Southwest Beef Symposium set Jan. 17-18 in Odessa, Texas
The Southwest Beef Symposium, jointly conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, is set Jan. 17-18 at the MCM Elegante Hotel, 5200 E. University Ave. in Odessa, Texas.
“Looking to the Future” is the theme of this year’s conference, said Bruce Carpenter, AgriLife Extension livestock specialist in Fort Stockton.
“Cattle prices have adjusted downward after some very favorable years for cow-calf and stocker producers,” Carpenter said. “Consequently, various segments of the industry are now looking for opportunities to add income with improved production and/or marketing.”
Individual early registration is $75, which includes a prime rib dinner on Jan. 17, lunch on Jan. 18 and refreshments and symposium proceedings. Early registration is required by Jan. 12.
To register, or for more information go to http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/Beef or contact Carpenter at 432-336-8585, or Steve Paz, AgriLife Extension agent in Ector County, at 432-498-4071. Late and onsite registration is $95.
The opening session from 1-5 p.m. Jan. 17 will address big-picture emerging issues in the global beef industry, Carpenter said.
Issues and speakers will be:
- The U.S. Cattle Market Outlook, Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma.
- International Market Outlook and Source Verification. Lee Ann Saunders, IMI Global, Castle Rock, Colorado.
- Ranch Business Planning and Marketing Options for Cattle Type, Dennis Braden, Swenson Land and Cattle, Stamford.
- Economics of Trichomoniasis, John Wenzel, NMSU Cooperative Extension veterinarian, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
- The 2017 National Beef Quality Audit, Dan Hale, AgriLife Extension meats specialist, College Station.
Topics on Jan 18 will focus on beef quality and health.
The morning program will feature a discussion on the physiology of stress by Craig Gifford with NMSU Cooperative Extension.
Ashley Stokes, deputy director of Extension at Colorado State Universityand former University of Hawaii Extension veterinarian, will provide insights on what they learned about transportation of Hawaiian cattle by air or sea to the mainland – as well as other transportation related information.
Tom Hairgrove will talk about how the bovine immune system responds to stress.
The afternoon program will follow lunch at the Ector County Coliseum, 4201 Andrews Highway.
“We are very excited to have three of the top stockmanship people in the country join us this year,” Carpenter said.
Curt Pate from Ryegate, Montana, and Ron Gill, AgriLife Extension livestock specialist at College Station, will demonstrate and discuss techniques for effective stockmanship and animal handling.
“Pate and Gill have worked together for years, and have traveled all over the U.S., conducting clinics in partnership with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Beef Quality Assurance program,” Carpenter said.
He said the trio will also include another well-known stockman, Charlie Trayer from Seymour, who is scheduled to demonstrate and discuss how to effectively use stock dogs.
To learn more about Pate and Trayer go to http://curtpatestockmanship.com/ and http://charliescowdogs.com/respectively.
