Released: February 01, 2005

NW Kansas Cow/Calf Symposium Slated For Feb. 15 in Quinter

COLBY, Kan. – Improved soil moisture and higher calf prices after several years of drought have some producers considering increasing the size of their cow herds, said Sandy Johnson, livestock specialist with Kansas State University Research and Extension.

Whether to increase the size of one’s herd is a difficult decision, however, because of the price of replacements and the usual uncertainty of weather and markets, said Johnson, who is based at the northwest area office in Colby.

That topic will be one of several addressed at the Northwest Kansas Cow/Calf Symposium on Feb. 15 at the Q-Inn in Quinter, Kan. The symposium will begin at 9 a.m.

Harlan Hughes, North Dakota State University professor emeritus and author of the “Market Advisor” monthly column in BEEF magazine, will be the featured speaker. He will speak on “Profitable Drought Repopulation Strategies: Economics of Rebuilding the Cow Herd.”

“Animal health and biosecurity will be the common thread of three other presentations at the symposium” Johnson said. “Producers need to be informed about these disease issues. Failing to do so could result in being blind-sided by the problems that come with the disease.”

Other topics and speakers will include:

* BVD Control Plans for Cow/Calf Operations - Dale Grotelueschen, DVM, Pfizer Animal Health.

* Update on Johne’s and Crohn’s diseases - Larry Hollis, DVM, K-State Research and Extension.

* Local Foreign Animal Disease Plans - Hallie Hasel, DVM, U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Cathy Musick, Gove County Extension Director.

* Minimizing Winter Feed Costs - Twig Marston, Cow/calf Management Specialist, K-State Research and Extension.

* Opportunities for Use of Reproductive Technologies in Rebuilding Cow Herds, Sandy Johnson, Livestock Specialist, K-State Research and Extension.

A registration fee of $15 is requested by Feb. 8th. For more information contact Cathy Musick, cmusick@oznet.ksu.edu  or 785-938-4480.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Sandy Johnson
K-State Research& Extension News