July 7, 2000
It's time for the
Beef Cattle Short Course

Noting recent unprecedented changes in the industry, beef leaders throughout Texas have completed program planning for the 2000 TAMU Beef Cattle Short Course, according to Dr. Larry Boleman, TAMU professor and beef cattle specialist.

Over 100 Beef Short Course Planning Committee members, including specialists, teachers, researchers, beef association and organization representatives, producers and other professionals have provided planning input for the 2000 program.

This year’s short course will be held Aug. 7-9 at the TAMU University Center, Texas A&M University, College Station.

Boleman, short course coordinator, says the popular Beef Short Course “Cattlemen’s College” will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 7. This year over 50 hours of basic and up-to-date concurrent courses will be offered in pastures and ranges, nutrition, selection and genetics, management, marketing, reproduction and cattle and carcass judging. Special sessions for certified applicator’s license requirements (four hours, CEUs) will also be made available in laws and regulations, drift, IPM and general topics. Workshops and classroom training for these selected subjects and many others will again be taught by Texas A&M University faculty and staff as well as producers and instructors from other agricultural universities and private sector professionals from across the nation.

The TAMU Beef Cattle Short Course will continue the second day with an opening general session on Tuesday morning, Aug. 8, at the University Center. The event will conclude on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at the Louis Pearce Pavilion. Some of the top speakers in the nation will conduct training in present and future technologies as well as new issues facing cattle producers in the coming year. Boleman says these speakers, selected by planning committee members, are what make each short course better than the last.

“Our conference always offers the latest cutting-edge concepts and the newest topics with the best speakers in the nation to keep our producers informed,” Boleman said.

Dr. Harlan Ritchie, a professor at Michigan State University, will address the current state of rapid change in the beef industry in a keynote address. Ritchie believes that beef will be produced by highly controlled management systems and will be radically different from the past. He has stated the belief that the beef industry will look much different in 2010 and those producers that embrace the changes will find abundant opportunities. Boleman said this year’s short course will focus on far-reaching marketing practices including e-commerce marketing and electronic identification.

Also, Bernie Hansen, president of Flint Hills Foods, LLC, Concept Foods, Inc., will discuss what the beef industry can do to enrich its future, and the effect branded products, product convenience, consumer desires and product consistency will have on future beef production. In addition, a group of beef producers marketing Brahman, Continental and English-type groups for specified products will discuss “futuristic changes” already available in present day marketing systems for Texas producers. Discussions will include local market auctions, retained ownership, alliances, partnerships, and retailing experiences by successful producers.

A trade show of 80-plus agribusiness and service exhibitors will also be a major attraction at the Short Course.

Registration is $85 per person. That includes a “Texas style” beef dinner, a breakfast, noon meals, refreshments during afternoon and morning breaks, and the 200 page conference proceedings.

For registration details contact Boleman or Allyson Butler at 979/845-3579 or download registration material from the following website: http://animalscience-extension.tamu.edu.