Procurement and marketing factors of bred heifers.

During the COVID Pandemic, the UK Beef IRM Team created an education video series designed to engage new beef producers. This video series effort was coordinated by Dr. Les Anderson and involved 10 Extension faculty in the CAFE. Thirty-two videos were created discussing all topics commonly faced by new landowners who are trying to decide if they will become beef cattle producers. The first several videos discussed a variety of topics including where to obtain reliable information, land maintenance, and enterprise analysis. Beef Cattle Specialists discussed the opportunities and challenges of establishing a grazing operation and the potentials for profit if the landowner chose to develop heifers as an enterprise. The video series then discussed methods to find heifers for purchase, how to price them, and factors impacting the decision of which heifers to buy. Once purchased, rotational grazing systems were demonstrated, and the heifers were observed regularly as they grew and developed. Other videos discussed heifer reproductive checks, health, and how to artificially inseminate heifers. Heifers were followed until they sold, and the profit/loss was discussed.

This video series was watched on our YouTube Channel by 2,105 people in 2021. I had 20 emails and 15 phone calls from people that were following the series. This series led to 4 new cattle producers and was well received by the viewers who communicated with me.