Performance data key to quality beef; Nolan Ryan speaks at BBU field day

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Bulls in the BBU feeding program will be evaluated and the top 90 will be sold in October. Nolan Ryan (right), whose name is on a branded beef product promoted through BBU, outlined the program at the June 1 event. -Staff photo by Taylor

June 20, 2002 -- "I think with the way our industry is going, to stay at the level you want to, you (producers) are going to have to have more performance data on your cattle. You're going to have to know in your mind what your cattle will do, and then make adjustments. You can do that by putting your cattle in this program," said Nolan Ryan at a recent Beefmaster breeders' field day in Luling.

Ryan, known for his professional baseball pitching talents, is a cattle rancher and serves on the Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU) board. He has also lent his famous name to a branded beef product.

"One of the things we're pushing, now, with Beefmaster Breeders United is we think people need to get as much performance data as they can, and I think it's going to be even more important."

Producers met June 1 to view 124 15-month-old bulls involved in a BBU feeding program. All the bulls within the program will be evaluated for performance. Statistics will be recorded for each bull's 205-day weaning weight, average daily gain (ADG) on forage, yearling weight, weight per day of age, and ratios and ribeye measurements.

The June 1 field day included a ranch tour, speakers, exhibits and door prizes that included four $250 certificates good toward the bull sale in the fall.

Ryan spoke to the standing-room-only crowd concerning the Beefmaster program and plans for the future.

"One thing we are doing with BBU, because of the type of cattle we have, we're concentrating on the fact that with the Brahman influence we have, our cattle might not yield quite as high as other cattle .... We've been making an effort with BBU to clean our cattle up a little bit and make them more desirable for people in feedlots, where their yields will be a little higher, and we won't have as much waste on them.

"I think what we're finding is that over the last few years, we've done a better job of cleaning that up, and the cattle are performing better in the feedlots," said Ryan.

He said the cattle in feedlots are performing better and gaining more, daily, along with grading Choice and Select, and yielding a Grade One and Two, which is what is desired in the cattle.

Ryan fielded questions from the audience concerning the Beefmaster program. He said cattle who go through the program are fed no hormones after 100 days, but are given vitamin E. Also, that at the Sam Kane packers in Corpus Christi, the harvested cattle yield a Grade One and Two for Select, and pass a tenderness test, after being aged for 14 days.

"We've (BBU) been visiting with several restaurant chains about putting our Choice products in their restaurants. As it is right now, we don't (have them there), but I think in the near future, we will ... and I think there'll be Nolan Ryan tender beef in restaurants, soon," said Ryan.

He said BBU has determined, through studies with A&M University, that the products are lean and tender, and is being "very well accepted by the consumer."

Ryan told producers that while they are feeding in South Texas, now, they're looking to expand into other parts of Texas, first, and then, other states will follow.

"We're feeding in South Texas, now, and talking to feedlots up in the Panhandle. They're very interested in it (BBU products). I feel like at some point and time, there is going to be a premium given for these cattle. Right now, there is not. What we hope is that as there are more and more cattle in the program, there will be more demand of Beefmaster-sired calves, and when we do that, I think you're going to see the demand pick up," he added.

He encouraged producers with small herds to put groups together to send to feedlots, such as the Graham Land and Cattle Company in Gonzales, which accepts these groups for feeding. He said if a producer didn't have another group, he could contact Jay Gray (830-672-6504), manager of the company and he could help him find other cattle to feed with, along with gaining valuable performance data.

"With the competition we have, and the way the industry is going, it's going to be very important that you get as much information on your cattle, so you can adjust in your program and stay competitive in the industry," Ryan said in closing.