Jeff Lehmkuhler, Michelle Arnold, Nick Roy and Jonathon Oakes

Kentucky’s beef industry ranks in the top 10 nationally for number of beef cows.  With a very limited cattle finishing industry, most beef calves are marketed as feeder cattle.  The ability to add value to feeder calves through applying management and adding weight to light calves offers the backgrounding and stocker sectors opportunities in the region.  Most educational programs are focused on the cow-calf sector with limited educational programs focused on the management of feeder cattle in the region.  Additionally, in previous surveys of the backgrounding / stocker sector animal health management and nutrition are always reported as the top areas producers are seeking additional knowledge.  Working collectively, we developed an educational program focused on the management of high risk feeder calves.  Dr. John Richeson, professor at West Texas A&M University, has researched a variety of management approaches to reduce morbidity and improve efficiency of production of high-risk feeder cattle upon arrival to feedlots.  Working with agents and industry partners, we developed a 3-hour educational program with Dr. Richeson providing two informative presentations on health and nutritional management of newly received feeder calves.  Continuing education for veterinarians was also made possible as an online opportunity.  Industry partners also gave short presentations on products/services offered locally.  More than 65 people attended the program.  A post-program survey was shared with agents to send to participants.  Only 10 participants returned filled out the survey with only 9 fully completing the questions.  Based on these responses (<15% response rate), the participants managed 999 head of cattle on average.  This was skewed by two participants that managed 2,500 and 5,000 head and removing these two operations resulted in an average of 311 head managed by these producers.   Using a 10-point Likert scale, respondents rated the program an average of 6.4 in regard to usefulness with a 7 = very useful.  When asked if they gained knowledge from attending the program the mean value was 7 = somewhat agree.  Participants were also asked if they intended to make management changes based on the program with a third indicating they were extremely likely to make changes and another 44% were somewhat likely to make changes suggested that the information presented will lead to management changes on several operations.  Overall, this program reached underserved beef sectors, the backgrounding and stocker operations, leading to increased awareness of managing newly received feeder calves that will lead to implementation of management change.