Cattle Trails Cow-Calf Conference Jan. 14 in Wichita Falls

WICHITA FALLS - Coming out of the drought and returning to fundamentally sound production will be the focus of the Cattle Trails Cow-Calf Conference Jan. 14 in Wichita Falls. The event is a joint effort between the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. This annual conference provides cow-calf producers the most up-to-date information on topics that influence cattle profits, said Stan Bevers, AgriLife Extension economist in Vernon.

The slogan of the annual conference is “Driving your operation to profits,” but Bevers said the last few drought-influenced years have made it pretty tough to generate any profit. However, many areas of northern Texas and southern Oklahoma have received enough moisture for ranchers to consider re-stocking and returning to normal production practices. “Returning to ‘normal’ production will require a new level of understanding and pencil pushing,” Bevers said. The conference, which alternates between Texas and Oklahoma each year, will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the MPEC Center, 1000 5th St. in Wichita Falls. Registration is $25 per person and includes educational materials, a copy of conference materials, a noon meal and refreshments. Additional information can be obtained at http://agrisk.tamu.edu.

Conference topics and speakers will include:

• External Parasite Control for the Cow Herd – Dr. Justin Talley, Oklahoma State University associate professor and Extension livestock entomologist, Stillwater, Okla.
• Merging Supplement Nutrition with Pasture Conditions for Optimal Performance, Dr. Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, Amarillo.
• Getting All You Can: What the 2014 Cattle Markets Hold, Dr. David Anderson, AgriLife Extension livestock marketing specialist, College Station.
• New Insurance Products for Cattlemen, Bevers.
• Evaluating Replacement Female Alternatives for Your Herd, Jason Pace, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension economist.
• Biosecurity: What Every Rancher Should Know and Do, Dr. Tom Hairgrove, AgriLife Extension program coordinator for livestock and food systems, College Station.

“Ranchers are ready to get back to being ranchers,” Bevers said. “They should start preparing their response to improving weather.”

Industry sponsors also will have their products on display during the event.

Producers are encouraged to preregister by contacting their local AgriLife Extension county agent, or Allison Ha at 940-552-9941, extension 225 or allison.ha@ag.tamu.edu.