Before You Scan

Scanning Ages by Breed

Acceptable Scanning Age
Breed Yearling Bulls Developing Heifers Feedlot Steers and Heifers
Angus 320-440 days 320-460 320-460
Brangus 310-430 310-430 310-430
Braunvieh 320-410 320-410 320-410
Charolias 320-430 320-430 320-430
Chianina 320-440 320-460 320-460
Gelbvieh 320-410 320-410 320-410
Hereford 301-530 301-530 301-530
Limousin 300-450 300-450 300-450
Maine Anjou 330-440 330-440 330-440
Red Angus 320-440 320-460 320-460
Salers 330-450 330-450 330-450
Simmental 300-440 300-440 300-440
South Devon 320-440    

^ back to the top ^

Find a Technician

  • Name:
    Pablo Veiga
    Address:
    Argentina
  • Name:
    Doug Ralph
    Address:
    Box 364 Raymond, AB T0K 2S0
    State:
    Canada
    Phone:
    403-315-4799
    Fax:
    403-752-3751
    E-mail:
    ldralph@telus.net
  • Name:
    Chase Wendorff
    Address:
    Box 99, Welling, AB T0K 2N0
    State:
    Canada
    Phone:
    406-393-3013
    E-mail:
    chase@cattleultrasound.ca
  • Name:
    Rod Wendorff
    Address:
    Box 1023, Raymond, AB T0K 2S0
    State:
    Canada
    Phone:
    403-330-3000
    Fax:
    403-752-4066
    E-mail:
    rod@cattleultrasound.ca
  • Name:
    Becky Hays
    Address:
    1767 210th Avenue Diagonal, IA 50845
    State:
    IA
    Phone:
    641-464-2310
    Fax:
    641-464-2193
    E-mail:
    bhays@uicuplab.com
  • Name:
    Craig L. Hays
    Address:
    1767 210th Avenue Diagonal, IA 50845
    State:
    IA
    Phone:
    641-234-0152
    Fax:
    641-464-2193
    E-mail:
    craiglhays@yahoo.com
  • Name:
    Captain Jack
    Address:
    522
    State:
    IA
  • Name:
    Erik James
    Address:
    Diagonal, Iowa
    State:
    IA
    Phone:
    515-250-1904
  • Name:
    Bonnie Larson
    Address:
    1625 210th Ave., Diagonal, IA 50845
    State:
    IA
    Phone:
    641-464-0771
    E-mail:
    bhays@uicuplab.com
  • Name:
    Will Larson
    Address:
    1625 210th Ave., Diagonal, IA 50845
    State:
    IA
    Phone:
    641-464-0771
  • Name:
    Dallas McDermott
    Address:
    1314 Baldwin Street, Harlan, IA 51537
    State:
    IA
    Phone:
    (712)-755-2190
    Fax:
    (712)-755-5332
    E-mail:
    macscan@harlannet.com
  • Name:
    Shawn Nicholson
    Address:
    827 E. Front St., Stuart, IA 50250
    State:
    IA
    Phone:
    515-523-1755
    Fax:
    515-523-2609
    E-mail:
    stuvets@coonvalleytelco.com
  • Name:
    JR Tait
    Address:
    1125 Florida Ave., Apt. #503, Ames, IA 50014
    State:
    IA
    Phone:
    515-296-1429
    E-mail:
    rtait@iastate.edu
  • Name:
    Clint Werner
    Address:
    Diagonal, Iowa
    State:
    IA
    Fax:
    641-464-2193
    E-mail:
    ui@uicuplab.com
  • Name:
    Joe Werner
    Address:
    Diagonal, IA 50845
    State:
    IA
    Phone:
    641-464-2310
    Fax:
    641-464-2193
  • Name:
    Paige E. Ayers
    Address:
    510 S. Freeman Ave., Oakley, KS 67748
    State:
    KS
    Phone:
    785-672-3411
    Fax:
    785-672-4940
    E-mail:
    PLE1973@aol.com
  • Name:
    Paul Ritter, DVM
    Address:
    2903 County Rd. 320, Monument, KS 67747
    State:
    KS
    Phone:
    (785)672-3411
    E-mail:
    docritter@yahoo.com
  • Name:
    Russell Coon
    Address:
    1318 Shelby 169, Bethel, MO 63434
    State:
    MO
    Phone:
    660-284-6518
    Fax:
    660-284-6518
  • Name:
    Sonja Gregory
    Address:
    8740 Forest Grove Rd. Box 5380, Lewistown, MT 59457
    State:
    MT
    Phone:
    (406)-538-8824
    Fax:
    (406)-538-8824
    E-mail:
    bardlive@tein.net
  • Name:
    Matthew Lane
    Address:
    2103 North 8th Road, Huntley, MT 59037
    State:
    MT
    Phone:
    406-698-5809
    Fax:
    406-967-2414
    E-mail:
    mlane@nemont.net
  • Name:
    Bob Stevenson
    Address:
    278 JRS Lane Box 292, Hobson, MT 59452
    State:
    MT
    Phone:
    406-423-5700
    Fax:
    406-423-5365
    E-mail:
    bobandrobinstevenson@hotmail.com
  • Name:
    Randy Heiser
    Address:
    2536 14th Ave. NW, Ruso, ND 58778
    State:
    ND
    Phone:
    701-626-2030
    Fax:
    701-626-7105
    E-mail:
    alfalfa@SRT.com
  • Name:
    Jolene Grunhaupt
    Address:
    HC 72 Box 16, Crookston, NE 69212
    State:
    NE
    Phone:
    402-425-3285
    Fax:
    402-425-3285
    E-mail:
    sandhillsultra@inebraska.com
  • Name:
    Bonnie Bradford
    Address:
    5631 Glynwood Rd., St. Marys, OH 45885
    State:
    OH
    Phone:
    (419)-394-5076
    E-mail:
    premier1@bright.net
  • Name:
    Michelle Perry
    Address:
    R1 Box 117, Pauls Valley, OK 73075
    State:
    OK
    Phone:
    (405)-251-0070
    Fax:
    (405)-665-5332
    E-mail:
    moperry@itlnet.net
  • Name:
    Kama Bruns
    Address:
    24952 384th Ave., Plankinton, SD 57368
    State:
    SD
    Phone:
    605-484-6045
    E-mail:
    brunsranch@siouxvalley.net
  • Name:
    Loren Rozell
    Address:
    14257 387th, Warner, SD 57479
    State:
    SD
    Phone:
    (605) 226-0515
    E-mail:
    ljroze@abe.midco.net
  • Name:
    Brad Jones
    Address:
    212 CR 2310, Telephone, TX 75488
    State:
    TX
    Phone:
    Cell:(903) 664-4875
    Fax:
    903-664-4309
    E-mail:
    jonesranch@gcsco.net
  • Name:
    Bill Hilleman
    Address:
    150 South Main Street, Richland Center, WI 53581
    State:
    WI
    Phone:
    (608)-647-6333
    Fax:
    (608)-647-8186
    E-mail:
    hillwl@mwt.net
  • Name:
    Mike Stanek
    Address:
    P.O. Box 217, Potosi, WI 53820
    State:
    WI
    Phone:
    (515)450-2234
    E-mail:
    mike_stanek@hotmail.com
  • Name:
    Eric Geving
    Address:
    Box 118, Meeteetse, WY 82433
    State:
    WY
    Phone:
    307-868-2487 Cell:
    Fax:
    307-868-2487
    E-mail:
    egeving@tctwest.net

^ back to the top ^

Tips for Breeders

Whether a first-timer or a long-timer, here is a list of things that should help scan day go smoothly and reduce problems once the images are in the lab. If you are not able to provide some of these “please do's”, visit with your technician when scheduling. Most of this you may already be doing and this will explain why.

Breeder's Responsibility Why It's Important
Schedule in Advance

Field technicians use their own methods for scheduling, but the more time you allow before scanning, the more likely you will be to get the date of choice. This may also give you the opportunity to be scheduled with others in the same area and divide travel costs.

Before scheduling, have an idea of the number of head so the technician can estimate the time needed to complete the scan session.

Choose a scan date that falls within the required age window for your breed(s) so that your data can be processed and adjusted by your breed association(s).

Obtain Barnsheets Check on the Paperwork Requirements by Breed for the applicable process. Look over the barnsheets to make sure all animals to be scanned are represented. List available information for additional cattle. This will avoid delays in the lab or at the association.
Use a Squeeze Chute Cattle should be restrained in a squeeze chute for scanning. This reduces movement and improves contact, promoting higher quality images. It also speeds things up!
Provide Clean Electricity Electricity is needed to power the ultrasound machine, computer, clippers, blower, etc. An overloaded or ungrounded circuit could cause interference which could jeopardize processing the %IMF images. If using a blower and/or clippers, it may be necessary to provide two sources of power with 20 amp breakers. A generator can be used if necessary.
Clipping Requirements for Scanning It is required that cattle to be used for genetic evaluation must have hair less than ½” long in the areas of scanning. This is to remove dead hair, dirt, and debris which ultrasound waves do not penetrate. All animals in a contemporary group are treated the same and clipping actually saves time! Let your technician know if you will not have clippers available on scan day. If a cattle blower is available, this too helps to remove dirt and debris.
Keep Cattle Dry Vegetable oil is the coupling agent used to allow ultrasound waves to penetrate the hide and view the soft tissue. Oil and water do not mix. A wet hide reduces contact and image quality. Often, animals under cover will dry out after 30-60 minutes.
Eliminate Glare If scanning outside, a tarp helps to reduce glare on the ultrasound monitors. It can also block wind on a cold day.
Weigh the Cattle Empty weights are to be collected within 7 days of scanning. They can be collected at the time of scanning, or from 7 days before to 7 days after. Keep in mind that weighing after the scan date will delay the submission of images to the lab. If collected before, the weights can be filled out on the barnsheets and missing animals/ID problems can be resolved faster.
Keep Cattle Coming Basically, please don't count on the technician to bring the cattle to the corral, sort and pen them, push cattle, run the chute, clip, blow, scan, weigh, change pens ... you get the picture. However, many technicians do enjoy this and are willing to help out!

^ back to the top ^

Interpreting the Ultrasound Data

Please feel free to print this in your catalog as an explanation of the ultrasound data for your customers.

The ultrasound traits measured are rump and rib fat, ribeye area, and % intramuscular fat (IMF). The ribeye image is collected between the 12-13th ribs where the rib fat and ribeye area are measured. The IMF images are evaluated between the 12-13th ribs as well, but in longitudinal images instead. In fact, a minimum of four IMF images are collected and the values are averaged. This value would be correlated to the marbling trait for quality grade. The rump fat image is collected between the hooks and the pins of the animal and gives another indication of external body fat.

Ultrasound data can be evaluated similarly to other performance traits. Ultrasound EPD's should be the best indicator of an animal's carcass trait potential. Like other performance traits, find the breed average of each trait and compare that to the animal's EPDs in question. Above average means the offspring are likely to have a higher than average value of a given trait (depending on the accuracy value). To increase values of a certain trait in your herd, choose the higher EPDs for that trait.

Another method of reporting ultrasound data is in ratios, 100 being average. The ratios of any given trait take into consideration the average of the contemporary group (animals of the same sex managed together with the same diet and environment). An animal with a ratio above 100 for a given trait would have a higher than average adjusted value for that trait. Again, if you are looking to increase a trait's value, look for a ratio over 100. Ratios do not have the benefit of utilizing ancestral information as EPDs do, but can still be a meaningful tool within the contemporary group.

Age adjusted values or the actual values may be reported in some instances along with EPDs or ratios. Like other performance data, actual values are more of an indication of management or age of an animal. For instance, a 600 pound weaning weight is not an indication of an animal's performance without knowing if 600 pounds is above or below average in its contemporary group. Likewise, ultrasound values, adjusted or actual, do not indicate the potential of an animal. It is unfair to compare one ranch to another based on actual or adjusted values. That would only be differentiating management practices or feeding programs. Actual values should be adjusted and adjusted values should be evaluated within contemporary groups.

Ultrasound has become a useful tool in evaluating live animals for carcass traits. The ultrasound measurements correspond to the carcass traits evaluated to determine Yield Grade and Quality Grade. Perhaps the greatest advantage of ultrasound data is that the dams, as well as the sires, can be included in an individual's EPD's.

by Becky Hays, Manager
UltraInsights Processing Lab

^ back to the top ^

Log In to Your Account



UltraInsights Processing Lab, Inc.
1767 210th Avenue
Diagonal, IA 50845
ph. 641-464-2310
fax. 641-464-2193
E-mail us