NDSU Feedlot School set for Jan. 23-24

Cattle producers, feeders, backgrounders, feed industry personnel, animal health-care suppliers and others will have an opportunity to learn more about feedlot production, nutrition, waste management and marketing during the annual North Dakota State University Feedlot School set for Jan. 23-24 at NDSU's Carrington Research Extension Center.

 "Feeding cattle is a decades-old business with lots of new techniques," says Karl Hoppe, area NDSU Extension Service livestock specialist at the center.

 "Making cattle feeding profitable is usually a result of doing many things right, not just one thing better. The Feedlot School helps identify the areas for improvement, ranging from feed bunk management to health to business planning to marketing."

 Feedlot school topics will include

 * Animal nutritional requirements and feeding

 * Implant technologies

 * Feed additives

 * Ration formulation

 * Bunk reading and feed delivery

 * Livestock stewardship/beef quality assurance

 * Facility development and management

 * Disease diagnosis, treatments and health programs

 * Differences in feeding profitability

 * Manure and nutrient management

 * Carcass quality and marketing on the grid

 The school also will include a tour of a commercial feedlot and the Research Extension Center's livestock facilities.

 Faculty from NDSU's Animal Sciences Department, and the Carrington and North Central Research Extension Centers, as well as others who have extensive experience working with Northern Plains feedlots, are instructors for the school.

 "The regional cattle experts who teach at the school provide a good overview of

management for North Dakota feeders, and the outreach or interaction with the

participants continues for years after the school," Hoppe said.

 The registration fee is $150 per person or $200 for two people from the same operation, which includes all meals and a 3-inch, three-ring feedlot school binder. Participants also receive a copy of the Cow Bytes feed ration balancing computer program.

 The deadline to register is Jan. 19. The fee does not include lodging.

 Participants must make their own lodging arrangements. Lodging is available at the Chieftain Conference Center, 701- 652-3131; Carrington Inn and Suites, 701-

652-3982; or Cobblestone Inn, 701-652-3000.

 For more information about the course or to register, contact Joel Lemer, an agent in NDSU Extension's Foster County office, at 701- 652-2581 or [email protected].