Shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com March 12, 2013 • Page 12 ? INDEXES From Page 11 "The model considers how changes in those traits might affect percent calf crop and weaning weights, and also considers what might happen to feed costs over time using real world prices for both cattle and feed." When using selection indexes, Rusche says cattle producers still need to use their common sense. "We could have a case where a bull might be undesirable for one trait, but so superior for one or two that he still ranks very high on an index," he said. "A rancher might want to set some minimum or maximum values for some traits to make sure that the bull will "fit" in their system." Also, Rusche explains that these indexes are set up using a one-size fits all approach that may not exactly work in every cattle producer's situation. Breed Angus Selection Index Cow Energy Value Weaned Calf Value Feedlot Value Grid Value Quality Grade Yield Grade Beef Value Abbreviation $EN $W $F $G $QG $YG $B Charolais Terminal Sire Profitability Index Gelbvieh Feedlot Merit Carcass Value FM CV Hereford Badly Maternal Index Calving EZ Index Brahman Influence Index Certified Hereford Beef Index BMI$ CEZ$ BII$ CHB$ Limousin Mainstream Terminal Index $MTI Simmental All-Purpose Index Terminal Index API TI If you don’t get the word out about your business, no one else will!!! Changes to the Cattle Feeding Industry The February Cattle on Feed report released by the USDA Feb. 22 shows a continuation of the trend towards fewer, but larger, feedyards, says Darrell R. Mark, Adjunct Professor of Economics at South Dakota State University. "In fact, there were 2,000 or 2.7 percent fewer feedyards with less than 1,000 head capacities on January 1, 2013 compared to a year ago," Mark said. Mark says the report showed there were 30 fewer feedyards with 1,000-1,999 head capacities at the beginning of this year and there was an increase of 10 feedyards over the last year with capacities ranging from 2,000 to 3,999 head. The number of feedyards with 4,000 to 15,999 head capacities remained constant over the last year, at 515. The number of feedyards with 16,000-23,999 head capacities and 24,000- 31,999 head capacities increased by 2 and 3, respectively, which are 2.3 percent and 5.8 percent increases. The number of 32,000-49,000 head capacity feedyards declined by 5 while the number of 50,000-plus head capacity feedyards stayed constant at 66. In 2012, the feedyards with less than 1,000 head capacities marketed 2.854 million head. "That's only 11 percent of total fed cattle marketings for the year, despite the large number of these small feedyards - totaling 73,000," he said. Further, Mark says this is a decline from 12 percent of total marketings in 2011, and from 15 percent only 10 years ago. "The largest 50,000plus head capacity feedyards marketed 33 percent of all fed cattle in 2012. This is up from 25 percent 10 years ago. The second largest category of feedyards - feedyards of 32,000-49,999 head marketed 15 percent of fed cattle last year," he said. USDA's report indicated that the total capacity of the 1,000-plus head feedyards was 16.9 million head on January 1, 2013, a decline of 100,000 head since January 1, 2012. "Despite that decrease, capacity utilization has worsened for feedyards due to larger declines in the number of cattle available for feeding," Mark said. As of January 1, 2013, about 66 percent of total capacity in the 1,000-plus head feedyards was being utilized, compared to 70 percent a year ago. "The data from this report indicates that the structural changes in the feedlot industry that were evident over the last several years continued, and even accelerated, in 2012," Mark said. Mark adds that with high feed costs likely to continue much of 2013 at least until the 2013 corn harvest - it appears like the number of feedyards will continue to decline - especially for the smaller sized operations, but loss of a few large feedyards this next year will likely occur too. If YOU READ THIS YOU KNOW… ADVERTISING PAYS! CALL THE MISSOURI VALLEY SHOPPER AT 665-5884 665-7811 OR STOP BY TO PLACE YOUR AD TODAY! Shopper SHOPPER MISSOURI VALLEY Missouri Valley Almost NEW Mechanical Front Wheel Drive John Deere Tractors Noly Poppe 402-640-1306 info@perfecthay.com • www.perfecthay.com Go your own way. RON’S AUTO GLASS INC. 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