Herd Rebuilding and Nutrition to be Topics at Conferences
US – Feed efficiency, herd nutrition, drought farming and rebuilding the cattle nation’s cattle herd will all be discussed by experts at cattle conferences in the coming weeks.
16 January 2013
2 minute read
Economic considerations involved in rebuilding cattle herd inventories and expected price fluctuations over the next five years will be explored at the 51st Blackland Income Growth Conference on 4-6 of February in Waco.
Featured at the conference will be Texan Economist, Dr Stanley Bevers, who talk about how much farmers should pay for replacement cows, herd productivity levels, operational costs and price projections for the year. He will also discuss breed types, longevity and culling rates.
Depleted pastures and feed inventories will be up for discussion at The Cattleman’s day on Friday February 15 at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Lab near Whitman.
Jerry Voleksy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension range specialist, will start the conference with considerations for grazing and forage into a dry year.
Reduced stocking rates, delayed turnout, or no turnout are Mr Volesky’s recommended coping strategies for this year.
Farmers contemplating a May calving will be addressed by Rick Funston, UNL Extension beef specialist. Calves’ gain, winter supplementation, gain effects on pregnancy and the effects of supplementation during the breeding season on heifer and first calf heifer pregnancy rates also will be discussed.
Farm management and herd nutrition will be debated at 11th annual Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference (GLRDC), set for Feb. 7-9 at the Bavarian Inn and Conference Center in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
Tom Overton, associate professor of dairy nutrition at Cornell University, will explore the specific nutritional needs of fresh cows in the early session.
Other highlights in Frankenmuth include Veterinary experts Ron Erskine and Roger S. Thomson talking on disease prevention and treatment practices critical to milk quality and animal health.
Five workshop will follow in the afternoon all dealing with important issues.
A one per cent improvement in feed efficiency during growing and finishing has the same economic impact as a three per cent rise in rate of gain. This will be explored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef program specialist Denise Schwab at the Driftless Region Beef Conference on January 31.
Other key speakers for the conference include Allen Bridges from Minnesota speaking on heifer development strategies, and Derrell Peel from Oklahoma sharing his outlook for beef prices into 2013 and beyond.
Separate breakout sessions for feedlot or cow-calf producers will be held on Friday,1 February.
- For a brochure about the 51st Blackland conference in Waco please click here
- To view the complete conference schedule for the Great Lakes Dairy Conference please click here
- For more information about the Cattlemen’s day click here
- For a full agenda of the Driftless Region Beef Conference near Whitman please click here
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