Getting Set up for Success with Cattle
Having a successful cattle business is about much more than just buying a few head and putting them in a field. If you want to turn a profit, you need to think carefully about your goals, marketing strategy, appropriate breeds, and many more details. Over the six weeks of this course you'll get a much clearer idea of what is involved, whether it's the right fit for you, and if it is, what steps you need to take to get started.
Target Audience
All levels - This course is primarily for those just getting started (or thinking of getting started) with a beef enterprise, but those already raising cattle and seeking to improve or expand their operation will find a lot of interest here too.
Webinars
The bulk of the course happens on your own time, with discussions, readings, and assignments here in Teachable, our virtual classroom. To add to the experience, live webinars will be woven into the online interface for 6 weeks each Fall to allow you to meet on a weekly basis to learn from presenters and ask questions in real time. If you miss one, they are always recorded and posted for later viewing.
Webinar Schedule
Your Instructor
Betsy Hicks is a Dairy Management Specialist with the South Central NY Dairy & Field Crops Team with Cornell Cooperative Extension. Her background is in nutrition, and she helps both dairy and beef farmers with grazing, herd health, cow behavior, cow comfort and calf care. Betsy operates a registered Black Angus beef cow-calf operation, focusing on cattle that mother well and excel on grass.
Abbey Birchenough is the Dairy & Livestock Specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County. She is also the lead on the county's 4-H dairy & livestock programs. Abbey grew up in Western NY, was in 4-H herself as a youth, and comes from a dairy background. She assists dairy & livestock producers with anything from getting started to helping them advance their management practices.
Student Testimonials
“To hear first-hand from someone that runs a beef cattle operation was fantastic!! The knowledge that the instructor shared was most valuable. In addition, she was very responsive if I sent an email with follow up questions."
"This course serves as a perfect launch pad for even more learning. With lifetime access to course material guaranteed, I will always have somewhere to reference. The plans to start a Cow-Calf-Finish operation are in full swing and the knowledge gained in and through this course should stand me in good stead for what the future holds."
Course Curriculum
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StartWeek 1 Overview
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StartWEBINAR: Week 1 Slides and Recording
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StartFORUM: Please Introduce Yourself!
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StartTen Questions for Small-Scale Beef Producers
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StartChoosing the Right Cattle
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StartWhat's Your Beef?
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StartFARM PROFILE: Breeding Operations in NY and GA
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StartTypical Beef Enterprises
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StartNY Stocker Cattle Initiative
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StartCustom Grazing Beef Cattle
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StartASSIGNMENT: Are You Ready for Cattle?
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StartWeek 2 Overview
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StartWEBINAR: Week 2 Slides and Recording
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StartFORUM: The Best Breed
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StartFARM PROFILE: Backgrounding Operation
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StartIntro to Cattle Breeds and Terminology
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StartUnderstanding Cattle Breeds & Traits
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StartUnderstanding Cattle Behavior
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StartCattle Handling Pointers
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StartLow Stress Livestock Handling
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StartLow Stress & Low Cost Bud Box Design
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StartASSIGNMENT: Beef Cattle Quiz