The Cumberland Gap region has a sizeable cattle industry.  Due to the geographical location and resources, it is often hard for producers to attend conferences and other larger Extension Programs. With the creation of Lincoln Memorial University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, the area now has facilities to hold such events.  Producers travel between the Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia to obtain resources and often farm in more than one state.  Collaborating with the adjoining states allows these farmers to see Extension as unified resource and receive the benefit of each state’s strengths.

The Bell County ANR agent in cooperation with extension agents from southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, and northeast Tennessee and faculty from Lincoln Memorial University held the first Cumberland Gap Cattle Conference in 2015 with great success.   This year’s conference was held on February 3rd with 125 participants from Hancock, Hawkins, Claiborne, and Grainger Counties in Tennessee; Wise, Lee, and Floyd Counties in Virginia; and Harlan, Knox, Whitley, and Bell Counties in Kentucky.  Topics included vaccination, castration, meat quality, bull health and EPD’s, stocking rates, and hay economics.  Herd sizes ranged from less than 24 head to over 300 head.  Presentations were made by specialists from UK, UT, VT, and LMU.

Utilizing the clicker system for evaluation, information regarding producer habits and potential for change were collected with highlights below.  Of the producers in attendance, 41% had experienced bull breeding difficulty issues, 70% would now consider conducting bull soundness evaluations, and as a result of this conference 82% plan to change their bull health plan.  In regards to bull genetics the participants’ level of knowledge increased from 57% with good or better knowledge of EPDs at the beginning to 87% with good or better knowledge of EPDs at the end of the conference.  Approximately 58% said they had changed their mind on the price they were willing to pay for a bull based on what they learned at this conference. The presentation on optimal hay feeding days and stocking rates saw 85% of participants gaining a better understanding of the topic with 72% willing to make long term adjustments to their system. The vaccination session resulted in 87% gaining a better understanding of the need for proper injection sites. The meat quality discussion caused 86% to gain knowledge of proper meat cutting techniques.  Lastly, 47% said they would make changes to their castration program.  Overall, 89% reported they would make at least some changes to their farm management due to the knowledge gained at the 2018 Cumberland Gap Beef Conference.