Missouri Steer Feedout Shows Strong Producer Profits

By Blake Jackson

“The Missouri Steer Feedout Finale showed that producers were very profitable in feeding steers over the last year,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.

The event held Sept. 9 in Lamar alongside the Barton County Cattlemen’s Association meeting, highlighted results from steers fed at the Show Me Youth Ag Academy Feedlot near Newport. The program was a joint effort of the cattlemen’s organization, MU Extension, Missouri State University, and the Show Me Youth Ag Academy.

“Three of the six participants in the feedout had average group profits of over a $1,000 per steer,” Davis notes. These groups all featured black-hided steers. Ronnie Veith, of Purdy, Mo., achieved the highest average profit with his seven Angus crossbred steers.

Steve Fury, from Golden City, Mo., who returned to the program after a hiatus, recorded the second-highest average profit with five purebred Angus steers. Scott Daniel of Arcola, Mo., participating for the first time, ranked third with ten Angus crossbred steers.

“The two primarily red hided groups of steers averaged $831 of profit,” Davis adds. This included 11 Red Angus steers from Kunkel Farms, Neosho, Mo., and four Red Angus/Gelbvieh/Beefmaster crossbred steers from Harold Brunner, Lockwood, Mo.

“The carcass quality of the steers was very good,” Davis says. Of the 42 steers, 41 graded choice or prime at slaughter, with 47% being high choice or prime, and 30% graded prime.

The Show Me Youth Ag Academy group of five Akaushi/Angus crossbred steers had an impressive 80% prime. High base prices combined with quality premiums contributed to strong profits.

“Feed efficiency and gain is very important to profitability,” Davis emphasizes. The overall feed-to-gain ratio was 8.91 pounds per pound of gain, with an average daily gain of 3.64 pounds per steer.

Veith’s group led in feed efficiency at 8.0 pounds per pound, while Fury’s group had the best daily gain and second-best feed-to-gain ratio. These high-performing groups also ranked first and second in profitability.

“This feedout program is an excellent way to gain experience in feeding cattle on a small scale as well as evaluate steer genetics and management on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics,” Davis said.

For enrollment in the 2025-2026 Missouri Steer Feedout or more information, contact Davis at 417-276-3313 or davismp@missouri.edu. Enrollment deadline is Oct. 15.

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