AMARILLO — Forage management and performance evaluation of cattle are only two of the topics for this year’s Panhandle beef cattle conference on May 12, according to Dr. Ted McCollum, beef cattle specialist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service and conference organizer.
“We’ve invited experts in to give outlooks for weather, and cattle and grain markets as well,” he said.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the program starts at 8:30 a.m. The event, sponsored by the Extension Servic,e will be held at the Civic Center, Third and Buchanan.
Cool-season perennial forage production for cattle grazing is a topic of great interest in the High Plains. Drs. Vivian Allen, professor and Thornton Distinguished Chair at Texas Tech University, and Larry Redmon, forage specialist with the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service in Stillwater, will discuss their work with cool-season forages, and offer producers some insight for selection and management.
McCollum will be reporting on the 1997-98 Ranch to Rail North program which includes enrollment of cattle from over 100 ranches in six states. David Lust, animal science lecturer at West Texas A&M University, will address breeding stock selection to sustain cow productivity, while improving growth and carcass traits. EPDs and trait selection are among the tools to be showcased for participants.
According to McCollum, feed yard performance, carcass traits, cattle value and closeouts can be affected by implant programs. The economics for implant strategies in pasture and feedlot animals will be addressed by Dr. John Hutcheson, technical services nutritionist with Hoechst-Roussel Vet.
“Will El Nino continue for a while or just go away?” will be the topic for Ed Andrade, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service here, who will discuss trends in the weather for the Plains region.
Jim Sartwelle, Extension risk management specialist, will give this year’s outlook for cattle and grain markets. The conference will adjourn at 2:30 p.m. Contact McCollum at (806) 359-5401 for more information.
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