1st Place: Cody Chilewski, Loup City,
Neb.
2nd Place: Riley Setlik, Ord, Neb.
3rd Place: Cody Chilewski, Loup City,
Neb.
Individual Junior Steer for Carcass
Gain
1st Place: Trevor Schultz, Loup City,
Neb.
2nd Place: Riley Setlik, Ord, Neb.
3rd Place: Jesse Deane, Aspen, Colo.
GROUPS OF THREE STEERS WINNERS
JUNIOR STEER DIVISION
Group of Three Junior Steers for
Combined Carcass Gain and Carcass
Premium
1st Place: Cody Chilewski, Loup City,
Neb.
2nd Place: Trevor Schultz, Loup City,
Neb.
3rd Place: Riley Setlik, Ord, Neb.
4th Place: Jakob Pointkowski, Loup City,
Neb.
5th Place: Cole Simpkins, Gladwin, Mich.
6th Place: Rashele Blakely, Oolagah,
Okla.
7th Place: April Rademacher, Loup City,
Neb.
8th Place: Shyann Kusek, Loup City, Neb.
9th Place: Jesse Deane, Aspen, Colo.
10th Place: Abbie Rademacher, Loup City,
Neb.
Group of Three Junior Steers for
Carcass Premium
1st Place: Cody Chilewski, Loup City,
Neb.
2nd Place: April Rademacher, Loup City,
Neb.
3rd Place: Riley Setlik, Ord, Neb.
Group of Three Junior Steers for Carcass
Gain
1st Place: Trevor Schultz, Loup City,
Neb.
2nd Place: Cody Chilewski, Loup City,
Neb.
3rd Place: Riley Setlik, Ord, Neb.
Top Group of Three Junior Steers for
Average Daily Gain
1st Place: 3.021 lb./day -Cody Chilewski,
Loup City, Neb.
An awards banquet and steak dinner was held in Loup City, Neb., on
Sept. 15, 2007, with many of the
consignors in attendance. Presentations
and awards were handed out to all of the
junior and national division winners.
The evening was fun-filled with everyone
comparing carcass data and talking
Maine-Anjou.
Congratulations to all of the junior and national consignors and thank
you for entering your cattle in this
years national feeding trial. Because
no one can look at cattle and tell
exactly what is under the hide, physical
appearance is not always an indication
of the best performance or the most
desirable carcass traits. Producers who
have taken the initiative to consign
cattle to this trial have the
opportunity to experience a learning
process that will facilitate them in
selecting the right genetics for future
improvements to their programs.
The AMAA thanks those who consigned cattle to this trial. Without
these progressive thinking producers, we
would not be able to collect this
information that helps to identify the
superior genetics of the Maine-Anjou
breed.
Thank you to:
The 30 junior and national consignors
from seven states. A SPECIAL thank you
to the consignors who have entered
cattle in all five of the AMAA national
feeding trials.
The parents of the junior member
consignors for giving them the
opportunity to compete in this trial.
These juniors are our future!
The American Junior Maine- Anjou
Association (AJMAA) for their support
and contributions of savings bonds to
the winning juniors. The AJMAAs input
and support of this trial is further
proof of the progressive thinking of our
junior board. This substantiates the
fact they see the positive impacts the
Maine-Anjou breed has on the commercial
beef industry.
Poky Feeders, Inc., Scott City, Kan.,
ZWT Ranch, Cumberland Gap and
Crossville, Tenn., Phelps County
Feeders, Holdrege, Neb., Belvedere Land
& Cattle Co., Marquez, Texas and Larry
Rademacher & Sons, Loup City, Neb., for
their generous contributions towards the
junior awards.
Peterson Farms, Inc., Barney, Dale,
Joy, Chuck and Tim for giving the AMAA
the opportunity to hold our feeding
trial at this facility. Chuck and Tim
Setlik and their crew do an outstanding
job of managing this trial.
Citizens National Bank, Doug
Obermiller and Brad Christensen for
financing the feed.
Jolene Grunhaupt, Sandhills Ultrasound
Service for ultrasounding the cattle.
Special thanks to Larry and Karen
Rademacher for arranging the delicious
dinner and to everyone who helped serve
and make the evening a special event.
Thanks again to everyone for your support and participation in the
fifth National Maine-Anjou Feeding
Trial. To date, we have collected
carcass data on 893 head of cattle. The
consistency of the overall performance
and carcass results further prove the
value of Maine-Anjou genetics!
The sixth annual AMAA National
Maine-Anjou Feeding Trial will be held
again at Peterson Farms, Inc., Ord,
Neb., with delivery dates of October
24-25, 2007. If you are interested in
consigning, or have any questions or
problems, please contact Dave at (515)
201-3281.
Thank you and please call if I can be of help in any way. Continue
to breed with Commitment and
Direction!
Maines on the Move,
Dave Steen
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