The 4-H Market Steer Performance Index Program is designed to help youth in many animal agricultural and life-skills areas. Youth are requested to keep accurate records throughout their steer projects. Records are maintained for weight gain, feed costs and requirements, management practices, ration formulation and the calculated performance index.
The project index is calculated based on average daily gain over a minimum of 150 days and the composition of the gain. Youth learn about the feeding process, as well as, the type of cattle needed to produce the desired product demanded by today's beef cattle industry.
Youth that participate in the market steer project may also participate in the index program. However, showing a steer is not a requirement for the index program. The caretakers of the top indexing steers in the state for 1995 are listed below. A big congratulations is extended to all the youth in the state that set forth the effort and completed the steer projects.
| Placing | Caretaker | County | Steer's Genetics | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barry Jennings | Camden | Maine Anjou x Angus | 400.5 |
| 2 | Clay Hinnant | Wilson | Simmental x Angus | 390.0 |
| 3 | Nelson Gillespie | Buncombe | Charolais | 353.0 |
| 4 | Nelson Gillespie | Buncombe | Charolais x Chianina | 348.0 |
| 5 | Brent Jennings | Camden | Simmental | 347.0 |
This year's top five indexes were some of the highest that we have had in many years. It is interesting to note that a number of breeds were represented in these cattle that ranked on the top end of the index.