2001 Virginia Cow/Calf Workshops

Livestock Update, October 2001

Bill McKinnon, Extension Animal Scientist, Marketing, VA Tech

Three area educational workshops for cow/calf operators have been scheduled for early December. The workshops will focus on "genetics and marketing for a changing industry." The programs are slated for Abingdon, Harrisonburg, and Lynchburg on December 4 and 5. The workshops will also afford the opportunity for participants to meet with trade show exhibitors who offer a wide range of products needed by the cow/calf industry.

Dr. Scott Greiner of Virginia Tech will kick off the workshops with a discussion of balancing genetic selection in the new environment which provides economic incentive for growth, maternal and carcass traits. Dr. Greiner will also present information on some of the interactions and antagonisms encountered breeding to improve performance in all three areas.

Depending upon location, either Tim Sutphin of Pulaski County or John Wilkins of Fauquier County will discuss their commercial breeding programs. Both producers have retained ownership in their calves by sending them to commercial feed yards. Additionally, they have been able to obtain carcass data on their cattle. These operators will share how and why they have made adjustments in their breeding programs with the additional information they have on their cattle.

Bill McKinnon of Virginia Tech will discuss some the issues confronting the beef industry and how they will pressure producers to change their way of doing business. The cattle business is likely to encounter more changes in the area of marketing during the next decade than is has during the last fifty years.

The importance of selling reputation feeder cattle with predictable performance will be examined by John Stika. The director of feeder-packer relations of the Certified Angus Beef program talk about the growing importance and potential economic incentive of marketing cattle with known health and genetic backgrounds.

Dr. K.C. Olson of the University of Missouri will explain Missouri's experience with the commingled backgrounding of large groups of calves. Dr. Olson will explain the reasoning behind their effort and how the cattle are ultimately marketed.

Mr. Bill Tucker of Nelson County and Mike Henry, Extension Agent in Amelia County will share some information gained from commingled backgrounding in Virginia. The duo will present some of their experiences with group backgrounding calves from several producers and then either offering load lots for sale or shipping the cattle to custom feed yards.

The registration fee of $30 will cover a copy of the workshop proceedings and a meal at each location. Registration information will be available in early November. For more information contact Bill McKinnon at Virginia Tech, 540/231-9160

December 4, 2001 Abingdon, Southwest Virginia 4-H Center

4:00 pm -- Registration and visit with trade show exhibitors

5:00 pm -- Balancing Growth, Maternal, and Carcass Traits - Scott Greiner

6:00 pm -- Using Data from Retaining Ownership to Adjust our Breeding Program -

Tim Sutphin and John Wilkins

6:20 pm -- Feeder Cattle Marketing in a Changing Environment - Bill McKinnon

6:35 pm -- Supper

7:30 pm -- Selling Reputation Feeder Cattle - John Stika

8:15 pm -- Commingled Calf Backgrounding for Selling Feedlot Ready Cattle - K.C. Olson

9:00 pm -- Virginia Experience with Commingled Backgrounding, Marketing, and Custom Feeding - Bill Tucker and Mike Henry

9:45 pm -- Adjourn

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