2008 Year in Review

Beef Seminars Set

Two seminars in beef sire selection and management will be offered later this month, sponsored by University of Illinois Extension.

"The most important decisions made each year in the cow-calf enterprise are the selection, health, and management of the herd sire," said Dave Seibert, U of I Extension animal systems educator. "Not only does he contribute 50 percent of the genetic makeup of the offspring, but he also can have a major impact on the calf crop from birth through harvest."

Speakers at the seminars will include a local practitioner, as well as industry and university representatives. Both seminars are on Jan. 29. The Mattoon seminar begins at 9 a.m. at Lake Land Community College. At 4 p.m., the Petersburg seminar will be held at the River Bank Lodge.

Among the topics covered in the seminars are "EPDs--What They Are, What They Aren't, and How Can I Use Them?" "Understanding and Incorporating Physical Traits into Sire Selection," and "Management of the Herd Bull with Emphasis on Yearling Bulls."

Co-sponsors for the seminars are Fort Dodge Animal Health, the Illinois Angus Association, and local Cattlemen's Associations. More detail about programs at the specific sites can be obtained by contact Seibert at (309) 694-7501.

Reservations should be made by Jan. 24 and should go through the host county Extension office. For the Mattoon event, contact Sharon Kuhns, Coles County Extension director at (271) 345-7034. Registration for that event is $15 with late and at-door registration $20.

For the Petersburg event, contact Diane Duewer, Menard County Extension director, at (217) 632-7491. Pre-registration is $10 with late and at-door registration $15.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
January 11, 2008