Next month Colorado State University will host the Range Beef Cow Symposium for the first time since 2007. The event, which occurs every two years, rotates among four universities – CSU, South Dakota State University, the University of Nebraska and the University of Wyoming. This year, CSU’s Department of Animal Sciences will hold the event Nov. 17-19 at The Ranch in Loveland, Colo.
Best practices
“This event is a resource for range beef cow producers to learn best practices and to network,” said Kevin Pond, head of the CSU Department of Animal Sciences. “We are eager to showcase our faculty expertise as well as to hear from producers and industry leaders on a range of topics, including consumer behavior, the future of the beef industry and animal welfare.”
Part of what makes the symposium such a unique and informative event is the broad spectrum of topics covered by speakers. Areas of focus include marketing, beef genetics and herd health/management. Among the event’s most popular features are “Bull Pen Sessions,” in which attendees and speakers can engage in an informal discussion of topics through lively question-and-answer sessions.
“With the sudden drop in the cattle market, it is more important than ever to implement best practices to maintain profitability,” said Lee Leachman, partner at Leachman Cattle of Colorado. “The Range Beef Cow Symposium is the most useful and practical meeting this year. Best of all, attendees will rub shoulders with hundreds of the best ranchers in the high plains.”
Leachman will take part in a symposium panel titled “Cow Feed Efficiency Unknowns, including Utilization of Range Forages.”
Wide range of topics
There will be a young producers pre-symposium networking reception that will take place on Nov. 16, and the symposium itself will feature a panel discussion titled “How Can Young People get into the Cattle Business?” Also noteworthy on the symposium program will be a free Beef Quality Assurance certification featuring a live cattle demonstration by stockmanship expert Curt Pate. Throughout the run of the symposium, there will be an on-site trade show which will include displays and booths from more than 75 industry representatives.
“I know that I am looking forward to the presentations from all of our speakers,” said Pond. “I can think of few other events featuring such a wide range of topics presented by industry and academic leaders in the range beef cow field.”
Registration
There is an early registration (reduced fee) deadline of Oct. 26. For a full schedule of events, online registration and information on speakers and hotel accommodations, visit the Range Beef Cow Symposium website at www.rangebeefcow.com, or contact Jason Ahola (970-491-3312; jason.ahola@colostate.edu) or Libby Bigler (970-491-2333; libby.bigler@colostate.edu).
