Denise Schwab, interim IBC director column

August 2024

Stockmanship & Stewardship

With State Fair over and weaning just around the corner, now is a good time to join us for the NCBA Stockmanship & Stewardship event at Lancaster, Wisconsin, on August 28 & 29. NCBA is hosting three events across the country this summer, and we are fortunate to host one. Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin Extension, Beef Councils and Cattlemen Associations are all working together on this event.

During the event, producers can become BQA certified, network with fellow cattlemen and women, participate in hands-on demonstrations led by animal handling experts, and learn innovative management techniques. One of the highlights of the event is the Thursday morning stockmanship demonstration and chute-side sessions with Dr. Ron Gill from Texas A&M and Curt Pate. In addition to their traditional demonstration, they will also do a demonstration using dairy cross cattle with all their unique quirks!

Some of the other topics and speakers include: how sustainability & consumers influence supply chains by Allison Demer, Marketing & Public Relations Manager, Culver Franchising System; vitamin and mineral impacts on calf health from conception to harvest, Dr. Dathan Smerchek, ISU; hairy heel wart management, Dr. Doerte Doepfer, UW; winter manure management considerations to benefit water quality, Jay Solomon, UI; best management practices to optimize calf performance in the feedlot receiving phase, Dr. Grant Dewell, ISU. Wednesday evening we will tour the Lancaster Ag Research Farm and participate in demonstrations on pasture management for rotational grazing, fitness for transport, and trailer inspection and maintenance. Following dinner will be a panel of stewardship award winners including Iowa’s Justin Robbins and Dave Petty, and Jerry Huth from Wisconsin. Following the Thursday morning cattle demonstrations we’ll hear about carcass quality and defects. Following lunch Dr. Randie Culbertson will moderate a panel discussion on genetic selection for sustainability. Any producers who want to certify or renew their BQA can take the exam at the end of the event.

Stockmanship & Stewardship is sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Neogen, and the Beef Checkoff-funded National Beef Quality Assurance program. Local sponsors for this event include, Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association, Wisconsin Beef Council, UW Madison Division of Extension, Iowa State University Extension, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Beef Industry Council, Illinois Extension, Illinois Beef Association, Corteva, Axiota Animal Health, and Murray Dairy Farm & Refrigeration.

So take a break before harvest kicks in to improve your cattle handling skills and join us in Lancaster! For more information, complete agenda, fees and to register, visit www.StockmanshipAndStewardship.org. Cattle producers attending Stockmanship & Stewardship are eligible for reimbursement through the Rancher Resilience Grant. To apply for a grant to cover registration costs and two nights hotel, visit www.ncba.org/producers/rancher-resilience-grant.

The IBC at Iowa State University serves as the university’s extension program to cattle producers. Our center comprises a team of faculty and staff from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. We work together to develop and deliver the latest in research-based information to improve the profitability and vitality of Iowa’s beef industry. If you’d like to be notified of updates on progress of research projects or programs that might be coming to your area, please subscribe to our “Growing Beef” newsletter by following the link on our website, www.iowabeefcenter.org. If you have a question, use our “Ask our Experts” link. Also, feel free to call us at 515-294-BEEF or email us at beefcenter@iastate.edu. You can follow @iowabeefcenter on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.