Register soon for Cyclone Cattle Feeder Days
7/30/26
AMES, Iowa – Cattle feeders face constant change, risk and challenges. The Cyclone Cattle Feeders Days will help reduce some of the questions feeders have. The four programs, provided by Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University are designed to help answer questions feeders have on market volatility, new technologies to improve productivity, and current research topics. Programs are scheduled for Aug. 24-27 and will be held in four locations in Iowa.
Market volatility has always been a challenge in the cattle feeding industry, but with the current high prices for fed cattle the amount of risk from the time of purchase to finish can be several thousand dollars. Cody Weitzenkamp, market advisor for Balance4Ward will provide a market outlook as well as discuss strategies to help alleviate market volatiles and protect investments.
Manure is an inherent by-product of cattle feeding, so feeders need to optimize the amount and value of manure to benefit the cropping component of the operation. Dr. Dan Andersen, ISU Extension engineering specialist, will share strategies on managing the value of manure in different systems.
Dr. Aimee Lutz, ISU Extension feedlot specialist and director of the Iowa Beef Center, will share an overview of some of the opportunities to incorporate new and current technologies into cattle feeding operations. She will also discuss steps to consider when exploring new technologies and how they can benefit your operation.
Two researchers from the ISU animal science department, Dr. Stephanie Hansen and Dr. Nathan Smerchek, along with their graduate students, have kept the ISU Beef Nutrition Farm full and busy on new research projects. They will share results from several of their recent research projects including feeding Experior and vitamin and mineral supplementation impact on carcass quality, and how cattle feeders can benefit from ongoing research.
Rounding out the program will be David Trowbridge from Gregory Feedyards in Tabor, IA. David has tested and incorporated multiple new technologies into his feedyard in southwest Iowa including the ability to evaluate individual feed and water intakes and daily weights, and he will share both the benefits he has seen from them as well as discuss how he decided to add or not add them to his feedyard.
The same program will be held at all four locations, starting at 10 a.m. and concluding at 3 p.m.
- Monday, Aug. 24 – Swan Lake Education Center, 22676 Swan Lake Trail Drive, Carroll
- Tuesday, Aug. 25 – Jones County Extension Youth Development Center, 800 N Maple Street, Monticello
- Wednesday, Aug. 26 – Public Safety Center, 432 Main, Osage
- Thursday, Aug. 27 – Sioux County Extension and Outreach Office, 400 Central Avenue NW, Suite 700, Orange City
Registration
Registration is $20 per person and is due by Aug. 17 through the hosting county extension office.
Each program will include a complimentary meal and time to interact with speakers and program sponsors: Balance4Ward, C-Lock, Elanco Animal Health, Merck Animal Health, Iowa Beef Checkoff, Performance Livestock Analytics and the Carroll, Jones, Mitchell and Sioux County Cattlemen’s Associations.
See additional information, including a complete agenda and registration, on the Iowa Beef Center website.
For more information, contact Wertz-Lutz at aimeewl@iastate.edu, Russ Euken, reuken@iastate.edu, or Denise Schwab at dschwab@iastate.edu.
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The Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University was established in 1996 with the goal of supporting the growth and vitality of the state’s beef cattle industry. It comprises faculty and staff from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, and works to develop and deliver the latest research-based information regarding the beef cattle industry. For more information about IBC, visit www.iowabeefcenter.org.
Contacts:
Aimee Wertz-Lutz, aimeewl@iastate.edu, Russ Euken, reuken@iastate.edu, Denise Schwab, dschwab@iastate.edu.
