The Fort Hays State University Beef Feedlot Management and Technology class attended Kansas State University’s annual Stocker Days held on Sept. 25 at the KSU Beef Stocker Unit.
Eleven students, accompanied by Brittany Howell, associate professor of agriculture, attended the event. The class has participated in Stocker Days for at least 10 years.
“The annual field day consisted of a daylong workshop that discussed a wide variety of topics in the stocker cattle industry,” Howell said.
Stocker cattle production refers to cattle on forage-based diets that usually weigh between 450 and 750 pounds. Once they reach a certain weight, they are placed in feedlots or used as replacements for cow herds.
“We had been talking about stocker cattle management and this opportunity gave us a chance to hear more information from speakers,” Howell said. “They got to hear a broad spectrum of topics about stocker cattle production, and things we don’t necessarily talk about in class.
And they got to hear in more detail what we do talk about in class.”
After registration and introductions, industry leaders discussed how the stocker segment fits into herd rebuilding. Their presentations were followed by a panel of producers discussing nutrition reception and growth.
After lunch, the next topic was the stocker parasite control and management strategy response to the Food and Drug Administration’s phase out of antibiotics.
The last session included three 30-minute breakout sessions including livestock watering options, evaluating environmental impacts of small receiving/growing facilities and coccidiosis-a parasitic disease affecting the intestines of an animal.
An evening social concluded the program.
Mollie Ringleman, Imperial, Neb. junior, found the workshop useful.
“My favorite part of the day was when they had the panel of cattle operation managers that gave insight about their operation,” Ringleman said. “I thought it was good to hear about how real-life people are handling their cattle operation.”
Howell hopes the workshop’s information sparks a continued interest in the event for her students.
“My intention is to take students to their field day in hopes they will continue to attend after they graduate college,” Howell said.