Cattle handling focus of Texas Beef Cattle Short Course

Jul 8, 2008 3:42 PM

Cattle-handling, safety and chute-side work will be featured at the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course Aug. 4-6 in College Station.

“The highlight of the cattle demonstrations will be a discussion on low-stress cattle-handling principles and techniques by Curt Pate,” said Dr. Ron Gill, Texas AgriLife Extension Service livestock specialist.

“He’s a well respected stockman from Montana,” Gill said. “He’s a rancher that understands the importance of production efficiency and the economic benefit of handling cattle correctly.”

The short course educational sessions will have a mix of information, addressing current beef industry issues and providing fundamental information on basic cattle management. Due to the recent spike in feed, fuel and fertilizer prices, many of the topics covered will focus on cutting beef cattle production input costs without sacrificing ranch profitability.

The three-day program, which will be held on the Texas A&M University campus, is sponsored by AgriLife Extension. The event will include 20 different cattleman’s college sessions for participants to select from taught by more than 50 different speakers.

The Wednesday (Aug. 6) morning sessions will provide hands-on demonstrations for participants, featuring cattle handling, chute-side manners, cattle selection, carcass quality, record keeping sessions and an opportunity to receive a private pesticide applicator’s license.

A new feature this year will be a tour of the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.

Short course registration is $140 per participant (if registered by July 28), and includes admission to the conference, a copy of the short-course proceedings (a 300-page publication), trade show admittance, tickets to the special Aggie prime rib dinner, and additional meals and refreshment breaks.

Attendees can earn seven pesticide continuing education units, 15 veterinary credits and numerous Beef Quality Assurance credits.

For more information or to register, go online at http://beef.tamu.edu, or call 979-845-6931.

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