4-H members 'Follow the Beef North'

Published: 2019
By Kari Lewis

Beef feeding and processing industries are very limited in Montana, and producers and 4-H youth have limited exposure to learn more. However, with a $700 Montana 4-H Foundation grant, 13 4-H members and 6 parents attended a June seminar and tour in Brooks, Alberta, Canada, to experience the beef feeding industry firsthand. They visited MCF Feedyards (63,000 head of cattle on feed that day), met with a feedlot nutritionist, and learned about beef processing from JBS Packing representatives. Prior to the tour, most members perceived technology in the feedlot industry as tractors, hay busters, and computers. In a post-evaluation, 4-Her's identified technology as feed ration formulations, electronic identification (EID) tags, laptops and scanners for EID tags, implants, and water sprinklers to control dust. Prior to the program, 80% of 4-Her's thought that anywhere from 11% to 99% of the beef animal was thrown out during processing. After the program, all of the 4-H members had a better understanding of animal byproducts, and answered that less than 5% or less than 10% of the animal is thrown out. One member commented, “I learned that the highest priority in the packing plant is the animal’s welfare so none of the things they do are painful or hurt the animal in any way.” 4-Her's and parents who attended planned to change their pen layout to increase animal exercise, change feed rations, keep better records, and implant their 4-H steers, etc. Overall, the program was rated 4.6 (youth) and 4.8 (adults) out of 5.