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4-H/FFA members inspect fair carcasses
 | | Four-H and FFA member David Leech (foreground) and Highland County Extension Agent Rodney Leech examine a market steer carcass for ribeye size, backfat thickness, and marbling. (Photo courtesy Highland County Extension) |
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GREENVILLE - The 4-H/ FFA livestock carcass evaluation workshop was held at the Rohrer's Meat Processing Facility in Hinton on Wednesday, Sept. 12, with 14 4-H'ers, FFA members and adults participating. Mike Carpenter and Brad Summers, state graders from the Virginia Department of Agriculture's Livestock Marketing Service, conducted the workshop and judged the carcasses. Eight 4- H/FFA fair market steers, two hogs and two lambs were evaluated at the workshop.
Carpenter explained the key considerations in grading the carcasses. He noted this year the competition was a close race between the top two market steer carcasses. Carpenter said he at first thought he had easily identified the carcass champion after a quick visual inspection. However, after measuring and remeasuring, Chad Lightner's #112 steer narrowly beat out David Leech's #28 steer. Each participant was able to view the carcasses and compare the meat quality and other carcass components. Carpenter then shared the carcass results with the group.
This year, only one steer, Leech's #28, met all the standards of Virginia Cattle Feeders Association's "Industry Target Steer" program. Four other steers barley missed the mark, achieving all but one of the qualifying standards. To qualify, steers must meet the following qualifications:
¦ Carcass weight - 625-850 pounds.
¦ USDA quality grade - choice minus or better.
¦ Back fat - less than .50 inch.
¦ Ribeye area - 12-16 square inches.
¦ USDA yield grade - less than 3.0.
¦ Feedlot gain - more than 3.0 pounds per day.
Cash prizes and ribbons were awarded to the top six exhibitors based on the carcass score of their animals: First place, Chad Lightner #112; second, David Leech #28; third, Robert Moyers, #93; fourth, Kari Obaugh, #109; fifth, Cody Ralston, #34; sixth, Charlie Moyers, #92.
The carcass show not only awarded prizes but it allowed these producers to get valuable feedback on how their product performs against industry and consumer demands.
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