By Scout Nelson
The annual Beef Empire Days Live Show took place on June 3 in Garden City, Kansas, where top steers and heifers were selected for their excellence in size and condition. The event was sponsored by Merck Animal Health and brought together cattle from across the region.
A steer weighing 1,620 pounds and fed at a well-known feedyard near Oakley earned the title of champion steer. The reserve champion steer, weighing 1,680 pounds, was fed at a Garden City-based feedyard.
In the heifer division, the champion title went to a 1,550-pound entry fed at a feedyard in Sublette. The reserve champion heifer weighed 1,580 pounds and was fed at another respected feedyard in Garden City.
The competition featured 111 steers and 57 heifers. Judging duties were handled by Ryan Rathmann, associate professor of beef cattle biology at Texas Tech University. The focus was on evaluating the animals’ structure, muscle, finish, and overall market readiness.
After the live show concluded, the cattle were transported to Tyson Fresh Meats in Holcomb. There, they will be processed for the carcass competition, a key second phase that evaluates meat quality, yield, and other carcass traits.
The Beef Empire Days celebration emphasizes the importance of both live animal evaluation and carcass quality in today’s beef industry. These contests showcase the hard work and management behind feeding cattle to meet high standards.
Final carcass results, including the Earl Brookover Award winner and other champions, will be announced in next week’s Kansas Livestock Association newsletter.
Events like Beef Empire Days play a big role in educating youth and promoting excellence in cattle production and marketing across the region.
Photo Credit:kansas-livestock-foundation
Categories: Kansas, Livestock, Beef Cattle