Olds College in Alberta is qualifying the results of this year’s steer tests that found Belgian Blues to be the most profitable cattle breed.
“Unfortunately, what happened was we market out cattle in two different groups just because they weren’t all finished at the same time,” said Trevor Hamilton, co-ordinator of the steer-a-year study.
“The way the Belgian Blues worked out is, four out of five of their cattle got marketed in the second group, which received a 10 cent higher price than all the other steers.”
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Hamilton said the published results listed Belgian Blues as the most profitable, but producers must take the price change into account.
“We can’t expect all the cattle to go at the same time. They’re just not finished at the same time. When you have so many cattle come from so many producers, they’re variable in the length of time they’re going to be finished.
“I guess it was a mistake on our part to print profitability data. This year we won’t print profitability. We’ll just print gain, feed efficiency and the carcass results.”
This year’s statistics included average daily gain, feed efficiency, carcass weight and total profit.
The study included 18 different breeds of five cattle each. Animals were fed the same ration of 75 percent barley, 21 percent silage and a four percent supplement when on full feed.
The steers arrived in October 1999 and most were shipped by March 7 the following year. The second group was sold April 26.
Belgian Blues generated $297 profit per head, with Limousin cattle second at $226 and Charolais in third at $201.
“They were the most profitable at that test, at that time,” said Ken Miller, president of the Canadian Belgian Blue Association.
“Every calf can make money if it’s fed in the pasture well. I guess it depends what you pay for it when you buy them, how well they do.”
Still a good bet
Miller said his experiences with Belgian Blues have been positive. He said the different price in each of the groups in the test doesn’t diminish their success as a breed.
“Number one, they’re a very quiet animal, very docile, high meat-yielding and very efficient in the feedlot. We think we’ve got one of the best paternal or fire breeds.”
The Olds study showed that the Belgian Blues were above average in daily gain and feed efficiency.
“They weren’t the highest in each of these categories but still above average,” Hamilton said.
The studies are conducted to educate students at the college and show the breeds to new producers, Hamilton said. Producers who want to get a better idea of which breeds are most profitable should look at larger studies.
Olds College has conducted trials since 1988, and a different breed has finished on top every year.
“It’s less about their gain and less about their actual numbers. There are different studies in other places that can do a better job of showing that. We’re mainly here just to have them on display.”
The college study this year will be used mainly as a breed showcase.
