2024 Beef Cattle Production Plan of Work

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Calloway County CES

Title:
2024 Beef Cattle Production
MAP:
Production Agriculture
Agents Involved:
Matt Chadwick, Calyn Colston
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Forages
Situation:

There are over 40,000 beef cattle producers in Kentucky and over one million head of beef cows. Kentucky is the eighth largest beef state in the U.S. and has the largest herd east of the Mississippi River; Kentucky ranks third for beef cattle density (cows per square mile) in the US. Even with profitable prices it is important to educate beef producers on best management practices to: keep costs down, optimize income through management and marketing, be good stewards of the land and practice good animal welfare. These educational programs are targeted to assist our local Agriculture and Natural Resource agents to provide Kentucky beef producers with the tools necessary to be profitable and sustainable.

In Calloway County several young producers have shown interest in beef cattle production, while seasoned producers seek ways to make their operations more efficient and diversify their income streams. We will continue to build upon the success of the last program cycle by adding more complex and detailed management meetings. This cycle we will focus on increasing net profits, record keeping, and Community outreach for local beef products. In addition we also have several young people interested in farming as a full time profession, we will begin to incorporate them into production meetings as Jr. Cattlemen 


Long-Term Outcomes:

-Improved farm economic status

- Increase the sustainability and long term viability of the farm operation

-Producers save money by making better selection decisions.

-Improved herd quality

-Increased profits of operation

-Implementation of rotational grazing system.


Intermediate Outcomes:

-Implement practices to control the breeding season and enhance production efficiency

-Test forage, hay, and concentrated feeds for nutritional quality

-Utilize a complete mineral supplement program at all times

-Make EPD and selection decisions

-Implement practices to perform examinations of pelvic areas, reproductive tract scores, AI, pregnancy diagnosis, and/or animal evaluation

-Understanding of basic rotational grazing system

Initial Outcomes:

-Gain knowledge of the beef industry and information and tools to succeed in beef production

-Interpret forage analyses, feed and mineral bag tabs and to balance rations.

-Operate a computer program to balance rations.

-Increase awareness of the following practices:reproduction, genetics, nutrition, health, end product, general herd management, economics and marketing, physiology of forage growth, grazing math, shade and water, parasite control, animal health and disorders from forage, rotational grazing systems, temporary fencing, and forage types for grazing systems.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Gain knowledge of the beef industry and information and tools to succeed in beef production, for producers and consumers. 

Indicator: Adoption of basic adjustments and BMPs on the farm, increased Local Demand for Local Beef. 

Method: One on One conversations and interactions with producers and consumers. 

Timeline: 2024-2026


Intermediate Outcome: Test forage, hay, and concentrated feeds for nutritional quality, Consumers demand for Local Beef increases farm profits 

Indicator: Increased number of sample submitted, increased number of viable farms 

Method: Comparison to numbers of test submitted over timeline

Timeline: 2024-2026


Long-term Outcome: Increase the sustainability and long term viability of the farm operation

Indicator: Adoption of major practice adjustments such as rotational grazing, AWQ BMPs, forage improvement programs, and Herd improvement programs.

Method: One on one conversations

Timeline: 2024-2026

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Young/Beginning Cattle Producers

Project or Activity: Master Cattleman

Content or Curriculum: 10 sessions @ 4 hours ea.; Lecture & Hands-on basic principle topics: visual selection, AI, pregnancy palpation, cattle handling, vaccination techniques, etc.; occurs as regional multi-county groups every other year

Inputs: UK Beef Specialists, County Agents, Volunteers, Program materials, Locations to host programs, Program Partners/Sponsors, Program materials/handouts/ presentation material, Equipment/Computer/ Projector, Kentucky Beef Network

Date: Fall 2020/Winter 2024


Audience: Cattle Producers, Hay Producers, Horse Producer, Small Ruminent Producers

Project or Activity: KY Grazing Schools, Western KY Forage Field Day 

Content or Curriculum: KY Grazing School Curriculum

Inputs: UK Beef Specialists, County Agents, Volunteers, Program materials, Locations to host programs, Program Partners/Sponsors, Program materials/handouts/ presentation material, Equipment/Computer/ Projector, Kentucky Beef Network

Date: Spring/Summer annual


Audience: Producers, Farm Managers, Certified Crop Advisors, Private Agronomist, County Agents, Ag Retailers, Farm Workers, Industry Reps. General Public, Point of Sale Employees

Project or Activity: Quarterly Newsletter, Monthly Newspaper Articles

Content or Curriculum: Timely Information

Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, Publications, Research information, State and Federal Organizations

Date: ON-Going 


Audience: Cattle Producers

Project or Activity: Calloway County Cattlemen Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Researched based speaker and publications

Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, Publications, Research information, State and Federal Organizations

Date: Bi-Annually


Audience: Youth Livestock Producers 

Project or Activity: Calloway County Livestock Club 

Content or Curriculum: Researched based speaker and publications

Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, Publications, Research information, State and Federal Organizations

Date: Monthly 


Audience: Community 

Project or Activity: Local Farm Products Showcase 

Content or Curriculum: Researched Based flyers and information 

Inputs: UK Facilities, Local Farmers and Producers , Flyers, Researched Based Publications. 

Date: Winter 2024



Success Stories

Cattlemen's Annual Meeting Educational Program

Author: Matthew Chadwick

Major Program: Beef

Issue or SituationDuring previous educational meetings, capacity limitations of the extension meeting space created an uncomfortable environment for participants, with overcrowded seating and poor conditions for effective learning. This restricted interaction and reduced the overall quality of the educational experience, making it difficult for attendees to engage fully with the material.Outreach or Educational Program ResponseTo address the issue of overcrowding and improve the learning environ

Full Story
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