If you could pick a cattle seminar topic...

[DavisBeefmasters]

...what would it be?

I'm asking because we have volunteered to assist a committee to host the National BBU Convention in 2010 out here on the west coast (likely in Las Vegas, NV) and we're starting to work on speakers and seminar topics. We would like to have something that people look forward to attending... so I thought I'd poll this group to see what types of seminars and topics you have found useful, and would like to attend.

All suggestions welcome! Thanks in advance for any ideas given!

 

[bandit80]

...what would it be?

I'm asking because we have volunteered to assist a committee to host the National BBU Convention in 2010 out here on the west coast (likely in Las Vegas, NV) and we're starting to work on speakers and seminar topics. We would like to have something that people look forward to attending... so I thought I'd poll this group to see what types of seminars and topics you have found useful, and would like to attend.

All suggestions welcome! Thanks in advance for any ideas given!

Dealing with increasing fertilizer costs. Who knows what they will be in 2010. :help:

Retained ownership in feedlot. Getting carcass data on your animals.

Reproductive efficiency. Benefits of a short calving season.

 

[skyline]

Probably not the right place for this seminar, because most of your audience will probably be veteran beefmaster breeders, but I think a good seminar would be Case Studies of the Beefmaster Business. Show real or imaginary proformas or income statements that show how to make a profit in the registered beefmaster breeding business and focus on what you have to do to make that profit. Such as genetics, marketing, etc... Show price trends over the last 20 years. I'd definitely be interested in that seminar.

 

[skyline]

Another seminar that I would be interested in attending is a discussion of trait selection in the beefmaster breed. What should we be looking for in our herd sires and cows. With examples of good and bad conformation. Also a discussion of the 6 essentials and how they relate to these traits. For example, what kind of cow or bull was produced by adhering strictly to the 6 essentials and what kind of cow or bull is popular now. Is it the same cow or bull or has the market moved us in one way or the other? What should we be looking for to produce a highly marketable cow or bull. Make sense?

 

[Miss Daisy]

Cattle reproduction. Especially say pregnancy checking and perhaps AI.

i agree. in addition, embryo transfer and herd health

 

[VanC]

A lot of people don't seem to understand that an increase in production doesn't always mean an increase in profit. In fact, it can sometimes cause a decrease in profit. But you'll need a speaker that can explain it better than I can. ;-)

 

[DavisBeefmasters]

I like these ideas and will present them to the group.

We have also been talking about having a company (Fort Dodge I think) do up their program where the week before they give an animal shots in all the wrong places which would be photo'd and recorded and then show us the results of giving injections in the actual cuts of meats including all the abscesses, dark spots, etc.

Keep the ideas coming! these are good!

 

[john250]

Marketing.
Marketing!
Marketing!!

 

[TexasBred]

I like these ideas and will present them to the group.

We have also been talking about having a company (Fort Dodge I think) do up their program where the week before they give an animal shots in all the wrong places which would be photo'd and recorded and then show us the results of giving injections in the actual cuts of meats including all the abscesses, dark spots, etc.

Keep the ideas coming! these are good!

Davis..have coop'd with Ft. Dodge on several similar programs and they do an excellent job.

 

[Jogeephus]

I've heard fertilizer experts speak on how much more money I can make by doing this, I've heard genetics people talk about how much more money I'm going to make if I use bull X, I've heard the pharmacutical rep speak about this and that but what I would really like to hear is knowledgeable, successful rancher with common sense speak about what a cow can do without - without being neglectful.

 

[DavisBeefmasters]

I've heard fertilizer experts speak on how much more money I can make by doing this, I've heard genetics people talk about how much more money I'm going to make if I use bull X, I've heard the pharmacutical rep speak about this and that but what I would really like to hear is knowledgeable, successful rancher with common sense speak about what a cow can do without - without being neglectful.

Ooohh, a good one. But the challenge would be... who would people trust to share actual knowledge... interesting concept though, I like it...

 

[Jovid]

Tender beef research......the consumer wants tender beef.

 

[Calman]

Hanging bull nutz on your truck.

I couldn't resist .

Cal

 

[TexasBred]

Hanging bull nutz on your truck.

I couldn't resist .

Cal

Cal...anybody can hang'em.....just gotta have'em first. I'm looking for some right now.

 

[Calman]

Hanging bull nutz on your truck.

I couldn't resist .

Cal

Cal...anybody can hang'em.....just gotta have'em first. I'm looking for some right now.

As it so happens,TexasBred I have 3 sets of them. But getting them angus bulls to part with them might be a pretty big chore.

Cal

 

[TexasBred]

Hanging bull nutz on your truck.

I couldn't resist .

Cal

Cal...anybody can hang'em.....just gotta have'em first. I'm looking for some right now.

As it so happens,TexasBred I have 3 sets of them. But getting them angus bulls to part with them might be a pretty big chore.

Cal

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: Don't pull that knife Cal...you'll start a stampede.

 

[mnmtranching]

Every seminar that involves the US beef industry, and cattle producers. The number one concern has got to be the cost of production. How to cope with fertilizer, fuel, feed, land prices etc. The changing times, face it. If the current trend continues, cost of production increases, feeder calf prices dropping.
I believe it will be the end of the cow/calf producer selling feeder cattle. At least the way it has been done.

The idea of keeping a cow for a year to produce 1 500-600 dollar calf in most cases won't work. Producers will have to retain ownership, eliminate middlemen, trucking commissions etc. The best would be feeding to finish at the farm, grow your own feed as much as possible.