Extension agents, researchers, and specialists strive to provide a multitude of in-person and virtual programming efforts to reach stakeholders throughout the state to employ research-based information regarding best management practices for livestock producers to improve environmental sustainability, financial management and the economic sustainability of their operations. Various extension programs offered by the LSU AgCenter are listed below. To learn more about these programs, visit www.LSUAgCenter.com/beefcattle. In addition to these, featured workshops and local parish programs are also provided as needed or requested by producers.
The Beginner Cattleman Program is designed for producers with 10 years or less of experience raising beef cattle and for people interested in starting to raise beef cattle. Participants need access to a computer as this is a hybrid course featuring videos in addition to five in-person workshops. Workshops include introduction to the beef cattle industry, facilities and animal handling, forage and pasture management, nutrition and reproduction, cow-calf management, and marketing and economics. This program is hosted every other year at a different location throughout the state.
Contact Ashley Edwards at akedwards@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Since 2004, this foundation extension program has been offered in each of the LSU AgCenter’s regions throughout the state. It was developed to help beef cattle and forage producers enhance their production and profitability. Participants must complete 30 hours, which includes 10 three-hour blocks of instruction, to become a certified Louisiana Master Cattleman. The core curriculum is divided into 10 beef cattle and forage topics: animal health, nutrition, reproduction, breeding and selection, animal handling, beef quality assurance, pasture agronomy, weed management, economics and marketing, and end products.
To find a Master Cattleman Program in your area, please contact your local extension agent or contact Ashley Edwards at akedwards@agcenter.lsu.edu.
The Advanced Master Cattleman Program serves as a subsequent course to the Master Cattleman Program. It is designed to provide in-depth discussions and presentations on various topics and includes hands-on work. Producers must successfully complete the Master Cattleman Program prior to registering for Advanced Master Cattleman. Classes cover topics including bull selection, beef quality assurance, financial management, soil fertility, forage management and diet formulation. Outdoor demonstrations and hands-on training feature sprayer calibration, weed identification, grazing management and heifer pelvic area measurement. This program is hosted every other year at a different location throughout the state.
Contact Ashley Edwards at akedwards@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Field days continue to be offered throughout the state at different times each year. These feature a handful of presentations from agents, specialists, and guest speakers. To find field days in your area, please contact your local extension agent or visit the link provided below.
Find your local extension office at www.LSUAgCenter.com/portals/our_offices/parishes.
Artificial Insemination Schools are held annually at the Hill Farm Research Station in Homer each spring and at the Dean Lee Research and Extension Center in Alexandria each fall. The course is three days of classroom and hands-on practice. It is designed to teach producers how to utilize artificial insemination in their own herd. Classes can only hold 15-20 participants, so we recommend reaching out ahead of time to be placed on the interest list.
Contact Lee Faulk at afaulk@agcenter.lsu.edu for the Hill Farm class or Ashley Edwards at akedwards@agcenter.lsu.edu for the Dean Lee class.
This one-day class is held at the Hill Farm Research Station each October. It is jointly taught with local, large animal veterinarians. The clinic primarily focuses on teaching palpation and blood collection for pregnancy determination assays. However, ultrasound is also discussed and demonstrated. It is important to understand that it is illegal to determine or diagnose pregnancy status in animals that do not belong to you according to Louisiana’s Veterinary Practice Act. For this reason, the purpose of this class is to teach producers methods of pregnancy determination solely in their own herds. This program can only accommodate 15 producers, so we recommend reaching out ahead of time to be placed on the interest list.
Contact Lee Faulk at afaulk@agcenter.lsu.edu or Ashley Edwards at akedwards@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Annual Breeding Soundness Exam Days for producers are hosted in conjunction with local veterinarians at different locations and times throughout the year. These events allow producers to bring bulls in for assessment of their health and reproductive potential prior to the breeding season. Veterinarians perform a breeding soundness exam, general physical exam and offer vaccinations and testing for trichomoniasis. To find a Breeding Soundness Exam Day in your area, please contact your local extension agent or visit the link provided below.
Find your local extension office at www.LSUAgCenter.com/portals/our_offices/parishes.
This forage-based heifer development program was created to assist producers with developing sound replacement females for their operations. Currently the program is only held annually at the Hill Farm Research Station. Heifers weighing 550-800 pounds arrive around Oct. 1 and are fed a maintenance ration in addition to grazing remaining warm-season pastures. Once cool-season pastures are ready (a mix of ryegrass and cereal rye), heifers are moved and continue to graze. Heifers remain until May or when there is no longer adequate ryegrass for grazing. Data on growth, temperament and other measures are collected and shared with producers throughout the program. The option of having heifers artificially inseminated and exposed to a cleanup bull is also available. Approximately 75 total heifers will be accepted for the program annually. There are vaccination and other health management requirements for heifers enrolled in the program. Costs include a $100 registration fee and a cost per head per day which varies based on the year. A separate fee is charged for breeding.
Contact Ashley Edwards at akedwards@agcenter.lsu.edu.
The Grazing School is comprised of five individual workshops that are designed to provide information and hands-on experience on a variety of different topics associated with forage production and utilization in livestock operations. Specialists and agents will discuss establishment of forages, forage nutritive value and testing, grazing management practices, soil health and more. While the primary species discussed is beef cattle, lectures on how to incorporate small ruminants and horses into grazing management plans are also included.
Contact Kurt Guidry at kguidry@agcenter.lsu.edu or Marcelo Vedovatto at mvedovatto@agcenter.lsu.edu.
This online program is designed to maintain engagement and bring pertinent information, further allowing agents to present research-based information, timely management recommendations, and industry news to clientele throughout the state. This is achieved through the creation of seasonal webinars and bi-monthly news updates in both video and podcast formats. Find the Beef Brunch Educational Series on your favorite podcast platform, the “LSU AgCenter – Livestock” channel on YouTube, or on the LSU AgCenter Beef Cattle website.
Contact Ashley Edwards at akedwards@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Website: www.LSUAgCenter.com/beefcattle
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For more information regarding any of these programs, please contact Ashley Edwards at akedwards@agcenter.lsu.edu or 512-818-5476.