Beef producers selling through auction houses try to compare the price they receive with the industry average. But that average varies according to when and where the auction is, type and condition of the animals, number of animals in the various categories, number of buyers present, etc.  Flame Livestock Auction Report in the Weekly Market Bulletin from the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture http://agriculture.nh.gov/market-bulletin/index.htm

 This is a comparison of five years sales at approximately the same time of year. ($/pound)

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitions  BCS is body condition score 

Cattle:

• Canner cows are the thinnest cows with little muscling, BCS of 1 or 2 and dressing percent less than 45%.
• Cutter cows are very thin and lightly muscled, body condition score of 3 to 5, low dressing percent of 45% to 50% and are usually processed as ground beef.
• Utility or boning cows have BCS of 4 to 6 and dress out at 50 to 55%. Generally they are boned and used for wholesale cuts and further processing.
• Commercial or breakers are younger cows with BCS fo 5 to 8 and 55 to 60% dressing percent. Can be used for whole muscle cuts that are higher value than trimmings used for further processing.
• Bulls are intact males.            
• Steers are castrated males                  
• Heifers are intact females, over a year old and never have given birth.   

Calves:

• Growers are feeder calves headed back to a farm to put on more weight.
• Veal young calves that have only received milk.
• Heifers are female feeder calves headed back to the farm to put on more weight.     

 

Hi, I am Ellis Additon the Bureau Director for the Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources.

I have been asked by Governor Paul R. LePage and Commissioner Walt Whitcomb to look at the Beef Industry in Maine with an eye toward what can be done to expand the industry throughout the State.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend to the industry an invitation to share with me or Cindy Kilgore any ideas that you might have. At this point there are no bad ideas. As we look around the State there seems to be a substantial amount of underutilized pasture land and empty barns. Even though our State financial resources are limited, as a combined Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry we encompass every square inch of the State's natural resource base and thus opportunities abound. I am sure there are things that can be done to strengthen and grow the industry with a cooperative effort from all  related organizations, state, university, federal and private entities.

I have started to attend the meetings of the Maine Beef Producers and am dedicated to get involved in this effort and my position facilitates my ability to dedicate time and human resources to the effort.

Comments, ideas, opinions can be brought to me via phone 207-287-7574, email  ellis.additon@maine.gov. or mail; Ellis Additon, Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources,28 State House Station, 90 Blossom Ln. Augusta, Me.04333.

My phone does not accept texts.

Thank you for your help.

Ellis

 

The detailed statistics from the 2012 Census of Agriculture has been released and can be viewed at http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/
Maine had an increase in the number of all farms to 8,173 and increase in total sales to $763 Million with average farm sales of $93,364. Net cash income decreased to $20,141 per farm in 2012 from $20,609 in 2007.
Farms participating in the following selected farm practices include: 1,372 farms practiced rotational or management intensive grazing, 1,074 farms marketed products directly to retail outlets, 926 farms produced and sold value-added products, 45 raised or sold veal calves.
Cattle and calves moved up in the ranking of market value of agriculture products sold to 8th place. Vegetables (including potatoes) ranked first and dairy ranked second.

Beef Data	2012	2007	Percent change
Farms with beef	1,656	1,447	14%
Total cattle & calves	35,311	27,501	28%
Total sales cattle & calves	$31 Million	$16 Million	94%

• Mobile and Web-Based Applications to Determine the Most Economical Feedstuffs for Livestock,

  W. Rusche & T. Renelt SDSU.  
  Producers are turning to mobile and Web-based decision-making tools in increasing numbers to better manage their businesses. To assist livestock producers in evaluating feed options, a "Feed Cost Calculator" was developed as an app for iOS, Android, and Web-based platforms. Mobile applications are a viable alternative to spreadsheet tools to address the needs of Extension clientele; however, there are certain inherent limitations to using mobile technology that must be considered.
• Is Endophyte a concern for Maine Beef Producers? Recently a few beef producers have contacted UMaine Extension concerned that Endophyte infected fescue or ryegrass may be adversely affecting their pregnant cattle. In other states Endophyte (fungus) infected pastures can cause abortions and/or poor weight gains in cattle that graze these grasses. Donna Coffin, Extension Educator is putting together a research project to try to assess if our fescue or ryegrass pastures are infected, how wide spread the infected grasses are in Maine and how much of a concern it should be for beef producers. She is looking for beef producers who have had unexplained abortions occur in their cattle placed on pasture during the summer. If you are interested please contact her at (207) 564-3301 or donna.coffin@maine.edu