11/13/2009

Ohio State Fair to Offer Junior Beef Performance and Carcass Quality Contest

Writer:

Carrie Pickworth
pickworth.3@osu.edu
(330) 287-1375

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio youth enrolled in market beef projects will have the opportunity to participate in a program rewarding cattle for traits that add value to a market beef animal, in a real world scenario.

The Beef Performance and Carcass Quality (BPCQ) Contest will be conducted once again as part of the 2010 Junior Beef Show at the Ohio State Fair. This is a chance for youth exhibitors to gain practical experience in feeding and marketing cattle.

The BPCQ contest evaluates entries based on a combination of growth performance and carcass characteristics. Carcass prices for the projects are determined using a grade vs. yield grid, and the final ranking will be based on carcass value gained per day on test.

Cattle will be shown in a separate live show prior to the Junior Market Beef Show during the Fair. Exhibitors of the Live Champion and Reserve Champion BPCQ animals will have the option of competing for Grand Champion overall Ohio State Fair Junior Market Beef. The BPCQ exhibitors are eligible to compete in all other contests associated with the Junior Market Beef show, including eligibility for Outstanding Market exhibitor awards. All cattle entered in the contest will be harvested at a cooperating packer to allow carcass evaluation and ranking. Exhibitors are reimbursed based on the carcass value of their projects. Additionally, over $2,000 in premiums were awarded to BPCQ exhibitors last year.

Cattle must be weighed and identified between Dec. 1, 2009 and Jan.15, 2010 at various locations around the state. Youth can enter as many as eight steers and/or heifers. County representatives should contact Carrie Pickworth at least three weeks before the tagging date to obtain eartags and weigh sheets. Include county contact name, address, and approximate number of eartags required in each request.

More information about the Beef Performance and Carcass Quality show can be found at http://4hansci.osu.edu/livestock/livestockResources.php under " Ohio State Fair Exhibitor Handbooks and Entry Forms" or by contacting Carrie Pickworth at pickworth.3@osu.edu or 330-287-1375 or Kenny Wells at wells.296@osu.edu or 740-286-3803.