Register now: Backgrounding for Quality seminar
by Laura Nelson
Everybody is paying more for cattle now than ever before.
That should be reason enough to attend the “Backgrounding for Quality” field day, says Gary Fike, of Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB).
Set for Thursday, March 8 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., the event aims to help stocker operators reach profitability by focusing on their output. White Brothers Cattle Co. will host attendees at their ranch south of Chickasha, Okla.
“With tight feeder calf supplies, rising feed costs and all the other market dynamics, backgrounders may have to manage cattle a little differently than they have in the past,” says Fike.
The speakers will provide data and ideas.
Darrell Peel, Oklahoma State University (OSU) economist, kicks off the program with a market outlook.
Then, three rotating breakout sessions will cover management and marketing practices:
- “Backgrounding best practices,” by Mike Nichols, Pfizer Animal Health, and Chickasha veterinarian Bruss Horn
- “Managing stockers for a quality endpoint,” by Gerald Horn, OSU
- “What a feeder wants,” by Dale Moore, Cattleman’s Choice Feedyard
Pfizer’s Greg Quakenbush will cap off the program shedding light on industry myths with his presentation, “The truth about…”
“We have some of the foremost experts on stocker research and education lined up,” Fike says. “They’re good at stating the hard facts, comparing numbers and giving practical advice.”
The field day, sponsored by OSU, CAB and Pfizer, is free, but interested stockers must RSVP by Friday, Feb. 24 to Marilyn Conley. Call 800-225-2333, ext. 298, or e-mail her at mconley@certifiedangusbeef.com.
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