Cattle Feeder Days to focus on managing feedlot efficiency
MORRIS - Feeding and managing for efficiency in the feedlot while finishing cattle at heavier weights is the theme for the 2012 University of Minnesota Cattle Feeder Day Program.
As the U.S. beef cow herd shrinks and feeder supplies dwindle, the U.S. beef industry has turned to relying on heavier end weights for finishing cattle. At the same time, feeder calf prices have increased over 30 percent. These two fundamental changes in the cattle industry have significant implications on feeding and managing cattle to prevent losses in efficiency at various critical control points in the feedlot.
The U of M Cattle Feeder Day program will highlight three of these critical factors to maintaining efficiency throughout the feedlot. The U of M Beef Team has teamed up with two nationally known experts to address these issues. First, Tom Peters, a consulting nutritionist, will speak about how to retain efficiency in spite of finishing cattle at heavier weights. Chad Zehnder, nutritionist with Purina Mills Feed, will share information on a greater reliance on the combination of co-products and farm raised feeds, with minimal grain inclusion.
In addition, Alfredo DiCostanzo of the U of M Beef Team will address concerns with managing feed storage, transport, loading, mixing, and delivery in order to maintain efficiency from an operational standpoint. At the end of the program, these presenters will host an open panel discussion to address issues specific to local operations.
The program will be held at four locations:
Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 5:30 p.m. at West Central Research and Outreach Center, 46352 State Highway 329, Morris
Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Blue Mound Banquet and Meeting Center, 401 West Hatting Street, Luverne
Thursday, Dec. 13 at 9:30 a.m. at The Caboose, 1045 Craig Avenue, Tracy
Thursday, Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at Rochester Events Center, 7333 Airport View Drive SW, Rochester
A $30 registration fee will be charged at the door. The fee for additional attendees from the same farm or family is $15/person. Preregistration is encouraged but not mandatory. Please preregister by Wednesday, Dec. 5 with Rhonda Wulf at (320) 491-1746 or rhonda.wulf@wulfcattle.com (Morris), Mike Boersma at (507) 825-6715 or boers010@umn.edu (Luverne and Tracy), or Devan Paulus-Compart at (425) 246-6131 or paulu058@umn.edu (Rochester).
