For over thirty years the ‘Calf Value Discovery Program’ at South Dakota State University has been giving beef producers more decision making power.
Farmers and ranchers can see firsthand how their genetics perform on an accelerated feeding program by sending at least five steer calves, vaccinated, weaned and healed from castration and dehorning. Starting in November, SDSU Extension personnel will accept cattle from east and west river locations to be sent to VanderWal Feedyards for feeding and data collection.
SDSU personnel will weigh the cattle periodically until harvest and performance updates and copies of individual feed bills will be sent to participating farmers and ranchers.
Dr. Julie Walker, SDSU Beef Extension Specialist, says that there are several reasons farmers and ranchers should join the program.
“A lot of times when you sell your calves at the sale barn you don’t know how they perform afterwards, but you have this goal, that you’re providing the best quality meat or product that you want,” Walker said. “and so this allows you to have information that would help make management decisions, as well as information to potentially get a higher price for your feeder calves.”
For more information visit https://extension.sdstate.edu/calf-value-discovery-program or contact Julie Walker at 605-688-5458 or Warren Rusche, SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Associate at 605-688-5452.
