Auburn University’s College of Agriculture is gearing up to host a national event sharing the cattle industry’s best techniques for proper cattle handling.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Stockmanship & Stewardship educational experience will be held Aug. 12-13 at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
Organized by the Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn, Stockmanship & Stewardship will feature low-stress cattle handling demonstrations, Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) educational sessions, facility design sessions and industry updates available nowhere else.
“In today’s world, no matter the beef production system you are involved with, stockmanship and stewardship are more important than ever,” said Curt Pate, Stockmanship & Stewardship clinician and cattle handling expert. “This quality program combines age-old skills with modern practices to improve your bottom line and quality of life.”
The two-day event will kick off Aug. 12 with the farm production tours at Collins Farm and RL&M Cattle Company in Cusseta, Alabama, which will highlight value added programs, selection methods, local processing facilities, product marketing tools for both the seedstock breeder and commercial cattlemen.
A welcome reception will follow at Lazenby Farms in Auburn featuring dinner, silent auction and keynote address by Nic Cornelison of Lake Majestik Farms in Flat Rock, Alabama. The Cornelison family has strong roots in the southeastern United States and are premiere Brangus breeders.
Saturday will feature classroom sessions including both live cattle demonstrations and on the rail in the Lambert-Powell Meats Lab with hands-on opportunities for attendees. Educational topics include niche beef production, tools for improved sustainability, forage management, animal health, risk management within cow calf operations, advocacy and reproductive management. A unique program designed for teen junior cattlemen members will also be offered, and all attendees can become BQA certified.
The Stockmanship & Stewardship website has more information, complete agenda, fees and registration details. Full registration includes all events and meals. Student pricing and one-day registration options are available.
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 the NCBA website.
