Beef 101

Beef quality assurance and animal health

• Low stress animal handling techniques
• Different equipment requirements and facility designs for proper animal husbandry
• Conduct cattle health examination
• Vaccination protocols — symptoms and treatment options for sick cattle
• Assist in difficulties during calving

Bonus (offered for returning participants) — Advanced animal health workshop (reproductive anatomy and breeding protocols). A low stress sorting tool for participants.

Nutrition and resource management

• Basics of ruminant digestive system
• Nutritional requirements of cattle in the Pacific Northwest
• Basic ration formulation
• Knowledge on rotational grazing, proper stocking density for environmental sustainability
• Producing feed with your current facility (such as hay production) to control costs
• Tour of grazing and haying operations

Bonus — Free feed sample analysis for participants. A “grazing stick” to determine grass growth and stocking densities at home.

Cattle evaluation and beef fabrication

• Evaluate cattle based on muscle, fat/finish, structure, balance/eye appeal and volume
• Breeding selection and genetic selection information (expected progeny differences)
• Cattle body condition scoring
• Cattle harvest and fabrication demonstration; sensory evaluation of various beef cuts
• Tour a commercial, USDA–inspected beef packing plant in central Washington or southern Idaho

Bonus — Free genetic testing for three herd bulls or cows for participants.

Finance and marketing

• Different market strategies to improve overall sales
• Improve prices at livestock market auction
• Record keeping (QuickBooks, Excel)
• Generate statements such as profit and loss, cost of production per animal and on farm inventory
• Risk management (market dynamics, balancing assets with debt)
• Funding assistance (Farm Service Agency, AgWest, Natural Resources Conservation Service)

Bonus — Examples of enterprise budgets will be provided to build your own throughout the workshop. Resources on grant writing and requests for financial assistance.

Transitional planning workshop

• Information to guide a family succession plan
• Skills to communicate across generations and for conflict resolution

Bonus — Participants will be provided with resources to determine fair market values of operations in preparation for estate planning with senior generations.

Leadership and advocacy workshop

• Develop skills to communicate and promote the cattle industry
• Increase involvement with associations and leadership opportunities
• Share industry updates, policy changes and current issues

Bonus — Opportunities to practice advocacy via social media, in-person conversation and other platforms.

Networking and mentorship

• Beginning ranchers will meet experienced ranchers to find industry mentors (10+ years of ranching experience in the same region)
• Participants can shadow their mentor to see other facilities and learn other cattle management techniques
• Mentors will be a resource for participants to answer questions, making contacts