KSUBeef.org: Your resource for beef information
Cattlemen’s Day Program Transitions Online
K-State's 108th Annual Cattlemen's Day set for March 5.
KSU ASI will host Cattlemen’s Day 2021 on Friday, March 5 using the Zoom platform. Mike Day, KSU ASI department head, will kick off the morning at 9:30 a.m.
Register Here — This year, registration is free.
For a complete schedule and more information, visit: asi.ksu.edu/CattlemensDay.
“We’re excited to host the 108th KSU Cattlemen’s Day,” says Ken Odde, K-State professor and Cattlemen’s Day co-chairman. “Although COVID-19 restrictions have led us to transition this year’s event online, we are excited about the lineup of speakers and the topics they will address. Our annual program strives to address key issues and provide current information that keeps our industry efficient and relevant. This year’s featured speakers — Dr. Jayson Lusk, Jason Rumley and Robert Norris — will summarize how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the U.S. beef industry from the producer and processor and beyond.”
Following Day’s presentation, Jayson Lusk, Purdue University distinguished professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, will discuss the “Pandemic Effects on the U.S. Beef Industry.” Jason Rumley, Radian Group principal, and Robert Norris, Radian Group director, will then share “2020 Beef Processing, Retail and Foodservices COVID-19 Insights.”
Sandy Johnson, KSU ASI livestock production specialist, will then talk about reproductive technology resources and tools. Liz Boyle, KSU ASI extension meat science specialist, will lead the final presentation focused on the pandemic’s effect on small Kansas processors. To end the conference, there will be a question-and-answer session.
K-State's Winter Ranch Management Series Set for Late January and February
The seminar series will focus on management, nutrition and vaccine management for beef producers and allow producers to ask questions of their local, district and state extension specialists.
Vaccine management and storage will be one of the topics for the 2021 Kansas State University Winter Ranch Management Seminar Series. Hosted by three areas across the state of Kansas, the meetings will feature presentations and comments by extension educators to enhance management strategies employed by cow-calf producers.
The meetings will also feature a popular “town hall” style question-and-answer session between Kansas cattle producers and extension specialists. “The series has a history of being a successful stretch of meetings, which are hosted throughout the state of Kansas,” says Dale Blasi, K-State extension specialist.
Topics vary per location, with options including bull management considerations, explanation of the Management Minder tool, and cow and replacement heifer nutrition programs for a successful breeding season. All three sessions will conclude with the town hall session.
State, district and local extension staff, will take part in the series to help answer producers’ questions. “The Winter Ranch Management series provides another great opportunity for state and local specialists to take our expertise out in the country for a series of impactful meetings,” Blasi adds.
“Our extension team has a breadth of experience in beef cattle management, reproduction, genetics, animal health and nutrition. We’re here to help solve and prevent production problems with reliable information.”
>> Read More
K-State beef cattle expert cautions against cold stress
Late winter storms can cause challenges for cattle producers
A Kansas State University beef cattle specialist is urging the state’s producers to continue monitoring their cattle’s condition, especially during periods when Mother Nature sends her winter chill.
Justin Waggoner, a beef systems specialist with K-State Research and Extension, said producers are often ready to deal with heat stress during the summer, but cold stress during the latter stages of winter can also be challenging.
“Cattle are very robust creatures; they are able to withstand a wide range of temperatures,” Waggoner said. “But January and February are often our most extreme temperatures in Kansas, and that can certainly have an impact on cattle.”
>> Read More
Consider The Value Of Genomics: Buying Bulls Better
By Bob Weaber, Cow-calf Extension Specialist
Bull buying is an activity on the horizon for many cow-calf producers. With the spring sale season just around the corner it is a great time consider your bull buying strategy. In addition to revisiting your breeding system (make sure you capture the value of maternal heterosis) and alignment of selection criteria to production/marketing constraints, producers should evaluate the opportunity to purchase bulls that have been genotyped. Many seedstock producers are genotyping their sale offering to support the purchase decisions of their commercial customers. Sometimes the genotyped bulls cost a little more, but the added value far exceeds the cost. >> Continue Reading
Tally Time: Management Minder outlines your production year
Technology has been developed that makes many things in our lives much easier. Some of you may remember when you were the “remote control” when your Dad was watching TV. Now, new homes have heating, alarm and lighting systems throughout that can be controlled remotely with a smart phone. Cattle producers use electronic IDs to automate many data collection activities. Computer applications seem to only be limited by our imagination.
Our beef extension educational efforts have often pointed out timely management topics. For example, now is the time to sample harvested forages and get an analysis of the quality. Some of those items would relate to time of year, while others would depend on the individual operation’s calving and breeding dates. So, while those suggestions are timely for most (we hope), they certainly do not fit everyone.
>> Read more
Focus Areas
Feed & Water- Health
- Reproduction & Genetics
- Cost of Production & Marketing
- Employee Management
- Legal/Regulatory
The K-State beef extension team strives to address all phases of beef production from "farm to fork".
