Penn State Extension to host 'Beef Cattle Short Course' in October


UNIVERSITY PARK — Beef cattle producers interested in learning about the cattle meat production process may want to attend “Beef Cattle Short Course,” a two-day workshop hosted by Penn State Extension with support from the Pennsylvania Beef Producers Working Group.

The event will occur from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, and from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at various locations within Penn State’s University Park campus, including the Snider Agricultural Arena and the Penn State Meat Laboratory.

Tara Felix, extension beef specialist and associate professor of animal science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, notes that this year’s program will focus on marketing the final product of the production chain — beef. The event will begin with an evaluation of live cattle. Instructors will walk participants through a class of cattle and outline expectations of that class on the rail.

Following the live cattle evaluation, participants can learn about nutrition and management concepts for cattle through workshops and guest speakers, including Robbi Pritchard, owner of Annawan Cattle LLC in South Dakota.

Finally, the cattle that were evaluated live on day one will be evaluated hanging on the rail on day two. Jonathan Campbell, meat extension specialist and associate professor of animal science in the college, will discuss the yield and quality of each animal and demonstrate breaking down the carcass.

Sessions will cover:

 -How to feed cattle.

 -How to read a forage analysis.

 -How to grade beef cattle carcass.

 -What cuts of beef come from a beef cattle carcass.

Space is limited to 60 participants, so preregistration is required. Participants must register by Oct. 6. The registration fee of $50 covers dinner on day one and lunch both days.

More information is available on the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/beef-short-course.