Pasture-based finishing of beef cattle has been a focus area of mine the last few years.  I led a team at the University of Kentucky and University of Missouri that developed a 50-page publication on the topic “Producer’s Guide to Pasture-Based Beef Production”, where I was the lead author and editor.  It is the only one of its kind in extension nationally, and has generated considerable interest.   Around 4500 copies have been professional printed ($3-4 per copy depending on order size) for distribution in KY, TN, VA, and other states.

Comments related to the publication have been positive.  Here is review from an NRCS specialist, William Walker, in Tennessee:

“The information in the publication covers a lot of topics that all tie together into improved management.  It really does a good job in my opinion of tying together many small pieces of meat production in our region. I wish I could have every beef producer in the county read it”

The University of Tennessee contacted me about doing a series of workshops in June 2017 in their state on finishing cattle on pasture, which I ended up doing.  A week before the workshops Richard Moyer from Castlewood Virginia who was attending emailed the conference organizer to make sure they knew this publication was out there and recommended that it be handed out.  

“You may be aware of UKY work in this area "Producer's Guide to Grass-Based Beef Finishing".  This is detailed and lengthy, Halich, et al, but useful for me.”

The organizer emailed back saying they already had the publication and were going to be distributing it at the conference.  He also informed Richard that I would be presenting at the workshops.

Those workshops went well.Here is a post-conference email sent to the organizer by a participant, Paul Lehrer, and subsequently forwarded to me:

“Thanks again for putting this conference together.  It was very informative.  Greg Halich’s experience as both a university guy and a producer enabled him to present information in a way that was especially helpful…I’ll be looking forward to attending again in the future”.

Here is another email sent directly to me from one of the attendees, Kevin Krause:

“Thanks so much for the outstanding training you provided last week at the "Grass Fed Beef" seminar in Athens, TN!  Overall, it was the best seminar I've attended on the topic and your briefings were the cornerstone to the entire day”.   

I had other similar verbal comments right after the workshops.  

Cattle farmers looking to transition to this enterprise came from TN, KY, AL, and VA.  It was also a successful collaborative effort between the University of Tennessee and the University of Kentucky.  As resources continue to dwindle for extension programming, such collaborative efforts will be increasingly needed.