knabe said:
cowboylaw said:
the ol' 1450# can barely get him out of the chute type.
what's the real (un-shrunk) weight of winning calves in grand or reserve the last 10 years.
What a great question! I would love to know the answer to that question. Furthermore, is there any correlation between show weight and slaughter house weight? We look at "trends" in the show ring, and what we are trying to accomplish with these terminal crosses. I certainly like the way that these cattle can pack on the pounds. But why can't the end result be allowed to follow suit with what is considered desirable in the packing house?
St. Joseph, MO Mon Aug 12, 2013 USDA Market News Service
5 AREA WEEKLY WEIGHTED AVERAGE DIRECT SLAUGHTER CATTLE
Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico; Kansas; Nebraska; Colorado; Iowa/Minnesota feedlots
(Includes all transactions regardless of delivery day)
For: Week Ending Sunday, 8/11/2013
Head Weight Price Avg Wtd Avg
count Range Range Weight Price
STEERS
Over 80% Choice 9,403 1,250-1,500 122.00-125.00 1,426 123.44
65 - 80% Choice 6,660 1,225-1,490 120.00-124.00 1,399 122.68
35 - 65% Choice 8,245 1,204-1,450 120.00-124.00 1,346 121.14
0 - 35% Choice - -
Total all grades 24,308 1,204-1,500 120.00-125.00 1,391 122.45
So...the steers in the Over 80% Choice group had an average live weight of 1,426 pounds, with none exceeding 1,500 pounds....and so on down the chart.
So the steers most likely to grade are the steers that fall into the heavier weight ranges, and keep in mind that these weights are AFTER a trailer ride to the packing house. I believe a 2% shrink is fairly reasonable if not conservative to say the least.
When was the last time a 1,425 pound steer won a state fair or major show? Can't use him...he's too big! Too big for what...the industry?
I think it is too bad that the 1450# steer can't just be shown @ 1450#, and have that be accepted as "normal" simply because that is what we see in packing houses week in and week out. It is what the industry is doing, and it is obviously working or the industry would not be doing it like that. Unfortunately, if you show him at that weight you have pretty much NO shot at the win.
Knabe, to answer your question...I would "estimate" a 10% shrink on the REALLY stout ones. The ones that "barely come out of the chute" because they are so wide. So they show at 1,360, plus 136 gets you to about 1,500 pounds a week before the show. Of course it depends on the steer. That's just a stab in the dark.