| Alabama
State Steer Show Goes High Tech
 Auburn,
March 27, 2002---The average American most often
thinks of ultrasound technology as a way to determine
a baby's sex in utero. But ultrasound technology has
been a part of the cattle industry for a number of
years.
(Above: Alyssa Kimbrell, Tuscaloosa County 4-H'er, owned
and showed the Ultrasound Steer Champion at the Alabama Junior Beef
Expo. Pictured with her left to right are Dr. Lisa
Kriese-Anderson, Extension animal scientist, and Ryan Solomon of Solomon Club Calves, the
steer's breeder.)
A well-trained
ultrasound technician can determine the size of a
steer's steak, the thickness of the fat cover, as well
as how much intramuscular fat the animal has.
This year, ultrasound
technology became part of the Alabama Junior Beef Expo
with the inaugural Ultrasound Steer Show.
"Fifty-three
steers were evaluated by a certified ultrasound
technician," says Bob Ebert, an animal scientist
with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
 Lance Jeffcoat of
Starkville, Miss., conducted the ultrasound
evaluations. The competitors could have the
measurements taken with the animal's haircoat intact
or allow Jeffcoat to clip an area along the upper rib
cage. Clipping allows better contact between the
ultrasound probe and the animal. Bystanders could see
the shape of the animal's ribeye area on the monitor
as the evaluation was conducted.
(Above: Matt Jones, a Blount County 4-H'er, watches as ultrasound technician
Lance Jeffcoat conducts an ultrasound evaluation of his steer.)
"Using that
ultrasound data, we were able to get a projected USDA
quality grade and an estimate of the red meat yield of
each animal," says Ebert.
Consumers would
recognize quality grades as the words select, choice
and prime found on meat packaging, in the local
grocery store.
Michelle Field, the
Beef Cattle Improvement Association's field manager,
says the new competition helps teach young people the
importance of carcass merit.
"It will help them
grasp the pasture to plate concept," she says.
"We are in the food production business not just
the cattle-raising business."
During the 2002 Alabama
State Steer Show, the top 15 steers in the Ultrasound
Show were recognized and the Ultrasound Show winners
were announced. Alyssa Kimbrell, a
Tuscaloosa County 4-H
member, owned and showed the Ultrasound Champion.
Austin Shropshire of Chilton County owned and showed
the Reserve Champion.
"It was easy to
participate, and it gave us the chance to see if his
actual quality matched what it appeared to be,"
says Kimbrell.
The breeder of
Kimbrell's steer, Ryan Solomon of Solomon Club Calves
in Henry County encouraged all of the young people who
bought steers from him to participate in the
Ultrasound Show.
"This show puts
the focus on the final product—the meat," says
Solomon. "It's important that young people not
lose sight of the fact that the animal is ultimately
food on someone's plate."
Ebert says the show was
added to the activities in the Alabama Junior
Livestock Expo for several reasons.
"First, it's a
good opportunity to introduce participants and their
parents to evaluation technologies. You cannot
visually identify quality," says Ebert.
"Also, another competitive event provides
additional opportunities for more young people to be
recognized for their hard work and to earn cash
premiums and scholarship monies."
The financial rewards
were one reason Kimbrell chose to participate.
"I had to get him
to the evaluation site at the correct time, and the
ultrasound technician did the rest," she says.
"It wasn't hard, especially when you realized
there was a $1,000 premium for the champion as well as
$500 scholarship at stake. That money will be a big
help for me when I go off to college."
Kimbrell, who will
enter college this fall, is being recruited by several
Midwest colleges for their livestock judging teams. In
addition to showing cattle, she has been an active
member of Tuscaloosa County 4-H's livestock judging
team and beef quiz bowl team for several years.
Alabama is one of a
limited number of states who include ultrasound shows
as part of their youth livestock program.
"We're ahead of
the crowd with this new program, and I think we'll see
participation in the show increase in coming
years," says Ebert.
(Bob Ebert, Extension Animal Scientist,
334-844-334-844-1563.)
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