Course Outline
Week 1: Why Raise Beef Cattle? – Nov 2
- Introductions and course overview
- The opportunities and benefits for raising beef cattle
- Are beef cattle the right fit for you? Personal considerations for success
- Common production models
Week 2: Breeds, Buying & Behavior – Nov 9
- Common breeds & terminology
- Tips for finding the right animals to start or expand your herd
- Sourcing cattle & bringing them home
- Animal behavior & stockmanship
Week 3: Cattle Health & Performance – Nov 16
- Safe and efficient handling
- Vaccinations, first aid, and vet care, resources
- Common health issues
- Best management practices for weaning
- Keeping production records
- Evaluating animal performance
- Culling & herd improvement strategies
Week 4: Beef Cattle Nutrition – Nov 23
Guest Presenter Kathy Soder
- Nutritional needs of different cattle types
- Minerals and supplements
- Forage quality (Kathy Soder)
- Managing forage quality and intake to meet management objectives (Kathy Soder)
Week 5: Marketing Models and Pricing for Profitability & Success – Nov 30
Guest Presenter Matt LeRoux
- Meat processing terminology and regulations
- Identifying your target customer and marketing objectives
- Selecting your marketing channels
- Setting prices for profitability
- Evaluating performance of business objectives
Week 6: Feeding Systems and Course Wrap Up – Dec 7
- Efficient winter feeding
- Stored feeds – hay procurement, testing, storing, feeding
- Grazing basics
- Course wrap-up