AMES, Iowa — The Iowa Cattlemen’s Assoc. (ICA) will be sponsoring its first annual ICA Carcass Challenge – the first time a major contest of its kind has been held in Iowa in 25 years – starting Nov. 7 and running until next spring.

“We are excited to kick off this event this year with the assistance of our 2011 ICA Young Leadership Program participants,” said Kellie Carolan, ICA seedstock manager, who will oversee the Carcass Challenge. “Whether you are a cow-calf producer, backgrounder or run a feed yard, the bottom line in beef cattle production is the value of the meat on the carcass. Each step in the value chain affects the end product.”

Spearheaded by the 2011 class of the ICA’s Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP), the Carcass Challenge will give these leaders an opportunity to work with area ICA members on an educational event as they recruit steers for the program, Carolan added.

Stephanie Allgood of Albia, Iowa, the other co-chair, has been “looking for a way to become more involved locally, and this should help. Plus, as a cow-calf producer, it helps me see the rest of the value chain in beef production.”

Allgood and Dana Morgan of Corning, Iowa, expect to see some friendly competition between counties, businesses and individuals who are ready to “go big or go home.”

The Carcass Challenge will place steers donated from individuals or groups in a head-to-head competition for the top prize of $2,000 for the best “Carcass Value Per Day On Feed” at harvest time, with second- and third-place finishers receiving $1,500 and $1,000, respectively.

According to the official contest guidelines, the Carcass Value Per Day On Feed formula will be used to determine the winning steers.

“The remaining top 10 finishers will receive a jacket,” Carolan said. “The gross profit of the event will cover expenses, with the net applied to the ICA general fund. Those dollars will strengthen the ICA through membership programs and leadership development.”

The official rules state producers who want to compete will be required to donate one or more steers, which can be donated by individuals, county cattlemen’s associations, breed associations and any business that would like to be involved.

The rules also say steers must be 2011 spring-born calves that weigh between 625-700 pounds when they are delivered by Nov. 8 to Van Meter Feedyard in Guthrie Center, which is a state-of-the-art feed yard with a step-up feeding program and endpoint targeted feeding, using new technologies and a complete implant program.

In addition, steers must have already received all mandatory vaccinations, preferably with a modified live vaccine, prior to or during the suggested vaccination dates of Sept. 8-Oct. 17, and be weaned for at least 21 days. Moreover, animals that are unable to adapt at any point in time to feedlot conditions or that encounter challenges while on feed may be sent to market prior to the group marketing, of which the donor will be informed of the animal being marketed.

The rules also stipulate steers originating outside Iowa must conform to official interstate health regulations, having state health certificates upon delivery; treated for worms and grubs prior to delivery; and free from evidence of warts, ringworm or mange.

ICA officials said all calves must be dehorned and healed prior to delivery and have no implants with the exception of calf implants, which the feedlot will implant at arrival and 80 days prior to harvest. Calves should also be accustomed to consuming a grain ration (such as 5-6 pounds of grain with forage).

In the event of sickness or death loss of any steer, neither the feeder nor the ICA will be held liable, the rules also state.

Steers have fat thickness, loin eye area and percent-fat-in-ribeye measurements taken at harvest, which will be used in calculating the percent retail product and retail product per day on feed formulas.

Next spring, an educational event will be held at the feed yard while the steers are on feed, to discuss marketing and the traits and practices that impact carcass quality, said ICA President Ross Havens of Wiota, Iowa. “Those who donate steers will experience a fun and educational event, and gross profit from the event will cover expenses,” he said, “with the net applied to the ICA general fund.”

After the contest ends next spring, the ICA will help the YCLP class solicit steers for tests. Update reports will be sent to donors and interested parties following processing weights at delivery and implant time, as well as the final report following harvest.

Elanco Animal Health of Greenfield, Ind., will be lead supporter of the Carcass Challenge. “Elanco’s willingness to step up and cooperate with the ICA and the young leaders on this project demonstrates their support of educational opportunities for Iowa’s cattle producers,” Havens said.

For more information on the contest, contact the ICA offices at 515-296-2266, or visit http://iacattlemen.org/carcass challenge.aspx