Enhancing profit for cattlemen from ranch to rail is topic of Sept. 14 event

AgriLife Extension to host mini-ag conference at West Texas A&M in Canyon

A mini-ag conference, How to Enhance Profit from Ranch to Rail, will be conducted Sept. 14 by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Hemphill County on the West Texas A&M University campus in Canyon.

The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. with lunch inside the new agricultural sciences complex, the Happy State Bank Academic and Research Building, and sponsored by Capital Farm Credit. The program will begin at 12:30 p.m.

The cost is $50. While the event is open to anyone, those planning to attend should save a seat by registering in advance at 806-323-9114 or emailing christa.perry@ag.tamu.edu. Because of COVID-19 restrictions on the West Texas A&M campus, the program is limited to the first 60 paid participants. 

“The Mini-Ag Conference for 2021 is designed for beef cattle producers, mainly cow/calf and stocker cattle operators, to see methods and opportunities to add value to their programs by knowing and understanding more about the actual beef carcass and its many cuts,” said Andy Holloway, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent, Hemphill County.

Holloway said he chose to move his annual program out of Hemphill County this year to take advantage of the new facilities at West Texas A&M’s Meat Laboratory.

“The facilities are second to none,” he said. “Plus, we have the added value of getting the educational information firsthand from expert meat scientists Dr. Ty Lawrence and Dr. Dan Hale. Both of these gentlemen are award-winning meats experts and will put an incredible educational program on for our producers.”

Speakers and topics of discussion

The educational lineup will be:

– Factors Impacting Cattle Growth from Feeder Calf to Finished Steer – Hale, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension associate director and meat specialist, Bryan-College Station.

– Market Steer Evaluation and Carcass Grading – Hale.

– Selling Cattle on the Rail – Lawrence, Ph.D., professor of animal science and director of the Meat Laboratory and Beef Carcass Research Center, West Texas A&M.

– Review Video of Finished Cattle on the Hoof, Make Grading Estimates and Price Cattle on a Grid – Hale and Lawrence.

– Review carcasses from four steers.

– Value from the Market Steer to the Carcass to Boxed Beef Cuts – Lawrence.

The program will adjourn by 4:30 p.m.

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