Laura's Lean Beef: Lean, natural beef.

Bonus Program

Payments for finished cattle will be made on the hot carcass weight. Bonus or discounts will apply to the hot weight contract price on an individual carcass basis. For information on Bull and Cattle Premiums, click here. Bonus/discount dollars are per hundred weight and will be added to or deducted from the contract hot weight price of the carcass.

As an example, assume a producer sold a steer with a yield grade of 1.4 (select) and had a 675 carcass weight. As a result, he would receive $0.15 x 675, or $101.25 bonus dollars.

Standard and select quality grade carcasses are desired. All quality grades other than standard, select and choice will result in a discount of $35/cwt. Desired carcass weights range from 600 lbs. to 825 lbs. for steers and 575 lbs. to 800 lbs. for heifers.

Any individual carcass that weighs outside this range will be discounted as follows:

+/- 25 lbs. from range	$ 3 per cwt
+/- 26-50 lbs. from range	$ 5 per cwt
+/- 51-100 lbs. from range	$15 per cwt
+/- 101 lbs. from range	$35 per cwt

Other Incentives to Finishers in Addition to Premiums and Bonuses:

Incentives	Average Cost to Laura's Lean Beef Per Head
Free trucking to slaughter	$25
Free carcass information	$5
Free ear tags	$3
Free consulting from Laura's Lean Beef representatives	Priceless

Payments for finished cattle will be made on the hot carcass weight. Bonus or discounts will apply to the hot weight contract price on an individual carcass basis.

Final Yield Grade	Standard & Select	Choice
less than 1.0	20.00	7.50
1.0 - 1.4	15.00	7.50
1.5 - 1.7	5.00	7.50
1.8 - 1.9	2.50	5.00
2.0 - 2.2	0	2.50
2.3 - 2.4	(2.50)	2.50
2.5 - 2.7	(5.00)	0
2.8 - 2.9	(10.00)	0
3.0 - 3.4	(25.00)	0
3.5 - 3.9	(30.00)	(30.00)
4.0 or higher	(35.00)	(35.00)

Cow/Calf Producer

Laura's Lean Beef has a cow/calf producer bonus plan for Laura's Lean type cross cattle. This plan is intended to encourage cow/calf producers to improve their genetics and sell their calves to Laura's Lean Beef. The finisher's bonus and other incentives are separate and in addition to the cow/calf bonus.

Requirements for the cow/calf bonus:

1. Cattle must have received no growth hormones or antibiotics, including ionophores, at any time from birth. They must be vaccinated, boostered and weaned 30 to 45 days, and are required to be in truckload lots grouped by sex.

Cattle Weight	Minimum Number
500-600 pounds	80
800-900 pounds	60
Finished Weight	40

2. The cow/calf bonus will be 35% of the finisher's bonus (See Bonus Program Grid). The results will be netted to determine net bonus amounts. If a set of calves produces a negative bonus, no refund to Laura's Lean Beef will be required.

3. Calves must have Laura's Lean Beef ear tags before weaning. Any calves treated with antibiotics must have ear tags removed and be separated from Laura's Lean Beef cattle.

Bonus example:
The following table shows the benefit for a cow/calf producer selling non-implanted and antibiotic-free cattle to Laura's Lean Beef under the cow/calf bonus program.

	Laura's Not Implanted*	Commodity Implanted	Increase(Decrease)
Weaned Steer Calf	570	575	(5 lbs.)
Assumed Market Value	$1.05	$1.00	$.05
Market Value	$598.50	$575	$23.50
If Quality Grade is Select and Yield Grade is 1.4 Bonus (35% of $15 x 675#)	$35.44	$0	$35.44
TOTAL	$633.94	$575	$58.94
*Assumed banding castration on bull calves at weaning time