|
|
Livestock and Forages News Articles
Articles published in Arkansas Cattle Business
Animal Science: Today and Tomorrow - August 2007
Students and Scholarships
While the Department of Animal Science is proud of its research and Extension
programs, the heart of the Department is our students, and we need to brag on
some of them. Amber Usdrowski of Lake Hamilton was named to the All-American
Judging Team at the North American International show in Louisville. Only ten
students in the country make this team, with criteria based on judging in
national intercollegiate contests and academic and personal achievement.
Congratulations to Amber and the judging team coached by Bryan Kutz for another
successful year in which the team was consistently in the top ten in national
contests. We are also very proud of John (Chris) Looney of College Station,
Texas, who was named as the Outstanding Senior for the Bumpers College at
Graduation.
Dr. Nancy Jack, who heads up the equine program, received both the John W.
White Outstanding Teaching Award and the Jack Justice Award for Teaching
Excellence at the College Awards Ceremony in April. Dr. John Jennings won the
Extension Award. These awards demonstrate the excellence and dedication of the
faculty to education at all levels.
These are just a few of the University and national recognitions for our
faculty, staff, and students. For a full look at all the awards, we invite you
to go to Anschome.com, click on publications and then on the Spring 2007
newsletter. We believe you will be impressed. The demand for top graduates,
especially in the meats and foods area, is impressive as is the income potential
for the top individuals who have gained experience along with academics. The
Department is going to increase our emphasis on introducing and preparing
students to this industry. To that end, many thanks to Janeal Yancy for coaching
a first-time Collegiate Quiz Bowl team that competed at the recent national
convention of the American Meat Science Association.
Some Numbers and Thoughts to Think About
Often, we get so wrapped up with our daily lives we lose sight that we are
part of a state and national beef cattle industry. When one looks at the beef
cattle statistics on a state and national level, one can’t help but become
overwhelmed.
On January 1, 2007, it was estimated Arkansas had 1,750,000 cattle and
calves. That ranks Arkansas 17th in the country. The breakdown of the 1.75
million head included 940,000 cows and 810,000 calves. Texas had the largest
cattle and calves population with 14,000,000 head. There are 29,000 Arkansas
farms with beef cattle; 64 percent had fewer than 50 head and 83 percent had
fewer than 100 head.
For the United States, the cattle and calves population was 97,003,000 head.
That’s up slightly from 2006 (96,702,000 head). Just ten years ago (1997), the
U.S. cattle population was 101,656,000 head, and 30 years ago (1977) it was
122,810,000 head. By the way, the U.S. resident population for 1977, 1997, and
2007 was 219.4, 266.8 and 290.9 million people.
The beef cattle quality grade data over the past 20 years is interesting and
difficult to explain (Figure 1). The percentage of cattle grading choice showed
a steady decrease since 1986. The percentage of cattle grading USDA Choice in
1986 was 93.6 percent. In 2006, the percentage of cattle grading USDA Choice was
53.8 percent. Meanwhile, the percentage of cattle grading USDA Select increased
from 2.8 percent in 1986 to 39.2 percent in 2006. The two main factors that
affect the USDA Quality grades are marbling and maturity.
Here is the interesting part - for the last six to eight years (maybe more),
it seems that more commercial cattle producers have purchased Angus bulls. The
Arkansas Livestock Auction data showed 33 percent of the calves in 2000 were
Angus or Angus crosses, whereas in 2005, that percentage increased to 44
percent. If Angus is the carcass breed (and it is) and carcass traits are highly
heritable (and they are) why is the percentage of cattle grading Choice
decreasing? Shouldn’t it be increasing?
As the beef industry waged its war on fat, the change in the yield grade data
is also puzzling. The percentage of cattle grading 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in 2006 was
9 percent, 37 percent, 42 percent, 10 percent, and 2 percent, respectively. That
contrasts with 1996 yield grade data: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were 13 percent, 48
percent, 37 percent, 2 percent and <1.0 percent, respectively. Compared to 1996,
today there are fewer cattle yield grading 1 and 2 and more cattle grading 3, 4,
and 5. For example, the percentage of yield grade 4 cattle increased from 2
percent in 1996 to 10 percent in 2006. This was probably caused by cheap corn
and the feeders’ attempt to feed cattle longer to try and get them to grade
Choice. If cattle don’t have the genetic capabilities to deposit marbling,
feeding them longer will only get them fatter.
Is the beef industry making progress by producing a higher quality, leaner
product? Well, you decide. The bigger question might be: what can we as an
industry do about it?
One feature we’d like to add to our column is an “Ask the Expert” feature. If
you have any questions related to the beef industry, you can e-mail them to us
at AskBeef@uaex.edu or mail
them to AskBeef, PO Box 391, Little Rock, AR 72203. With this new feature, we
can answer the questions that are on your mind. The names of the people asking
the questions will not be published. If you want to talk directly to an expert,
contact your local
county
Extension agent for additional information.
By: Dr. Keith Lusby and Dr. Tom Troxel
Back to
Articles published in Arkansas Cattle Business |
