If you've been following the cattle feeding business the last year, you know there's been a lot of red-ink closeouts. That point hit home in late December when the June-placed Missouri Steer Feedout cattle ended up losing $225 per head.
That loss was the greatest for the feedouts dating back to 1981. The previous worst was in 2008 when the average loss was $154 per head according to Eldon Cole, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
"We've had 19 Missouri feedouts in Iowa with the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity since 2001 and six have ended up in the red. This year's $225 loss set a record. Usually there's at least one owner's cattle that makes money, but not this year," said Cole.
"We've had 19 Missouri feedouts in Iowa with the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity since 2001 and six have ended up in the red. This year's $225 loss set a record. Usually there's at least one owner's cattle that makes money, but not this year," said Cole.
Only one steer out of the 69 head that completed the carcass phase showed a profit after the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity folks analyzed all the data on an individual basis. That steer came from the 10-head entry of Weaver L. Forest, Verona and he had a profit of $30.87.
The profitable steer was born on Aug. 18, 2011 out of a Simmental cross cow and a Simbrah bull. The bull was Hollywood Oscar and the semen wasfrozen in 1985. The steer weighed 585 lbs., June 6 on arrival. He was graded by Missouri Department of Agriculture Market grader Rick Huffman as a Large frame, 260 Muscle. Rick placed a market price on him at $156 per hundred. He gained 3.73 lbs. per day and finished at 1313 lbs. on Dec. 17. He hung an 837 lb. carcass that graded low Choice. His Yield Grade was 2.57.