Beef Buzz News
'Cattlemen's College' Offers One-of-a-Kind Education for Producers
Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:57:07 CST
Now in its 20th year, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's (NCBA) Cattlemen's College has established a reputation as one of the most thorough cattle producer education programs in the nation. Sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health, the 2013 edition of Cattlemen's College offers a wide range of informative, one of a kind hands-on educational workshops designed for cattle operations of every size and sector.
"Cattlemen's College is the premier cattle education program in the United States," says the NCBA's Executive Director of Producer Education John Patterson. "If you want to go to a program where you're not going to find these kinds of presentations anywhere else in the country you want to come to Cattlemen's College."
The program will be held Feb. 5-6, 2013, in Tampa, Fla., headlining the first day of activities at the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. Early registration for Cattlemen's College and the convention ends Jan. 11.
Patterson says the program has evolved over the years as the beef industry has evolved.
"When it started out it was pretty much production oriented. And as we've progressed in the industry now it's getting into issues of consumer beliefs and trends. And, so, excellent presentations on defining what a good steak is by people that come from the hotel and restaurant industry as well as NCBA staff on some of the new beef cuts.
"The big issue, though, has got to be the drought. Sixty-five percent of this country is still in drought and what do we do about water? What do we do about forage? What is the long-range forecast for the weather?"
Cattlemen's College workshops include an outstanding lineup of industry experts during the course of two jam-packed days. On Tues., Feb. 5, attendees will be able to participate in classes about reproductive technologies and low stress cattle handling principles. Learn how to put reproductive technologies to work in your cow-calf operations to enhance the performance and profitability of your herd, as well as learn about appropriate methods of moving cattle as a herd, penning techniques and pressure points in moving animals.
On Tuesday evening, Cattlemen's College participants will be treated to great Florida hospitality and enjoy an exciting night of ranch horse competition as the American Quarter Horse Association brings ranch horses to the Tampa bay. These cowboys and horses will show off their skills in reining, cow work and roping as they show the versatility, athleticism and willingness that make the American Quarter Horse the ultimate ranch tool.
Class begins bright and early on Wed., Feb. 6, with a keynote address by internationally respected futurist Dr. Lowell Catlett, who will educate the audience with his predictions for the long range outlook for the agricultural industry and factors that influence profitability and sustainability of beef cattle production. Sessions will go from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and include a cattle market update presented by CattleFax, preserving family relations on the ranch, weather predictions for 2013 and beyond, consumer attitudes toward beef and beef production, how to cope with drought and high feed prices, animal welfare issues and how to identify risk factors that affect your business' bottom line.
"During Cattlemen's College producers not only have an opportunity to hear from some of the leading experts in topics that impact their cattle operations every day, but they also have the chance to interact with those experts and ask questions," said Paterson. "Many of the presenters are legends in the beef industry, and the wide variety of classes offers something for every producer. We highly encourage cattlemen and women to take advantage of this informative and educational program."
Registration for Cattlemen's College includes all classes along with a two-hour lunch program on Feb. 6. This schedule allows cattlemen to attend up to five 45-minute workshops. Cattlemen's College registration also includes admission to the Cattle-Fax Outlook Seminar, which will be held on Fri., Feb. 9. Topics will include a detailed outlook for cattle and beef inventories and prices, the state of the cattle cycle, analysis of feed grain supplies and prices, a long-term weather outlook, global trade opportunities, and a discussion of emerging beef industry issues and trends.
Cattlemen's College registration information, as well as a complete schedule for the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show are available at www.beefusa.org.
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