Southwest Cow/Calf Conference

Welcome back to the square.  Cattle producers looking to get the most out of their cow-calf operations can register now to attend the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service’s Southwest Cow-Calf Conference on Dec. 4 in Duncan.

“Conference sessions will focus on the latest management tools available to cow-calf producers, with the goal of helping them make decisions that promote the best possible outcomes for their operations,” said Bob LeValley, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension area livestock specialist.

The conference will take place from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center, located at 2002 S. 13^th St. in Duncan. Cost is $10 per participant.  “We’re asking participants to pre-register to ensure we have enough meals, refreshments and conference materials on hand,” LeValley said.

Registration forms are available at the Greer County OSU Extension Office or through the OSU Beef Extension Web site at http://beefextension.com on the internet.

Ryan Reuter of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation will kick off the conference with a session on utilizing commodity feeds in a winter feeding program. Reuter will share how and where commodity feeds fit in an operation from a nutritional and economic perspective, as well as special handling considerations.

Glenn Selk, OSU Cooperative Extension livestock specialist, will discuss issues related to choosing a calving season that best fits operational needs and the markets a producer wishes to target.

Dave Lalman, OSU Cooperative Extension beef specialist, will show how to match the cowherd to available forage and production resources, including information on the ways beef cattle industry trends continually influence cow type and potential impacts on profitability.

Derrell Peel, OSU Cooperative Extension livestock marketing specialist, will showcase the current market situation and outlook with a focus on calf prices and cull cows.

Daren Redfearn, OSU Cooperative Extension forage specialist, will lead a discussion on bermudagrass fertility and management considerations as they relate to the potential profitability of cow-calf operations. Estimating stocking rats for bermudagrass and native range also will be a focus of the session.

A trade show will take place in conjunction with the conference.I hope you have enjoyed our visit this week and I’ll see you next week or most any other day On the SqUare.  The Greer County Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.