Nov. 18, 2011
For Immediate release
For more information, contact Kim Murphy at 774-6226
WSC Ag Department kicks off second annual Carcass Challenge
WILLISTON, N.D. - Williston State College's Agriculture Department is pleased to announce the kick off of the second annual Carcass Challenge, with the receiving dates running through Dec. 5.
Livestock producers can donate a steer to be fed at the Hovde Feedlot of Alexander, N.D. The donated steers will be used to raise funds for establishing an Ag Ambassador program which will help recruit and maintain enrollment for the WSC agriculture program. There are two days in December that steers can be dropped off at Sitting Bull Auction - December 1 and 2. Otherwise arrangements will be made for pick up.
"Ranchers will donate a weaned calf to the project," said Kim Murphy, Ag Instructor at WSC. "The calf will be put in the feedlot with the rest of the cattle, feed them all the same ration and weigh them once a month. That way we'll know the daily average rate of gain of the calf."
All donated animals must be part of an acceptable vaccination program.
When the challenge is done and the calf is ready to process, they will take measurements and carcass data, providing all the information needed to determine carcass quality and yield grades. Prizes will be awarded for the top steers in Average Daily Gain and highest carcass value based on quality and yield data.
At the feedlot, the cattle will be fed pea ration, which according to research, provides more tender beef, Murphy said. Final evaluation and processing of the steer will be done at Prairie Packing of Williston.
Students and producers will both benefit from this program in several ways:
- Brand inspection process;
- Brand release process;
- Processing change of ownership;
- Health inspection process;
- Vaccination program selection, maintenance and record keeping;
- Feed selection and cost comparison;
- Building rations
- Carcass evaluation, quality and yield grading;
- Calculating cost of gain;
- Back grounding enterprise analysis;
- Financial, economic and marketing training;
- Public relations and communication; and
- Livestock evaluation and selection.
Donors will receive an honorary personalized jacket; advertising in college publication and press releases; recognition at WSC Agriculture sponsored event and an opportunity to support local agriculture students and agricultural education at WSC. The WSC Foundation will issue a receipt for the steer as a tax-deductible donation.
Murphy also wanted to thank Northern Pulse Growers Association for being a major sponsor of the project two years in a row.
This has been a successful program at other locations, including at WSC last year, Murphy said, adding that Adult Farm Management Instructor Beau Anderson originally got the idea from MSU-Bozeman. "They have been doing this for quite a few years and it's a huge project there."
The first annual Carcass Challenge has concluded and awards will be presented to the winners on Dec. 9 at the Christmas Rodeo, which is open to the public. The operation with the steer that had the highest average daily gain was Grabow Ranch (Lynn and Marlene Grabow) of Stanley, N.D., and the steer winning the carcass quality category was Kevin and Sandy Harstad, also of Stanley.
For more information, contact Murphy at 701-774-6226 or visit the WSC website, www.willistonstate.edu.
Others to contact for information or to donate a steer are: Jim Hennessey of Stanley, 701-629-1858; Gary Martens of Ross, 701-629-9955; Garrett Lalim of Tioga, 701-641-3154; Butch Haugland of Ambrose, 701-965-6234; Calli Thorne of Watford City, 701-444-3451; Cameron Young of Kenmare, 701-217-0013; or in Williston, contact Warren Froelich, 701-577-4595, Beau Anderson, 701-570-3506, Wayne Berry, 701-572-9183 and Kirby Krebsbach at 701-570-1420; and in Montana, contacts are Ann Ronning of Culbertson, 406-787-5312, or CJ Johnsrud in Sidney, 406-482-3513.