By Blair Fannin
The 63rd Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course is scheduled Aug. 7-9 at Texas A&M University in College Station.
The short course is the largest beef cattle educational event in the country and attracts more than 1,600 beef cattle producers from Texas and abroad, according to organizers. The short course is hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the department of animal science at Texas A&M.
This year’s general session on Aug. 7 will focus on export markets and how they play an important role for cow-calf producers.
“The beef export market continues to grow for U.S. ranchers and is an important part of the overall cattle market,” said Dr. Jason Cleere, conference coordinator and AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in College Station. “We will be looking at how much export value there is in a weaned calf and what hurdles there are when it comes to accessing emerging markets such as China.”
Also scheduled during the general session is a long-term weather outlook.
The short course also features 22 sessions covering basic practices, new technologies and other important industry topics. These sessions provide participants with an opportunity to choose workshops based on their level of production experience and the needs of their ranch.
“Concurrent workshops will feature information on forage and beef cattle management, health, nutrition and reproduction, record keeping, genetics, purebred cattle and much more,” Cleere said.
In addition to classroom instruction, participants can attend one of the program’s popular demonstrations on the morning of Aug. 9, Cleere said.
“There will be demonstrations on chute-side calf working, cattle handling, brush management, tractor safety and beef carcass value determination,” Cleere said.
“The goal of the short course each year is to provide the most cutting-edge information needed by beef cattle producers. We have information everyone can take home and apply to their operations.”
Participants can earn at least nine Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide continuing education units if they are already licensed, Cleere added.
An industry trade show, featuring more than 130 agricultural businesses and service exhibits, will be held during the event.
“And the famous Texas Aggie Prime Rib Dinner is always a highlight of the short course,” Cleere said.
Registration is $180 before July 31 and $220 after. The registration fee covers all breakfasts, breaks, lunch and the Aug. 7 prime rib dinner. For more information or to register, visit http://www.beefcattleshortcourse.com or call 979-845-6931.
