Source: AUBURN UNIVERSITY submitted to
ALABAMA BEEF CONNECTION
 
PROJECT DIRECTOR: Kriese-Anderson, L. A. Elmore, J. B. Akers, J.
 
PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
ANIMAL SCIENCES
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
AUBURN,AL 36849
 
NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Alabama feeder calves often receive discounts at market due to perceived lack of health and overall quality. In addition, much mis-information has been given to livestock producers in the southeast concerning the National Animal Identification System leading to producer fears. This project examines the health and carcass characteristics of Alabama feeder cattle. Secondly, this project will utilize experise in the region to educate southeastern livestock producers on radio frequency identification of livestock.
 
OBJECTIVES: The Alabama Beef Connection (ABC) will create cattle marketing and communications framework for Alabama beef cattle producers, building on existing Alabama Cooperative Extension programs. Specific objectives are to: 1. Implement a post-weaning data retrieval system for a minimum of 30,000 marketed Alabama feeder calves. 2. Implement a comprehensive data analysis and interpretation system for all cooperating producers and feeders to improve growth and carcass attributes of Alabama feeder cattle and ultimately, improve the quality and consistency of beef to the American consumer. 3. Create an increased feeder calf buyer awareness of the quality of Alabama feeder calves through development of web and print media and targeted advertising campaign. Additionally, ABC will work with the Southeastern Livestock Network (SLN) to: 1. Develop a network of uniformly trained and equipped personnel to provide ground level support of emerging animal identification activities. 2. Regionally develop uniform extension training materials and programs using both print and web-based media for extension professionals, producers and livestock markets to address: a. The emerging National Animal Identification System (NAIS) b. Beef Export Verification processes c. Quality System Assessment/ Processed Verified Programs d. Other animal identification related topics 3. Demonstrate the peripheral benefits of automated animal identification to producers and marketers of livestock. 4. Enhance the marketability of livestock moving out of the Southeastern United States by facilitating access to systems allowing producers and marketers to meet changing market demands for information and certification. 5. Conduct field research and trials to identify functional components of animal identification and tracking systems and work cooperatively with technology providers to develop data collection equipment and software that addresses the needs of specific project partners.
 
APPROACH: Participation in the Alabama Beef Connection (ABC) is a voluntary program for any beef producer in Alabama wishing to obtain post-weaning and carcass data on beef calves. Producers will contribute $2/head toward the incurred cost of the program. Producers enrolled in the program must be beef quality assurance (BQA) certified and have a documentable, industry acceptable health program for their calves. Once calves are enrolled, producers will be required to tag calves with an electronic identification (EID) tag in the ear. The EID tag will be essential in tracking cattle through the feeding and harvesting process and collecting post-weaning and harvest data. Calves may be sold through any marketing channel available to Alabama producers. This includes, but not limited to, private treaty, local auction market weekly or special sales, and video- or tele-auctions. After calves are sold, producers must contact the program coordinators with as much buyer information as possible. The project coordinators will contact the buyer, and track the location of the calves until calves are harvested, and arrange for carcass data to be collected. Through an integrated database, the information retrieved will be put into a user-friendly format and sent to the producer, buyer and feedyard. Information obtained and analyzed from ABC will also be used at trade and commodity shows throughout the United States to help promote and market Alabama calves. Facilitating the incorporation of automated data collection, low frequency RFID animal identification and process verification into existing management and marketing programs around the Southeastern region will provide a platform for education and demonstration of a functional national animal identification plan (NAIS). The focus of this portion of the project will be to identify key personnel and programs in the region, form partnerships brining them into the project. The Southeastern Livestock Network (SLN) will be the subcontractor to accomplish this portion of the project. SLN will be responsible for identifying three (3) individuals, strategically located in the southeast. These individuals will serve multi-state areas and will provide uniform information and service to emerging animal identification activities. SLN will also serve in the lead role for designing and delivering uniform, web based education and resource tools for extension and industry professionals. Key extension and industry experts will be engaged to provide technical content. Delivery will be facilitated through partnerships with land grant colleges around the southeastern region. This effort will include the development of uniform fact sheets to provide basic information on animal identification, participation and program opportunities. The focus group for these materials will be livestock producers and markets. SLN will also work with livestock markets and marketing programs throughout the southeastern United States to demonstrate how to incorporate RFID into marketing and management programs. Cost share will be extended to assist with the initial purchase of RFID ear tags and data collection/management systems.
 
CRIS NUMBER: 0208227 SUBFILE: CRIS
PROJECT NUMBER: ALA04-048 SPONSOR AGENCY: NIFA
PROJECT TYPE: OTHER GRANTS PROJECT STATUS: TERMINATED MULTI-STATE PROJECT NUMBER: (N/A)
START DATE: Sep 15, 2006 TERMINATION DATE: Mar 14, 2008

GRANT PROGRAM: ALABAMA BEEF CONNECTION,AL
GRANT PROGRAM AREA: Federal Administration

CLASSIFICATION
Knowledge Area (KA)Subject (S)Science (F)Objective (G)Percent
303331010802.210%
303332010802.225%
307331010802.220%
307332010802.210%
308331010802.210%
308332010802.225%

CLASSIFICATION HEADINGS
KA308 - Improved Animal Products (Before Harvest)
KA303 - Genetic Improvement of Animals
KA307 - Animal Management Systems
S3310 - Beef cattle, live animal
S3320 - Meat, beef cattle
F1080 - Genetics
G2.2 - Increase Efficiency of Production and Marketing Systems


RESEARCH EFFORT CATEGORIES
BASIC (N/A)%
APPLIED 100%
DEVELOPMENTAL (N/A)%

KEYWORDS: beef cattle; carcass characteristics; radio frequency identification; marketability

PROGRESS: Sep 15, 2006 TO Mar 14, 2008
OUTPUTS: To date, the Alabama Beef Connection Program (ABC) was the most successful U.S. program in retrieving carcass data on beef calves sold as calves. The data collected definitively showed calf post-weaning growth and carcass attributes met or exceeded U.S. Beef Industry averages. These results have assisted progressive Alabama beef producers in marketing feeder calves for above market price. From 2003 to 2008, information detailing the ABC program and carcass results of Alabama cattle has been presented at sixty-six county meetings, twenty-three regional/state meetings, and one international meeting for Alabama producers, stockyard owners and cattle buyers. Alabama cattle, using the results of this program, were promoted nationally at two tradeshows per year from 2004 to 2008. Additionally, a three-state regional meeting (Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi) was coordinated and conducted on source and age verification of feeder cattle linking fifteen sites together with video-conference technology. The ABC program allowed the Alabama Cooperative Extension animal science personnel to become a leading source of information concerning the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). A strong partnership has been formed with Alabama Ag and Industries and the State Veterinarian's office. ABC and the State Veterinarian continue to work closely to promote premises registration and individual identification of livestock. Since 2004, twenty-one joint meetings were conducted with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries regarding premises registration and the NAIS. A series of pilot auction market sales and meetings were completed while partnering with the Southeast Livestock Network and the Alabama Cattlemen's Association, educating producers on electronic identification. Through databases, producer reports and direct contact, information from this project has been disseminated to over 10,000 producers, 20 of the largest order buyers in the U.S. and 50 U.S. feedlot owners/operators. PARTICIPANTS: Lisa Kriese-Anderson was the PI for the project. She mentored the graduate students who assisted with the project. Also she provided statistical analysis for the project. Joshua Elmore was the day to day coordinator for the project. He coordinated undergraduate students to mail electronic eartags for cattle enrolled in the program. He coordinated the input of data into the database. He worked with producers and industry in showing and testing equipment needed for electronic data capture. He contacted buyers, sellers and feedlots and coordinated all carcass data collection. He also organized most meeting and field days. Jim Akers coordinated the Southeastern Livestock network, their personnel and their projects. Was able to work directly with stockyards in Kentucky which allowed them to work very effectively with small producers. Organized large equipment and data capturing trials. Genevieve Hecht, Suzanne Free, Cobie Rutherford, Kyle Grubbs and Mindy Hittle were graduate students responible for entering data into the database. Also organized data for analysis. Assisted in interpretation of results. Worked field days and trade shows in disseminating results. A strong partnership was formed with Alabama Ag and Industries and the State Veterinarian's office. A series of pilot auction market sales and meetings were completed while partnering with the Southeast Livestock Network and the Alabama Cattlemen's Association, educating producers on electronic identification. Project held workshops for regional animal science agents. TARGET AUDIENCES: Alabama producers - Worked with Alabama producers interested in obtaining carcass data that sold their calves after weaning. Workshops, meeting and result demonstrations were held. Also worked one on one to help modidify their genetic programs. Order buyers - individual contact with order buyers to increase awareness of Alabama feeder calf quality. Also worked with order buyers to determine where calves would be sent after they purchased Alabama calves. Feedlot owners - individual contact with feedlots to increase awareness of Alabama feeer calf quality and health attributes. Coordinated with feedlot owners to collect carcass data. Also worked trade shows where large numbers of feedlot owners would be present to increase knowledge concerning Alabama feeder calves. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

IMPACT: 2006-09-15 TO 2008-03-14 From 2003 through 2008, 57,723 calves were enrolled in the ABC program. Carcass data was obtained on approximately 17% of calves (n=11,485). The data indicated Alabama producers did not need to change the amount of muscle in calves or any attributes associated with U.S.D.A. yield grade standards. In fact, Alabama cattle had significantly (P<0.05) better yield grades compared to the U.S. beef industry average. Thus carcasses from Alabama cattle provided more retail product to consumers than average with less fat. U.S.D.A. quality grades of Alabama cattle were on par with U.S. Beef Industry averages. However, upon further examination of the data, it appears quality grade distribution is bimodal. Carcasses from Alabama cattle tend to be high yielding, Select grade or high yielding, High Choice types of cattle. This suggests beef produced from Alabama cattle herds can fit a wide range of consumer needs. During 2008, 10,307 calves were enrolled in the ABC program. Most of these calves were marketed fall 2008 and are currently in High Plains or Midwestern feedlots. The number of cattle enrolled in ABC has steadily increased (2,975 for 2003; 8,012 for 2004; 17,861 for 2005; 15,967 for 2006; 12,908 for 2007). Additional analysis of the data indicates carcass characteristics of Alabama feeder cattle differ depending on the feeding region (Northern High Plains, Southern High Plains, Midwest, and West) By obtaining information on Alabama calves going through the food chain Alabama producer's are better prepared to make management and breeding decisions resulting in a more consistent, quality product for the consumer. An awareness of Alabama feeder calves has also increased in cattle finishing areas of the United States. This project would not have been possible without funding. The ABC program allowed producers to work with new technology at a greatly reduced cost. From producer experimentation, they decided whether technology such as electronic eartags helped them in day to day management decisions. However, this project did point out, just because an animal has an electronic id, does not guarantee data collection once calves are sold. The reason data was collected at all was a large concerted effort to follow up with buyers and feedlots. On average, over 20 telephone calls were made on each group of calves enrolled in the program. It was the personal contact that ensured success of the program. It was not technology or the program. The ABC program also showed that not all buyers are interested in knowing how the calves they purchase affect the beef consumer. It also showed that the industry is still very segmented and uncommunicative between segments. This program also allowed Alabama producers to understand and use source and age verification programs earlier than most states. The source and age verification programs were developed to meet consumer demands that they know where their food is produced. These programs rely on technology and producer records. The ABC program taught producer these fundamentals and allowed producers to easily transition into these source and age programs if desired.

PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 2006-09-15 TO 2008-03-14
Elmore, J.B., M.S. Hittle, W.C. Rutherford and L.A. Kriese-Anderson. 2009. Carcass trait characterization of Alabama feeder calves fed in four regions of the United States. Presented at southern section of American Society of Animal Science. Accessed http://www.asas.org/southern/2009/09Abstracts.pdf.

PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
NAME: Kriese-Anderson, L. A.
PHONE: 334-844-1561
FAX: 334-844-1519