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Genetics for Producing Profitable and Sustainable Grass-Fed Beef Dr. Scott M. Barao Executive Director The Jorgensen Fa

Genetics for Producing Profitable and Sustainable Grass-Fed Beef Dr. Scott M. Barao Executive Director The Jorgensen Family Foundation Hedgeapple Farm. The Jorgensen Family Foundation. Created in 1997 to conduct beef and forage research for the benefit of farmers in the Mid Atlantic region.

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Genetics for Producing Profitable and Sustainable Grass-Fed Beef Dr. Scott M. Barao Executive Director The Jorgensen Fa

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  1. Genetics for Producing Profitable and Sustainable Grass-Fed Beef Dr. Scott M. BaraoExecutive DirectorThe Jorgensen Family FoundationHedgeapple Farm

  2. The Jorgensen FamilyFoundation • Created in 1997 to conduct beef and forage research for the benefit of farmers in the Mid Atlantic region. • Hedgeapple Farm is the centerpiece of the foundation and serves as a working model operation. • Hedgeapple Farm focuses on grass fed beef production and direct marketing.

  3. Beef Cow “Efficiency” The optimum use of your specific set of resources toward a profitable and sustainable level of production.

  4. Beef Cow “Efficiency” Total pounds of weaned calf per pound of female exposed? Total pounds of calf weaned per pound of feed consumed?

  5. Issues to Consider • Mature Cow Size • Milk Production • Reproductive Performance • Carcass Traits

  6. It All Comes Down to Energy Can you provide sufficient calories, in a cost-effective manner, to support the machine you have selected and bred? In a grass-based system the question becomes, do you have a year-round pasture/forage supply of sufficient quantity and quality to support the genetic potential of your cow herd and their offspring?

  7. Priority of energy use by the cow Source: Short et al. 1990

  8. Issues to Consider • Mature Cow Size • Milk Production • Reproductive Performance • Carcass Traits

  9. Issues to Consider • Mature Cow Size • Milk Production • Reproductive Performance • Carcass Traits

  10. Issues to Consider • Mature Cow Size • Milk Production • Reproductive Performance • Carcass Traits

  11. Issues to Consider • Mature Cow Size • Milk Production • Reproductive Performance • Carcass Traits

  12. Cattle Operation Grass Finishing Program • Approximately 150 head per year • Steers and Heifers • Additional calves purchased at weaning from cooperator herds • Use HAF bulls • Follow HAF production protocol

  13. Grass Finishing Production Growth • Phase 1 - Birth to Wean (8 months) • 2.0 lbs/day • Phase 2 - Wean to Yearling • 1.8 to 2.2 lbs/day • Phase 3 - Yearling to Slaughter (X=19M) • 1.5 to 2.0 lbs/day

  14. Grass Finishing Production Carcass Performance Averages (2008-2009) • Slaughter Weight • 1070 lbs. (Range of 900 to 1200 lbs.) • Slaughter Age • 19 months (Range of 17 to 23 months) • Yield Grade • 2.2 • Ribeye Size • 10.9 (typically 1 sq. in. of Ribeye per 100 lbs of live wt,) • Quality Grade • Steers: 71% Choice; 26% Select+ • Heifers: 88% Choice; 12% Select+

  15. Grass Finishing Economics Averages (2008-2009 YTD) • Live Wt. = 1070 • Carcass Wt. = 642 • Retail Wt. = 390 • Farm Value = $1284.00 (@ $2/lb HCW) • Processing Cost = $418/head • Cost of Goods (retail) = $4.36/lb • Retail Value $2681.00 • Retail Value/lb = $6.87 • Margin = $2.51/lb or $979/carcass • Total System Value = $2262/head

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