Farm Director KC Sheperd caught up with Troy White of Bull Creek Ag and Outdoors in Mooreland, Oklahoma, to discuss the upcoming 580 Cattle Conference to be held on August 12 at the Woodward County Event Center in Woodward, OK. The doors open at 12:30 pm and the conference will begin at 1 pm.
The event was created after a series of conversations that White had with his vet, Dr. Richard Prather, about how they would like to organize a seminar for cattlemen in their area to help them understand the importance of vaccination protocols, matching cattle to their environment, low-stress cattle handling, and other topics that affect herd health and profitability.
At a different conference, White’s sister, Kristen Stinnett met Dr. Temple Grandin, and invited her to speak at their developing conference. “The one day out of the year that Dr. Grandin could go to Woodward, Oklahoma, is August 12, so we set the date and are looking forward to having her here.
“She is probably the most influential person in the last 50 years in animal welfare, and understanding animals and what scares them and how they move. She absolutely has an understanding of the world that I never will.”
In addition to Dr. Grandin, speakers will also include:
- Congressman Frank Lucas, to give an update on the Farm Bill and the latest happenings in Washington D.C. that will impact those involved in the cattle industry.
- Dr. Prather, DVM, Ellis County Animal Hospital, will cover vaccination protocols for optimum herd health and vitamin and mineral deficiency in breeding stock.
- Dr. David Lalman, professor and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist at Oklahoma State University, will speak about finding forage efficient cows, and matching that cow to your environment.
- Tom Fanning – Buffalo Feeders Feedyard Manager, will speak on adding and capturing value in the feed yard, DNA testing, and efficiency and gain.
- National Resources Conservation Service Representatives will give an overview of producer cost share programs.
“We wanted to get as much useful information into the day that we could,” White said. “We didn’t have the time to make it a multi-day event, and we got the best speakers that we could get. It is a fantastic lineup, and we are very excited about it.”
In addition to learning what the speakers have to say, door prizes will be given, and the evening will close with a steak dinner and a performance by country music artist Clare Dunn. There will also be a small tradeshow comprised of event sponsors.
“There is a new generation of producers coming along, and sometimes we get stuck doing what’s always been done. But there are very effective vaccines, and tons of research on vitamin and mineral deficiency and how it affects breeding viability in cows and overall herd health. It is so important to be profitable and to know how to maximize that profitability with your cattle, so a lot of information can be gained that day,” White said. “I don’t know if we will ever be able to get Dr. Grandin to come back to Woodward, Oklahoma again, so this might be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see her.”
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through the 580 Cattle Conference Facebook page, or in person at the Mooreland Bull Creek Ag and Outdoors storefront.
