Edmonson County is home to nearly 17,000 head of beef cattle. Most of the available land in the county is best suited for pasture and hay production. Successful beef production depends upon many factors, several of which producers have no control over, such as weather and market volatility. Of the ones which that they do have some control, herd bull selection is a critical part of building a strong, sustainable beef herd. Many factors play a role in the choice of a sire. Due to this, and with input from producers, the Edmonson County Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources began a class for producers that tried to encompass all the factors that go into making that choice. 

In the past three years, nearly 80 producers have attended the Choosing a Bull class in Edmonson County. Through written evaluations, producer office visits, and farm visits, 85% of attendants have realized better herd management, calf vigor, and breeding soundness due to better bull selection. Many said that they had never considered all the steps necessary and in the future would continue to do a better job of evaluating their exact needs for building a better herd through bull selection.