Production Data and other Information
on the Pinzgauer Breed

Great Western Beef Expo, Sterling, Colorado

Pinzgauer steers entered achieved among the best showing the breed has ever accomplished. One pen won second place in progeny performance, second for feed efficiency and reserve champion carcass awards. These calves were among three pens to rank in the top ten for all categories - rate of gain, feed efficiency and progeny performance.

With representation from 16 breeds, which included 47 pens, only eight groups qualified for the Max Fulscher Award. Three of the eight pens were Pinzgauer steers. All steers in each of the three pens achieved a quality grade of choice or prime and a yield grade of one or two.

Pinzgauer as a breed placed first over all other breeds represented in progeny performance index. (from Canadian Pinzgauer website.)

 

CARCASS COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

WOODSTOCK, ONTARIO -A hands-on learning opportunity about Canada's beef grading system-was well-received by cattle producers that participated in the third annual Quality Carcass Competition at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show this past September.

Forty commercial and purebred producers entered their cattle to see how they measured up against Canada's grading system and the winning carcass.

Each producer or farm participating entered one animal, which was displayed during Canada's Outdoor Farm Show, September 14—16. The week following the Show, the cattle were graded post-slaughter for marbling and lean meat yield.

The producers were invited to a Carcass Viewing Day at Norwich Packers after their carcasses were graded. More than 30 of the participants showed up to see where they placed and to learn from the graders.

"The competition is building. It filled up a month before the Show and
there was even a waiting list," says Jordan Underbill, livestock marketing coordinator for Canada's Outdoor Farm Show. "The feedback from the participant s has been great.. .it's competitive but also carries an important educational component."

The winner of the third annual Quality Carcass Competition - and the
$2,000 prize — was Dennis and Shari Robinson of Sombra, Ontario. Their entry was a purebred Pinzgauer steer with a 62 lean meat yield and a marbling score of AAA/50. The steer was fed by Agribrands Purina, one of the competition sponsors.

The Pinzgauer is not a mainstream breed in Ontario — there are only eight active breeders in the province. The breed originated in the lush valleys of Salzburg, Austria. As beef cattle, the Pinzgauer are known for their good meat quality, excellent marbling, fine fiber and good coloration. The breed was first imported to Canada in 1972. The second place winner of $1,000 was Junior Van Geffen of Strathroy, Ontario with a Charolais cross steer, 60 lean meat and marbling score of Canadian Prime. The third place winner was Steve Manders of Watford, Ontario with an Angus/Simm/Maine heifer, 60 lean meat yield and a marbling score ofAAA/60.

Norwich Packers, Ltd. provided the slaughter and grading facilities for the third year in a row. Dave Doughty, a grader for over 25 years, and a special guest from Alberta - Tom Veale, national grade standards officer with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency-graded the carcasses. "Once again, Norwich Packers is pleased to be a sponsor of the Carcass Competition and provide the grading facilities," says Ron Heleniak, co-owner of Norwich Packers. "It's great to have the producers come on-site to learn about grading. I think they benefit from the experience."

Show visitors also had a chance to get involved and learn more about beef grading. Attendees could pick the top-grading animal and score it based on physical appearance, breed composition and feeding program data. The person that scored the winning animal closest to its actual post-slaughter grading would win a prize.

This year, the first or second place animal was not chosen, but the third place animal was picked by Bill Millson form Seaforth, Ontario. Bill scored the third place entry closest to the actual grading. For his good eye for cattle, he was awarded 10 steaks from the winning carcass.
 

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