12/26/05 Retained ownership program 14 years old

The A to Z Retained Ownership program is in its 14th year and its gives cattle producers a chance to feed out their animals at the feed lot in Owyhee County and make a profit. Just as important as the money is to some producers, there's also the performance and carcass data they'll get to help them with selection decisions. AHOLA "It's predominately meant for smaller groups of calves, five to 50 head. There's been five thousand head go through the program." University of Idaho Extension beef specialist Jason Ahola says this program is an alternative for producers who typically sell calves to the feed lot in the fall rather than retain ownership. AHOLA "Eight out of 13 years it's been profitable to feed cattle in this program. Last year the calves were profitable after going through the feed out versus having sold them at weaning. So even in a very strong calf market year it is still is more profitable to retain ownership." Last year average profit per steer was $33.76 and it was $65.46 per heifer with average daily gains during feed out at 3.46 pounds for steers, 3.3 pounds for heifers. At harvest 62 percent of the steers and 76 percent of the heifers graded USDA choice or higher. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott