Beef Cattle Short
Course Set Aug. 5-7

COLLEGE STATION — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs and Texas Animal Health Commission Executive Director Dr. Linda Logan headline the Texas A&M University Beef Cattle Short Course scheduled for Aug. 5-7 on the campus of Texas A&M University.

Combs, Logan and a slate of nationally known speakers will discuss current technical trends, Texas beef marketing programs, and related health issues. Other speakers include Paul Hitch, Hitch Enterprises, Inc., Guymon, Oklahoma; John Patterson, beef specialist, Montana State University; Dave Nichols, Nichols Farms, Bridgewater, Iowa; and David Coronna of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association marketing program.

Logan will be on hand to advise beef producers on the current status of bovine tuberculosis in Texas and its marketing implications. She will also address other threatening diseases such as chronic wasting disease, as well as Texas’ emergency disease preparation and biosecurity issues.

Beef Quality Assurance training will also be provided. Participants will receive in-depth training and a certificate of completion of Phase II BQA Training. Dr. John Patterson, Montana State University, will discuss producing calves for customers and process verification to ensure food safety in regards to the Texas BQA program.

Short course participants can personalize their own training by selecting from concurrent training sessions in "Basic Ranch Management", "Grazing Management Workshops", "Breeds and Sire Selection", "Management Concepts for Increasing Immunity in Calves", "In-Depth Hands-On Reproductive Training with Bulls and Cows", "Record Keeping Systems and Financial Management", "Cattle Working Demonstrations with Health Emphasis", and a "Basic Ranch Management" session for beginning or novice ranch owners.

Early registration will continue until July 26 at $100 per person. Late registration and on-site registration will be available for an additional $20 per person. Further information or a registration form are available from the Beef Cattle Short Course website at http://animalscience-extension.tamu.edu/beef/shortcourse.html or by contacting Amy, Allyson, or Jenna at (979) 845-3579 or (979) 845-6931.