Cow-calf production focus of 2016 beef conference Aug. 13 in Auburn

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The Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn University will host its 2016 Beef Cattle Conference Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Ham Wilson Livestock Arena on the Auburn campus. The conference, themed "Playing above the Curve: Innovations for the Cow-Calf Producer," will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Animal sciences faculty have worked with representatives of Alabama's beef cattle industry to put together a conference program covering all aspects of the cattle business, said Don Mulvaney, animal sciences professor and 2016 conference chair.

The beef industry ranks as Alabama's second-largest agricultural industry, behind poultry, and contributes half a billion dollars annually to the state's economy. Cattle are produced in every county in the state on a total of 25,000 cattle farms that range in size from several hundred cattle to fewer than 20. The majority of Alabama cattle farms are cow-calf operations that ship feeder calves to out-of-state feedlots for finishing.

"The conference will feature presentations by a number of faculty who are involved in our research, teaching and outreach programs," Mulvaney said. "It will be an excellent place for beef producers in the state and region to learn how to rebuild their herds wisely."

The morning portion of the conference will focus on heifer development, selection, reproduction, breeding and health. The afternoon sessions will spotlight active and emerging results of research in the department and will include updates on forage production and utilization, residual feed intake and efficiency, meat safety and food security. Conference attendees will receive a departmental report and summaries of conference presentations.

Wayne Greene, head of the Department of Animal Sciences, said the program reflects a collection of research that either has been conducted or is underway and that is aligned to sustain animal agriculture.

"The viability and long-term sustainability of animal agriculture is crucial to both the Alabama economy and the well-being of the state's citizens," Greene said. "The mission of our department is to help producers take advantage of innovations and practical concepts that will ensure success now and in the future. This year's program will be valuable to cattlemen in all phases of the industry, especially cow-calf producers, in the Southeast and beyond."

The research and outreach initiatives that will be discussed at the conference are supported by the College of Agriculture at Auburn, the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

The registration fee, which includes lunch, is $50 per person through July 25 and $100 thereafter. To register online, go to https://mell-base.uce.auburn.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=C160813 and submit the completed form along with credit card information. To submit the form by mail or email, print and complete the form and send, with payment, to Donald Mulvaney, 116 Upchurch Hall, Auburn, AL 36849 or mulvadr@auburn.edu.

Mulvaney strongly encourages early registration due to limited capacity and robust demand.

For more information on the conference program, registration or corporate partnership opportunities, contact the Department of Animal Sciences at 334-844-1521 or jmh0046@auburn.edu.

Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.