Fall Grazing Conference to Focus on Low-Stress Livestock Handling

By Aimee Nielson

Cattle producers have two opportunities this fall to learn more about low-stress livestock handling. The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, with the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council, the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and the Kentucky Beef Network will offer the Kentucky Fall Grazing Conference Oct. 31 at the Hardin County Extension office in Elizabethtown and Nov. 1 at the Fayette County Extension office in Lexington.

“Rotational grazing systems require producers to move animals on a regular schedule,” said Chris Teutsch, associate professor for the UK Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, stationed at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton. “It is critical that we have infrastructure in place that facilitates animal movement that reduces stress on both the animal and producer.”

Teutsch said the conference will address not only the physical infrastructure, but also how to minimize stress in grazing systems.

Speakers for the events include:

• Curt Pate – nationally renowned low-stress livestock handling expert with a unique focus on reducing stress in grazing systems.
• Lewis Sapp – nationally recognized fencing expert with extensive experience in both temporary and permanent fencing systems.
• Jeff Lehmkuhler – UK beef specialist and award-winning extension educator with more than 20 years of experience designing flexible watering systems.
• Chris McBurney – livestock facilities expert with more than 25 years of experience in designing, fabricating, and installing livestock facilities throughout the eastern United States.
• Greg Brann – owner of Big Spring Farm in Allen County. He has more than 40 years of experience and extensive knowledge of grassland ecosystems, grazing management, and mixed-species grazing.