How It Works

Illinois beef producers are invited to participate by donating a feeder steer to the program. Each donated steer should be 750lbs (+/- 10%) by mid-November 2025. Steers will be accepted at the University of Illinois Beef Farm during a warm-up period in late November. All steers must be in place for processing and kick-off of the feeding competition by Thanksgiving week. IBA can help facilitate delivery of donated steers to the U of I Beef Farm; arrangements can be made once cattle are officially committed to the program and a commitment form has been submitted to the IBA Office.

What's in it for me?

Not only will you receive carcass and grade data on your feeder cattle, but cash prizes and special awards will be presented to steer donors at the completion of the program during the IBA Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony in June of 2026. Cash prizes and special awards are presented to donors of the top steers. Award winners will be determined using profitability, feed efficiency, and carcass data. Prizes will be awarded to the Top Five Steers Overall (combining profitability, on-feed, and on-the-rail data), as well as awards for the Top Steer On Feed and the Top Steer On the Rail. 

Winners are recognized at the IBA Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony in June of 2025; recognition will also be promoted in the media, in IBA communication, and at the Illinois State Fair.

Illinois Corn Partnership

Illinois Corn has partnered with IBA and the IBQS committee to provide funding for the 2025-26 program to assist beef operations with the cost associated with donating a live animal to the program. If you are interested in participating but would like a subsidy to support your steer entry, please complete the commitment form and contact IBA or the IBQS Committee chair to finalize the entry.

The Steer Details

• All donated animals must be steer calves born in Spring of 2025, with a target weight of 750 pounds by mid-November.
• No dairy breed type cattle will be permitted.
• There can be no evidence of warts, ringworm, lice, or mange.
• All steers must be castrated at least 30 days prior to delivery.
• All steers must be dehorned and healed from dehorning procedures.
• All steers must be weaned, bunk broke, and fed on a mixed ratio prior to delivery.
• Any steer unable to adapt to the facility pen or encounters a health challenge or injury during the feedlot period, may be removed from the contest prior to the marketing date.

The Donor Details

• Donors must be an active member of the Illinois Beef Association for the 2025-2026 membership year(s).
• Donors must submit a commitment in the form of the Donation Agreement Form for the IBQS program to the IBA Office no later than October 30, 2025.
• Steers must be delivered to the University of Illinois Beef Farm in Urbana by Thanksgiving week 2025. The U of I Beef Farm will begin accepting steers starting in mid-November.
• Steer delivery must include a completed delivery information sheet that includes steer description, pedigree, and a vaccination record for all vaccinations given within 21 days prior to delivery.

Timeline

Nutrition Protocol 

• We anticipate all steers weighing around 750 pounds upon arrival. We will work with the feedlot to build rations for an ending weight of 1,425-1,450 pounds.
• Steers will be fed for 190 days. The first two weeks will be considered an acclimation period and the following 150 days, they will be on the finishing ration.
• Steers will be ultra-sounded twice. We will utilize this scan projection data to track how steers are performing throughout the contest. 

Health Protocol

Pre-Arrival

• Cattle will require vaccinations listed between September 1st and October 30th. 
• Required vaccinations: IBR, BVD, BRSV, PI-3, seven-way Clostridia, Manheimia haemolytica, and Histophilus somni.
• Calf must come with a completed health sheet in order to receive information back from the challenge.

Arrival

• Processing will take place in late November.
• Processing on arrival will include: 5-way modified live viral, paste dewormer, lice control pour-on, an intermediate steroid implant, and a preventative antibiotic dose.
• U of I will be conducting a blood draw, deep pharyngeal swab, and BVD PI test.

Treatment Protocols

• Pull and treatment reports will be communicated between U of I and IBA.
• All deaths will be posted and reported to IBA, as well as the donor notified.
• If a steer becomes chronic, IBA will be consulted on railing the steer.
• Steers that don't fit projections from the scan and weight data will be addressed at the halfway point for railing the steer.