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Beef/Cattle Extension Program
Extension initiates Advanced Youth Market Beef Program
| "The
main focus is to expand youth knowledge of animal
science, consumer demands and the competitive cattle
feeding industry. " |
by Marko Manoukian, Phillips County MSU Extension Agent
The current timing of county fairs is reflective of
the cattle industry of the 1920's and 1930's when fairs
were developed, yet the cattle feeding industry has
experienced significant change over the last 30 years.
Cattle today are weaned 200 to 300 pounds heavier than
some years past, due to earlier breeding, cross breeding
and selection for larger framed cattle.
The MSU Extension Service is proposing a new Advanced
Youth Market Beef Project that is better aligned with
current beef genetics and the cattle feeding industry
of today. The main focus is to expand youth knowledge
of animal science, consumer demands and the competitive
cattle feeding industry.
Goals for this program are to provide advanced youth
beef education in the following areas: Economics Genetic
selection Nutrition Health Record keeping/data interpretation,
and Beef Quality Assurance Students between 12 to 19
years of age are and the project requires a pen of three
market Cattle must be weighed locally by Dec. 15, 2003.
Calves will be fed until June 1. Target weights should
be approximately 1,100 to 1,300 pounds 0.4 inches of
back fat (low Choice Quality Grade Yield Grades between
1 and 3).
Calves will be judged live, and youth are asked participate
in the judging.
Calves will then be shipped to a commercial processing
facility and sold on a quality and yield grade basis.
Participants will be paid carcass value after all expenses
are deducted.
Financial assistance is available through the Montana
Department of Agriculture Junior Agricultural Loan.
Extension agents and FFA instructors have information
about the loan program
For more information about the Advanced Market Beef
Program, contact Marko Manoukian at 406- 654-2543 or
talk to your local Extension agent.
Beef:
Questions & Answers is a joint project between
MSU Extension and the Montana Beef Council. This column
informs producers about current consumer education,
promotion and research projects funded through the
$1 per head checkoff. For more information, contact
the Montana Beef Council at (406) 442-5111 or at beefcncl@mt.net
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