Dairy Beef Short Course to Be Held March 21 at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

Jan 31, 2024

By Fred M. Hall

The I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Short Course is scheduled for Thursday, March 21, as part of the finale for the Central Plains Dairy Expo. It will be held in the auditorium of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls.

The focus of this year’s program is economics, marketing opportunities and genetics.

“We are excited for the new location,” said Fred Hall, dairy specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “The larger venue allows for comfortable seating with tables and chairs and an enjoyable learning experience.”

Presenters and topics will include:

Dairy Beef Industry Outlook – Darrell Peel, Oklahoma State University.
Beef on Dairy Economics: Results of a Video Auction Analysis – Ken Odde, Kansas State University.
Genetic Considerations for a More Valuable Calf – Bob Weaber, Kansas State University.
How Do Dairy-based Cattle Fit into Value-based Markets? – Lauren Kimble, Select Sires.

There also will be a morning and afternoon Q&A session moderated by Warren Rusche from South Dakota State University.

The registration fee is $70 per adult plus $15 if a printed copy of the proceedings is desired. College students can register for a discounted rate of $20. A lunch will be provided.

To register, visit https://go.iastate.edu/24DBSC or mail the registration fee with your contact information and any dietary restrictions to Fred Hall at 400 Central Ave., NW, Suite 700, Orange City, IA 51041. The preregistration deadline is March 8.

If attendees also plan to attend the Central Plains Dairy Expo, they should register for that in advance at https://www.centralplainsdairy.com/registration/.

Questions can be directed to Fred Hall at 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu

Source : iastate.edu

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.