CRESCO, Iowa — Many of you have heard about the Beef Up Iowa initiative that IDALS and the Iowa Beef Industry Council have put together to provide ground beef to our food banks throughout Iowa. Due to the shortage of processing options for beef producers, the ISU meat lab has agreed to process the cattle. Ideally it would be great if the beef cattle could be donated so if you have an auction associated with your fair and the buyer is willing to donate the beef animal, please encourage them to do so. There are some funds to provide youth with a fair market price if they wish to sell their market beef to the program as well.
Here are some guidelines on the type of cattle that will be accepted
- Must be 30 months old or less
- Must weigh less than 1300lbs
- Must be calm and mobile
- Antibiotic free – all animals will be tested for antibiotic residue so please make sure proper withdrawal times have been followed. It might be a good idea for them to have a drug affidavit and bring it with them when they deliver the animal to the processor
- Must be clean -please do not bring a calf that is covered in manure and mud – dirty animals increase the risk of E.coli contamination.
- 4-H member/family is responsible for transporting the animal to the ISU meat lab in Ames
If you have a youth in your county that you think has a market beef that would fit into this program, please contact your ISUEO beef specialist or Rex Hoppes rex@iasbeef.org at the Iowa Beef Industry Council and they can assist with the process. DO NOT contact the meat lab directly! Processing will begin the first part of July and continue through October.
— ISU Extension and Outreach Howard County
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