AMARILLO – Texas and New Mexico Cooperative Extension agencies will present the third annual “Southwest Beef Symposium” on Jan. 16-17 at the Fifth Season Inn in Amarillo.
Dr. Bruce Carpenter, Texas Cooperative Extension livestock specialist at Fort Stockton, said the symposium is tailored for Southwest beef producers. The event centers around three educational sessions and a trade show.
“The first session will target critical success factors in ranching and beef production,” Carpenter said. “Key leaders in the beef industry will speak on aligning visions and goals, cow type and the environment, reproductive management, and how they’ve created flexibility in their own Southwestern range operations.
“The second session on day two will address current issues affecting the industry, including the impacts and opportunities from ethanol production, source verified markets, the occurrence and management of trichomoniasis, and a new way to pregnancy test ruminants.”
The final session will look into beef market trends from the consumer, producer and packers’ viewpoints, Carpenter said. Meat processors and retailers will discuss consumer trends, and buyers will speak on some of the challenges and opportunities producers will face when placing feeder cattle into verified source programs. Current trends in packer cow marketing will also be discussed.
Individual registration is $50 by Jan. 5 and $60 thereafter. The fee includes a prime rib dinner at the River Breaks Ranch, lunch, refreshments and a printed proceedings.
For more information call Carpenter at 432-336-8585 or Clay Mathis at New Mexico State University at 505-646-8022. A schedule of events and speaker information, as well as registration materials and lodging information can be found at: http://cahe.nmsu.edu/ces/swbeef .
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