Planning… to capture opportunities
The past six or seven years has seen many challenges for beef cattle producers. Drought forced liquidation of herds at low prices while having to buy feed at record high levels.
We also saw cattle numbers drop to near record low numbers. These record low numbers of cattle helped push cattle prices to all time high prices. Of course these record prices did not last nearly long enough.
We quickly rebuilt cattle numbers and saw prices plummet. We did see a brief recovery in prices in the past year, but it was not long lived.
With the volatile cattle market we have to make informed and wise decisions in our management programs and marketing programs.
Nutrition is a major expense in all cow/calf operations. Many questions arise when it comes to nutrition.
What can I feed? What is the best value for my operation? How much do I need to feed? How do I know the cost of my feeding program? Is hay my best option? Are bulk commodities an option?
Other challenges include herd health concerns, including the latest on Trichomoniasis. Culling Bulls and Cows? Nutritional needs for different classes of cattle (heifers, 1st calf heifers, mature cows, etc.) How body condition and body weight determine nutritional needs? How quality of hay effects nutrition?
On Friday, September 22, 2017, three general CEU’s will be given for private applicators needing hours.
Registration fee is $25.00 at the door. To pre-register, call 979-828-4270.
The event will be held at the Camp Cooley Ranch Sale Pavilion located at 4297 Camp Cooley Ranch Road in Franklin Texas.
Schedule is as follow:
–7:45am-9:00am – Registration and Booth Visitation
–9:00am-9:10am – Introduction and Welcome
–9:10am-11:30am – Topics for morning sessions will include: “Putting a pencil to your feeding program,” “What commodities or feed stuff can I afford for my operation,” “Determining the true cost of my hay,” ”Trichorrioniasis — What is it? How does it affect me? Diagnosis? Management? Laws & Regulations affecting Trichomoniasis,” and “Medical & Physical factors that help determine whether to cull or keep bulls and cows.”
–11:30am-1:00pm – Lunch, Booth Visitation, & some door prizes
–1:00pm-2:30pm – Topics for afternoon sessions will include: “How important is body condition scoring?,” “Why do I need to know what my cows weigh?,” “Do I need to feed replacement heifers, bred heifers, 1st calf heifers, & mature cows separately?,” and “More on Physical and medical reasons to cull cows & bulls”
–2:30pm – Final door prize drawing, and adjourn
We hope to have twenty-plus Ag. Industry booths set up for the day’s activities. The booth participants will also supply door prizes that will be given away that day.
We will have a great group of speakers to present the identified topics. These will include: Dr. Jason -Johnson —Associate Professor & Extension Economist, Dr. Steve Schultz, DVM —Franklin TX, Dr. Jason: Cleere —Associate Professor & Extension Beef Cattle Specialist.
There will be a contest built into the day’s program that will help sharpen your management skills. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the day to the highest scores. Should be fun and informative; and with a little luck, lucrative.
