TEXARKANA, Ark. – Helping livestock producers take advantage of historically high markets and rebuilding herds will be just two of the presentations at this year’s Four States Cattle Conference set Dec. 10 in Texarkana, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county agent.
As in past years, the programming is designed specifically for the four-states region, which encompasses the contiguous corners of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, said Dr. Brian Triplett, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Bowie County.
“This is a conference that brings together speakers from four different universities in one location, where producers can gain valuable information in one day that they would have to travel to four states to get otherwise,” Triplet said. The conference will be held at the Four States Fairgrounds, 3700 East 50th St., Texarkana, Arkansas.
Registration is $30, whether paid in advance or at the door, and includes a barbecue brisket lunch. Though there’s no discount for early registration, Triplett said those preregistering by Dec. 1 will be entered into a drawing for a VetGun, a $250 device for delivering insecticide-filled gel capsules to control horn flies and lice on cattle.
To register, send your name, organization, mailing address, phone number and email along with a check or money order payable to “Clark County CES, 640 South 6th St., Suite B, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.”
Speakers will include: Dr. Temple Grandin, a designer of livestock handling facilities and an animal science professor at Colorado State University; Dr. Paul Beck, University of Arkansas beef cattle nutrition researcher; Dr. Brian Freking, Oklahoma State University regional livestock specialist; Dr. Ryon Walker, Louisiana State University assistant professor of beef cattle at the Hill Farm Research Station in Homer, Louisiana; Stan Bevers, AgriLife Extension economist, Vernon, Texas; Dr. Jason Banta, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist; and Dr. Ron Strahan, Louisiana State University weed management specialist.
Early morning presentations will include “How to Reduce Stress on Cattle During Handling,” Grandin, and “Making Sense Out of Cattle Markets,” Bevers.
After a mid-morning break and refreshments, concurrent breakout sessions will include: “Heifer Selection and Development: Which Ones Will Be More Profitable?” Banta; “Managing Winter Annual Pastures for Stocker Cattle,” Beck; and “Weed Management in Southern Pastures,” Strahan.
Following lunch and a trade show, the concurrent sessions will be repeated and then followed at 2 p.m. by demonstrations on heifer selection by Banta, and a processing and branding demonstration by Freking.
The event will conclude at about 4 p.m., Triplett said.
Source: Agrilife