The Sealy News (Sealy, Tex.), Vol. 107, No. 44, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 5, 1995 Page: 21 of 38
thirty eight pages : ill. ; page 22 x 13 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
January 1995
Gulf Coast Farmer-Rancher
Page 7
Ranch to Rail program helps ranchers prepare for tough markets
Writer: Edith A. Chenault, (409) 862-1732
Contact: Dr. John McNeill,
(409) 845-3579
Cattle ranchers will have
to change their production
methods or face heavy price
discounts at the marketplace
within a few years, accord-
ing to the message coming
loud and clear from the
Texas' Agricultural Extension
Service's Ranch to Rail pro-
gram.
Nearly 40 percent of the
ranchers who participated
in the program during the
past year had cattle that
were discounted at the
packer because of carcasses
that were too heavy, light,
or fat or because they had
physical defects.
The cattle didn't measure
up to packer and consumer
demands for an animal that
was leaner and more uni-
form.
In two to three years, using
data from last year's Ranch
to Rail and as these de-
mands become more stringent,
95 percent of the ranchers
will face heavy discounts for
those same reasons, said
program coordinator Dr. John
McNeill, associate depart-
ment head, professor and Ex-
tension Service program
leader for animal science.
James Herring, president
and chief executive of Friona
Industries L.P., the seventh
largest cattle feeding opera-
tion in the United States,
said Ranch to Rail provides
Ranch to Rail helps cattle producers
The Ranch to Rail program sponsored by the Texas Agricultural
Extension Service tells ranchers how their cattle stack up against
today's market demands. Consignors are provided comprehensive
and detailed data on feedyard performance and carcass traits.
Derecis
are significantly improved
Ur
ranchers
95%
lower
prices
5%
optimal
prices
1993‘s cattle at
1996 standards
62%
optimal
prices
38%
lower
prices
1993‘s cattle at
1993 standards
Source: Texas Agricultural Extension Service
Graphic: Agricultural Communications, The Texas A&M University System
an "information wake up
call" to producers.
"There will be handsome
premiums for doing the right
thing at the right place," he
added. "Those who don't
care about any of these
‘ things are going to be left in
the wake.”
Through Ranch to Rail,
the producers get feedback
from all segments of the beef
production chain on feedyard
performance and carcass
traits, helping them under-
stand how their cattle fit or
PORT CITY STOCKYARDS CO.
Scaly and Brenham
Serving the livestock Industry Since 1931
ANNOUNCING OUR NEW SALES SCHEDULE
FOR 1995
Brenham Livestock Auction
MONDAYS ONLY
HOC SALES - 9:00 AM
CATTLE SALES - 12 Noon
Sealy Livestock Auction
WEDNESDAYS ONLY
HOC SALES - 8:00 AM
CATTLE SALES . 12 Noon
For our Monday Sellers, Sealy Livestock. Auction
will receive Cattle on Sunday ‘s and Monday (till 10am)
for transport to our Brenliam Livestock. Auction.
Brenham Livestock Auction
409 836-3621
Hwy 105 - 2 miles East of Brenham
Scaly Livestock Auction
409-885-3526 713-498-5680
Hwy 36 - 4 miles North of Scaly
don't fit into the market.
"The Ranch to Rail pro-
gram is one of the most sig-
nificant educational efforts
that we have had for beef
cattle producers," said Dr.
Zerle Carpenter, Extension
Service director.
"This program provides
producers with a blueprint
for what they need to do to
increase profits. It shows
where they can make im-
provements in their opera-
tions to meet the needs of
packers, and most impor-
tantly, consumers."
In the past, the beef indus-
try has been segmented,
with little communication
between the cow/calf pro-
ducer and the feedyard and
the packer. Often, one seg-
ment has to make a living
off someone else' mistakes,
McNeill said.
"It’s got to be more 'eco-
nomics-driven,'" he said.
"People said, ‘I’ll do it
when someone pays me.'
Now someone is going to pay
them (for a premium prod-
uct)."
Ranch to Rail is open-to
any producer” and the cattle
are followed through the
feeding phase to slaughter.
Consignors are provided
comprehensive and detailed
data, and the cattle are pro-
cessed at commercial packing
plants, with proceeds
mailed directly to partici-
pants.
Much of what the beef
carcass’ looks and tastes like
and how it yields at the
packer is a result of man-
agement and genetics at the
ranch.
Calves are often weaned
from their mothers and sent
immediately to cattle feed-
lots throughout the Midwest
and Texas.
"You're bringing an animal
off of its mother and creat-
ing a long-haul’ stress. It goes
into an environment with
lots of different bacteria.
It's a set-up for calamity,"
said Herring, whose com-
pany owns five commercial
feedlots with a 189,000-head
capacity.
If calves are "precondi-
tioned" before being loaded
on the truck to the feedlot,
they perform better at the
feedlot, gain weight at the
See CALVES, Page 8
67 HP* MASSEY FERGUSON 283
ins
ed
Trade
5
Save a Lot.
Get a Lot.
Here’s your absolute best value in a 67 hp"
tractor. You get a highly regarded Perkins
diesel. Advanced Ferguson hydraulics. MF
quality from end to end. The best dealer support
around. Plus unbelievable low prices. Stop in and
check out our top-value MF 283 today.
n Manufacturer’s estimated PTO hp.
ey W.A. VIRNAU & Sons, Inc.
1537 Hwy. 36 N. • Sealy
MASSEY FERGUSON 409/885-3549 • 1-800-336-3549
Massey Ferguson products are distributed throughout North America exclusively byAGCO Corporation, Norcross, GA
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Petrusek, Wilma. The Sealy News (Sealy, Tex.), Vol. 107, No. 44, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 5, 1995, newspaper, January 5, 1995; Sealy, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1702742/m1/21/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Virgil and Josephine Gordon Memorial Library.