By Lacey Quail
North Dakota State University’s North Central Research Extension Center in Minot will host a cattle backgrounding program on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
The program will provide beef producers with timely information and tools to evaluate whether backgrounding calves fits into their operation this year. Backgrounding, the practice of growing weaned calves on forage or grain-based rations before finishing, can be an effective strategy to add value, manage feed resources and respond to changing market conditions.
“Livestock markets, environmental conditions, feed costs and availability fluctuate from year to year and impact the decision of whether or not to background cattle,” says Lacey Quail, NDSU Extension livestock management specialist. “Profitability hinges on many factors, some that can be controlled and many that cannot.”
Program topics will include backgrounding and finishing budgets, cattle markets and price outlook, backgrounding rations, cost of gain, calf health and dry lot management. Presenters will share current NDSU Extension research and resources that can help producers improve efficiency, manage risk and make data-informed decisions.
Source : ndsu.edu