65th Beef Cattle Short Course wrapped in College Station

• Writer: Adam Russell, 903-834-6191, [email protected] 
• Contact: Dr. Jason Cleere, 979-845-6931, [email protected] 

COLLEGE STATION – The 2019 Texas A&M AgriLife Beef Cattle Short Course Aug. 5-7 at Texas A&M University featured a full slate of educational presentations and discussions focused on the beef cattle industry.

Dr. Jason Cleere, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist, College Station, said the 65th annual Beef Cattle Short Course continued the event’s history of growth.

Cleere said there were more than 2,300 attendees and more than 140 exhibitors, including ranchers from all over Texas, the country and 15 nations around the globe, including Bolivia, Australia, Vietnam, Canada and Mexico, for the annual three-day event.  

“The attendance and interest in the event show how important beef production is to Texas, the nation and the world,” Cleere said. “For the producers, it is a great opportunity to gather and hear from some of the top researchers and specialists in the various fields that contribute to beef production and fellowship with their peers. Whether they are here to improve large or small operations or learn about land stewardship, there is an amazing amount of knowledge available for them at the short course.”

Attendees were able to learn from a wide range of presentations and discussions featuring AgriLife Extension and Texas A&M AgriLife Research and industry experts in topics such as forage production, economics, cattle breeds and breeding, advanced animal health and nutrition, and wildlife/livestock management from a land stewardship perspective. The smorgasbord of research and applied science topics and best management practices are intended to help producers’ operations improve profitability and sustainability as the industry continues to change.  

Cleere welcomed attendees during an afternoon general session Aug. 6. The afternoon session included speakers who covered three “hot topics” for beef cattle producers – consumer trends, the extended weather forecast and beef production and the environment.

This year’s Beef Cattle Short Course was dedicated to Dr. Bill Turner, professor emeritus in the animal science department at Texas A&M University, who retired in 2000. Cleere noted Turner’s efforts in establishing the beef cattle center and Texas A&M’s Animal Science Teaching, Research and Extension Complex and the impact he has had on the beef cattle industry via former undergraduate and graduate students.

“We appreciate Dr. Turner’s impact on the beef cattle industry through his research and by training future beef industry leaders,” Cleere said.

Cleere said speakers were delivering sound, science-based information to producers and the public that adds a valuable perspective to beef production’s role in economics, human health and the environment.

“It’s pretty clear that beef plays an important role in the lives of people around the globe, whether they are in America, Africa, Bolivia or Vietnam,” he said. “The short course provides education for our producers here, but it also tells the story of what they are doing to improve the quality of life for millions of Americans and people the world over.”