By Kay Ledbetter
The 72nd annual Beef Cattle Short Course is considered the premier beef cattle educational event in the world, providing science-based information producers can apply on the ranch. This year’s event is set for Aug. 3-5 on the Texas A&M University campus in Bryan-College Station.
Hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Animal Science, more than 1,900 participants are expected, said Jason Cleere, Ph.D., conference coordinator and AgriLife Extension statewide beef cattle specialist in the Department of Animal Science, Bryan-College Station.
Galayda said for the past 20 years, since taking over her family’s ranch operation, she has been among the attendees. Over the years, she said the knowledge she has gained through the short course, and with AgriLife Extension as her lifeline, has allowed her to significantly increase the number of pounds of beef produced on her ranch.
Hot topics this year
Cleere said each year experts not only address the basics of cattle ranching, but the speakers and topics address the most pressing issues within the industry at the time, such as the New World screwworm and herd rebuilding this year.
“As producers begin to rebuild their cow herds, there will be discussions on the right cow for your production conditions, technologies to increase replacement selection efficiency and management practices to improve replacement female retention,” he said.
“We will also have a New World Screwworm Symposium on Aug. 4 afternoon that focuses of prevention, treatment and management if you get an infection and the marketing and animal movement procedures,” Cleere said. “We are offering practical real-world solutions to the problem we are facing. Ranchers can learn a lot during the two and a half days, but more importantly, they meet the experts. Later, they have a contact they can go to.”
Source : tamu.edu