Stocker Cattle Workshops

Livestock Update, February 2001

Bill McKinnon, Extension Animal Scientist, Marketing, VA Tech

The stocker cattle business continues to be an important segment of Virginia's cattle industry. Historically, well managed grass yearling cattle have offered one of the highest returns to high quality pastureland in Virginia. The stocker business is a margin enterprise and therefore is extremely sensitive to feeder cattle price fluctuations. Grazing yearling cattle demands that the manager be well informed on both production technology and market conditions.

A series of stocker cattle workshops is scheduled for early March around Virginia. The workshops are slated for Orange, Monterey, Marshall, Richlands, New Market, Wytheville, and Narrows. The individual programs have been designed to suit the interests of the producers within each locale. The registration fee for each workshop is $10 and covers the cost of the meal and workshop proceedings. Industry product suppliers will be present at each workshop to answer questions about their products and provide sponsorship for the workshop series.

Stocker cattle operators should mark the date of the closest workshop on their calendars and plan to discuss issues of concern with their neighbors.

9:00 - 10:00 am -- Registration and visit with exhibitors

10:00 am -- Reducing and Treating Respiratory Disease Dr. John Currin, DVM, VA-MD College of Vet Medicine

11:00 am -- Pasture Supplementation - Concentrates and Minerals Bill McKinnon, Extension Specialist, Marketing

11:45 am -- Seasonal Price Trends John Howe, Extension Agent, Farm Business Management

12:15 pm -- Lunch

1:15 pm -- Cattle Industry Situation and Outlook Bill McKinnon

1:30 pm -- Economics of Stocker Cattle in Today's Market David Vaden, Extension Agent, Farm Business Management

2:00 pm -- Advantages and Challenges of Marketing Load Lots Steve Hopkins, Extension Agent, Orange Co.

2:30 pm -- Adjourn

To register contact: Orange Co. Extension Office, 540/672-1361 by February 26, 2001

5:00 - 5:30 pm -- Registration and visit with exhibitors

5:30 pm -- The Future of the Stocker Cattle Business Rodney Leech, Extension Agent, Highland/Bath Co.

6:00 pm -- Reducing and Treating Respiratory Disease Dr. John Currin, DVM, VA-MD College of Vet Medicine

7:00 pm -- Supper

7:45 pm -- Cattle Industry Situation and Outlook Bill McKinnon, Extension Specialist, Marketing

8:05 pm -- Land Lease Survey Jack Dunford, Extension Agent, Farm Business Management

8:20 pm -- Exploring Contract Grazing Rodney Leech

8:40 pm -- Direct Marketing Concerns and Safety Bill McKinnon

9:00 pm -- Adjourn

To register contact: Highland Co. Extension Office, 540/468-2225 by February 26, 2001

9:00 - 10:00 am -- Registration, coffee, donuts, and visit with exhibitors

10:00 am -- Reducing and Treating Respiratory Disease Dr. John Currin, DVM, VA-MD College of Vet Medicine

11:00 am -- Internal and External Parasite Control Gary Hornbaker, Extension Agent, Loudoun Co.

11:30 am -- Control and Treatment of Pinkeye Dr. John Currin

12:00 noon -- Lunch

12:45 am -- Seasonal Price Trends Bill McKinnon, Extension Specialist, Marketing

1:15 pm -- Pasture Supplements - Concentrates and Minerals Lance Kauf, Extension Agent, Clarke Co.

1:45 pm -- Custom Feeding as a Marketing Option Bill McKinnon

2:15 pm -- Use of Pasture Stick in Forage Stand Evaluation Corey Childs, Extension Agent, Warren Co.

2:35 pm -- Adjourn

To register contact: Loudoun Co. Extension Office, 703/777-0373 by February 26, 2001

4:30 - 5:00pm -- Registration and visit with exhibitors

5:00 pm -- Reducing and Treating Respiratory Disease Dr. John Currin, DVM, VA-MD College of Vet Medicine

6:00 pm -- Cattle Industry Situation and Outlook Bill McKinnon, Extension Specialist, Marketing

6:30 pm -- Supper

7:15 pm -- Internal Parasite Control in Stocker Cattle Dr. John Currin

7:45 pm -- Seasonality of Prices - How to Take Advantage Mike Harris, Extension Agent, Tazewell Co.

8:15 pm -- It More Than Growing Grass and Cattle - It's Marketing Grass Through Cattle Bill McKinnon

8:45 pm -- Adjourn

To register contact: Tazewell Co. Extension Office, 540/988-0405 by March 2, 2001

5:30 - 6:00 pm -- Registration and visit with exhibitors

6:00 pm -- Reducing Respiratory Disease Dr. John Currin, DVM, VA-MD College of Vet Medicine

6:30 pm -- Exploring Contract Grazing Mr. Bill McKinnon, Extension Specialist, Marketing

7:00 pm -- Supper

7:40 pm -- Treating Respiratory Disease Dr. John Currin,

8:10 pm -- Direct Marketing Concerns and Safety Mr. Bill McKinnon

8:35 pm -- What are TMDL's Mr Eric Bendfeldt, Extension Agent, Environmental Sciences

9:00 pm -- Adjourn

To register contact: Rockingham Co. Extension Office, 540/564-3080 by March 2, 2001

5:30 - 6:00 pm -- Registration and visit with exhibitors

6:00 pm -- Reducing and Treating Respiratory Disease Dr. John Currin, DVM, VA-MD College of Vet Medicine

7:00 pm -- Supper

7:45 pm -- Cattle Industry Situation and Outlook Bill McKinnon, Extension Specialist, Marketing

8:15 pm -- Pinkeye Control Dr. John Currin

8:35 pm -- Yearling Cattle Marketing Options Matthew Miller, Extension Agent, Carroll Co.

9:00 pm -- Adjourn

To register contact: Wythe Co. Extension Office, 540/223-6040 by March 9, 2001

5:00 - 5:30 pm -- Registration and visit with exhibitors

5:30 pm -- Reducing and Treating Respiratory Disease Dr. John Currin, DVM, VA-MD College of Vet Medicine

6:30 pm -- Supper

7:15 pm -- Internal Parasite Control Dr. John Currin

7:45 pm -- Cattle Industry Situation and Outlook Bill McKinnon, Extension Specialist, Marketing

8:05 pm -- Pinkeye Control and Treatment Dr. John Currin

8:30 pm -- Adjourn

To register contact: Giles Co. Extension Office, 540/921-3455 by March 9, 2001

Visit Virginia Cooperative Extension