The Ohio State University Extension Beef Team is announcing the upcoming 2014 Ohio Beef Cattle School.This monthly series will begin on Tuesday,January 28 and continue on February 18 and March 11,2014 and will start each evening at 7:00 p.m.The programs will address some of the most important issues currently facing Ohio's beef industry.Rapidly changing forces are constantly shaping the beef industry's landscape and successful producers need to stay abreast of changes to remain competitive.
The January 28,2014 program will focus on"Improving Breeding Herd Efficiencies."The focus of this program will be improving overall herd productivity through improved herd health and nutrition programs.Dr.Francis Fluharty,Research Scientist,OSU Department of Animal Sciences,will discuss proper nutrition programs to develop and maintain the breeding herd for efficient production.Recommended vaccination programs for disease prevention in the breeding herd and preconditioning programs for feeder calves will be covered.
The Feb.18,2014 program will feature the topic"Producing More High Quality Calves in a Shorter Amount of Time."Dr.Mike Day,Professor,OSU Department of Animal Sciences and Supervisor of the OSU Beef Center,will address the use of heat synchronization programs,herd sire management,and pregnancy diagnosis as a means to increase conception rates while reducing the length of the breeding season.John Grimes,OSU Extension Beef Coordinator,will review the strategic use of genetics in planned breeding programs to improve fertility and increase calf crop performance.
The final installment of the school will be held on Mar.11,2014 and will be devoted to"Storing Forages Economically and Improving Grazing Efficiencies."Dr.Bill Weiss,Professor,OSU Department of Animal Sciences will discuss effective storage techniques that will preserve the most total feed value with conventional dry hay,balage,and silage.Rory Lewandowski,Extension Educator,Agriculture and Natural Resources,OSU Extension-Wayne County will outline grazing management practices that can help to increase pasture productivity.
Dr.Steve Boyles,Professor,OSU Department of Animal Sciences,and additional Extension Educators will be teaching different topics relating to Beef Quality Assurance throughout all three sessions of the School.Individuals that participate in all three sessions of the 2014 Ohio Beef Cattle School will have received sufficient training to qualify for Ohio's Beef Quality Assurance Program.Participants wishing to become certified for the program will pay a$20 fee to complete the process.
These sessions will follow a similar format used in the past as each session will be broadcast locally via an internet link at a variety of locations around state.Host locations will be announced in the coming weeks.If interested in attending,contact your local or a near-by Ohio State University Extension office to ask if their winter programming plans include hosting the Ohio Beef Cattle Schools.