According to the 2022 National Beef Audit, large improvements in quality assurance of Beef Cattle since the previous beef audit.  However, there are still lost opportunities in marketing cows and bulls which are the foundation of the herd.  The audit lists areas of improvement to help sustain the cattle industry which include managing cattle to minimize defects, observing the overall health of cattle and marketing cattle in a timely manner.

The extension agents in Boyd, Carter, Greenup and Lawrence Counties worked together with University of Kentucky Extension Beef Specialist to offer Master Cattleman Course.  The course was condensed to six sessions focusing on all aspects of the beef industry from herd health, reproduction, nutrition, forage management and marketing.

Beef Producers from all counties participated which resulted in sixty-five individuals attending the sessions.  Participants were surveyed to determine if changes were made in any of the areas that the sessions offered.   

Results from the survey indicated that 90 percent concluded that improvements were made in two or more categories.   While 78 percent reported changes in beef nutrition and genetics.