Teaching Recommended Beef Production Practices through the Master Cattle Producer Program by Kenneth Sharpe Kenneth Sharpe Livingston, Louisiana

Master Cattle Producer Program Planning Master Cattle Producer Program Planning

Objectives of Master Cattle Producer

Objectives Beef producers to acquire a knowledge of sustainable livestock production practices, environmental stewardship, farm management and marketing Beef producers to acquire a knowledge of sustainable livestock production practices, environmental stewardship, farm management and marketing

Objectives Understand how these practices are interrelated and dependent upon each other Understand how these practices are interrelated and dependent upon each other

Objectives Beef producers to acquire a knowledge of sustainable livestock production practices, environmental stewardship, farm management and marketing Beef producers to acquire a knowledge of sustainable livestock production practices, environmental stewardship, farm management and marketing Understand how these practices are interrelated and dependent upon each other Understand how these practices are interrelated and dependent upon each other Implement these practices on his/her farm Implement these practices on his/her farm

Curriculum Developed by Committees Researchers Researchers Extension Specialist Extension Specialist County Agents County Agents NRCS NRCS Louisiana Cattlemens Association Louisiana Cattlemens Association

Curriculum Forages and Pasture Management (2) Forages and Pasture Management (2)

Curriculum Nutrition Nutrition

Curriculum Forages and Pasture Management (2) Forages and Pasture Management (2) Nutrition Nutrition Animal Health/Biosecurity Animal Health/Biosecurity

Curriculum Forages and Pasture Management (2) Forages and Pasture Management (2) Nutrition Nutrition Animal Health/Biosecurity Animal Health/Biosecurity Reproduction Reproduction

Curriculum Forages and Pasture Management (2) Forages and Pasture Management (2) Nutrition Nutrition Animal Health/Biosecurity Animal Health/Biosecurity Reproduction Reproduction Animal Handling Animal Handling

Curriculum Forages and Pasture Management (2) Forages and Pasture Management (2) Nutrition Nutrition Animal Health/Biosecurity Animal Health/Biosecurity Reproduction Reproduction Animal Handling Animal Handling Breeding & Selection Breeding & Selection

Curriculum Forages and Pasture Management (2) Forages and Pasture Management (2) Nutrition Nutrition Animal Health/Biosecurity Animal Health/Biosecurity Reproduction Reproduction Animal Handling Animal Handling Breeding & Selection Breeding & Selection End Product End Product

Curriculum Forages and Pasture Management (2) Forages and Pasture Management (2) Nutrition Nutrition Animal Health/Biosecurity Animal Health/Biosecurity Reproduction Reproduction Animal Handling Animal Handling Breeding & Selection Breeding & Selection End Product End Product Financial Management and Marketing (2) Financial Management and Marketing (2)

Requirements Attend hour beef production sessions Attend hour beef production sessions

Requirements Become certified in Beef Quality Assurance Become certified in Beef Quality Assurance

Requirements Attend hour beef production sessions Attend hour beef production sessions Become certified in Beef Quality Assurance Become certified in Beef Quality Assurance Attend 2 – 4 hour environmental stewardship sessions Attend 2 – 4 hour environmental stewardship sessions

Curriculum Reviewed All Extension agents with beef responsibilities All Extension agents with beef responsibilities Each agent reviewed 5 sessions Each agent reviewed 5 sessions Area teams Area teams

Speakers Bureau Developed & Curriculum CD Produced

What producers would get

Binder with all speaker notes Binder with all speaker notes

What producers would get Beef Cattle Production Handbook Beef Cattle Production Handbook

What producers would get Meal Meal

What producer would get Graduation certificate, banquet, recognition, farm plate Graduation certificate, banquet, recognition, farm plate

$$$$$$$-??????

$$$$$$$-?????? $100 Registration $100 Registration

$$$$$$$-?????? BinderBinder PrintingPrinting MealMeal TravelTravel

$$$$$$$-?????? $100 to register $100 to register $50 BQA to Cattlemens Association $50 BQA to Cattlemens Association

Program Implementation Program offered –2004 Program offered –2004

Program Implementation Program offered –2004 Program offered –2004 Delivery in multi-parish areas coordinated by Extension agents and at LCA conventions in 2005 and 2006 Delivery in multi-parish areas coordinated by Extension agents and at LCA conventions in 2005 and 2006

Program Implementation Program offered –2004 Program offered –2004 Delivery in multi-parish areas coordinated by AgCenter personnel LCA conventions in 2005 and 2006 Delivery in multi-parish areas coordinated by AgCenter personnel LCA conventions in 2005 and 2006 Program consistency maintained statewide for two years Program consistency maintained statewide for two years

Program Implementation Program offered –2004 Program offered –2004 Delivery in multi-parish areas coordinated by AgCenter personnel LCA conventions in 2005 and 2006 Delivery in multi-parish areas coordinated by AgCenter personnel LCA conventions in 2005 and 2006 Program consistency maintained statewide for two years Program consistency maintained statewide for two years Meetings Meetings Once a weekOnce a week Twice a weekTwice a week Once a monthOnce a month

Makeups Attend other sessions Attend other sessions

Makeup's Sessions at Cattlemens Convention Sessions at Cattlemens Convention

Makeup's Attend other sessions Attend other sessions Sessions at Cattlemens Convention Sessions at Cattlemens Convention Video tapes Video tapes

Master Cattle Producer Classes Locally 5 parishes Locally 5 parishes

Master Cattle Producer Classes Locally 5 parishes Locally 5 parishes 2 classes 2 classes Fall 2004Fall 2004 Fall 2005Fall 2005

Master Cattle Producer Classes Locally 5 parishes Locally 5 parishes 2 classes 2 classes Fall 2004Fall 2004 Fall 2005Fall enrolled 66 enrolled

Master Cattle Producer Classes Locally 5 parishes Locally 5 parishes 2 classes 2 classes Fall 2004Fall 2004 Fall 2005Fall enrolled 66 enrolled 60 graduated 60 graduated

Master Cattle Producer Classes Statewide 17 sessions completed Statewide 17 sessions completed

Master Cattle Producer Classes 17 sessions completed 17 sessions completed 557 producers enrolled 557 producers enrolled

Master Cattle Producer Classes 17 sessions completed 17 sessions completed 557 producers enrolled 557 producers enrolled 354 graduated 354 graduated

Evaluation Producer responses very positive Producer responses very positive

Evaluation Found new audiences Found new audiences

Evaluation Producer responses very positive Producer responses very positive Found new audiences Found new audiences Producer post test evaluations Producer post test evaluations

Evaluation Producer responses very positive Producer responses very positive Found new audiences Found new audiences Producer post test evaluations Producer post test evaluations End of class evaluations – plans for adoption and usefulness End of class evaluations – plans for adoption and usefulness

Evaluation Producer responses very positive Producer responses very positive Found new audiences Found new audiences Producer post test evaluations Producer post test evaluations End of class evaluations – plans for adoption and usefulness End of class evaluations – plans for adoption and usefulness Track members for long term adoption and economic impact Track members for long term adoption and economic impact

Evaluation Producer responses very positive Producer responses very positive Found new audiences Found new audiences Producer post test Producer post test End of class evaluations – plans for adoption and usefulness End of class evaluations – plans for adoption and usefulness Track members for long term adoption and economic impact Track members for long term adoption and economic impact Curriculum re-evaluation Curriculum re-evaluation

Questions?

Louisiana Master Cattle Producer by Kenneth Sharpe Livingston, Louisiana

Curriculum Summaries

Animal Handling Understanding beef cattle behavior Understanding beef cattle behavior Minimizing stress to cattle and people Minimizing stress to cattle and people Proper design/construction of facilities Proper design/construction of facilities Handling factors affecting beef quality Handling factors affecting beef quality

Animal Health/Biosecurity Recognizing beef cattle diseases Recognizing beef cattle diseases Disease treatment and prevention Disease treatment and prevention Herd health program recommendations Herd health program recommendations Internal and external parasite controls Internal and external parasite controls Toxic weed identification and control Toxic weed identification and control Developing a farm biosecurity plan Developing a farm biosecurity plan

Breeding and Selection Beef breeds Beef breeds Mating systems and their purposes Mating systems and their purposes EPDs and how to use them EPDs and how to use them How to match bulls to your cows How to match bulls to your cows Selecting heifers Selecting heifers

Reproduction Female reproductive system Female reproductive system Male reproductive system Male reproductive system Controlled breeding systems Controlled breeding systems The importance of a high fertility level The importance of a high fertility level Factors that affect net calf crop Factors that affect net calf crop

End Products Quality and Yield Grades Quality and Yield Grades Pricing Grid Pricing Grid Examples of Branded Beef Programs Examples of Branded Beef Programs Introduction to HACCP Introduction to HACCP New Value-Added Cuts New Value-Added Cuts Chose your marketing strategy Chose your marketing strategy

Financial Management/Marketing Record keeping Record keeping Management decisions that improve profitability Management decisions that improve profitability Calculating real production costs Calculating real production costs Market conditions affecting price change Market conditions affecting price change Comparison of various marketing methods Comparison of various marketing methods

Forages / Pasture Management Soil testing and fertility Soil testing and fertility Forage species characteristics Forage species characteristics Grazing management/conservation Grazing management/conservation Making quality hay/hay analysis Making quality hay/hay analysis Forage mixtures/extending grazing season Forage mixtures/extending grazing season

Nutrition Nutrient requirements of beef cattle Nutrient requirements of beef cattle Factors affecting nutrient requirements Factors affecting nutrient requirements Nutrient content of forages and feeds Nutrient content of forages and feeds Winter/hay supplementation Winter/hay supplementation Supplemental feeding of grazing cattle Supplemental feeding of grazing cattle Mineral supplementation Mineral supplementation