2022 Kentucky Backgrounding Short Course 

Jeff Lehmkuhler, Katie VanValin, Michelle Arnold, Jimmy Henning, Kenny Burdine, Morgan Hayes

The second Kentucky backgrounding short course was held December 15 & 16, 2022 at the University of Kentucky C. Oran Little Agriculture Research Center Beef Unit.  The program enrollment was 26 individuals and levels of experience varied greatly among the group.  The backgrounding short course involved 10 different speakers covering a diverse range of subject matter that included health, marketing, nutrition, forages and confinement housing.   Over the 15 hours, participants had the opportunity to interact with speakers and learn specific information related to backgrounding feeder cattle. Participants were asked to complete a post-program questionnaire for each of the days and 18 questionnaires for each day were turned in.   Knowledge and awareness increased on average for each topic presented by 1.5 to 1.6 on a 5-point scale indicating the participants gained significant knowledge from attending the program.  When asked about the usefulness of the program to their operation, 94-100% indicated the program to be useful to very useful.  Participants were asked what they believed the potential economic impact from the knowledge gained would have on their operations, the average was $2,300 per operation and if extrapolated to 26 participants this would be $52,900.  Granted this economic impact may not be fully realized, but rather one may interpret the responses to indicate the program was found to provide some value to their operation through the knowledge they gained.  A total of $690 was collected in registration fees as cost-share and Elanco provided in-kind contributions by providing implant trays, products for demonstration and covered the expenses for Dr. Falkner which was an estimated value of $1,000.