Eastern Kentucky IRM Update The Funke Family
May 28
Reproductive performance directly impacts gross revenue and profit potential in the cow-calf industry. Although information pertaining to this has been documented, researched and discussed for decades, many small-scale cow-calf producers have not recognized the dramatic impact in which improving reproductive rates and controlling the calving seasons can have on their bottom line.
Major improvement can be made in cow-calf productivity in Eastern Kentucky considering the vast majority of cattle herds in the mountain and highland regions of the state are small and roughly 90 percent have an extended calving season. The Eastern Kentucky Integrated Resource Management Program (IRM) aims to improve overall reproductive performance of these cattle herds by implementing an educational program utilizing demonstration herds and educating producers about proper record keeping techniques.
“The IRM Program is designed to educate cattlemen on the importance of reproductive performance and the many factors that impact reproductive efficiency”, said Les Anderson UK beef cattle reproductive extension specialist.
“Reproductive inefficiency and poor herd performance have been directly related to the common practice of year-round calving,” said Anderson. “Survey results from Kentucky beef cattle producers have found more than 75 percent of herds with fewer than 25 cows do not have defined breeding and calving seasons.”
For the past three years Anderson has been working with Bill and Rita Funke who own Hickory Ridge Farm in DeMossville, Ky. where they have been focusing on improving reproductive performance in their 33 head herd. Although they calve in both fall and spring, the Andersons have dramatically improved their calving periods by using artificial insemination (AI) and estrus synchronization (ES) methods.
“Les has been extremely helpful with our herd,” said the Funke’s. “He assists us with semen selection and helps us establish calving goals with the herd.”
The Funke’s started their cattle herd in 1968 with the purchase of five commercial cows. 47 years, 12 children and 44 grandchildren later the couple’s herd has not only grown in numbers, but has excelled from reproductive efficiency standpoint with the introduction of IRM practices resulting in more revenue, calf crop consistency and less labor.
According to Anderson, “Long, extended calving seasons contribute to a variety of production efficiency issues, the first issue is cattlemen who manage extended calving seasons rarely keep accurate production records. From a reproduction efficiency perspective, ranchers may know that all 20 cows had a calf last year, but how many of those cows calved in a 365-day interval? In other words, did a cow calve in March the first year, then May, then June, and then September? This cow is calving every year but she certainly isn’t efficient. Considering today’s market, ranchers lose about six dollars per day per calf for every day later that a calf is born. Therefor, if a cow calved on March 15th last year but waited until April 20th this year, the potential revenue generated by this cow will be 225 dollars lower.”
Along with his graduate student Ben Crites and the Kentucky Beef Network staff, Anderson has been traveling throughout Eastern Kentucky assisting producers like the Funke’s implement conventional breeding techniques. By using controlled internal drug release (CIDR) inserts, new record keeping technology and a basic herd analysis, the IRM program hopes to educate producers and improve cattle herds.
Major improvement can be made in cow-calf productivity in Eastern Kentucky considering the vast majority of cattle herds in the mountain and highland regions of the state are small and roughly 90 percent have an extended calving season. The Eastern Kentucky Integrated Resource Management Program (IRM) aims to improve overall reproductive performance of these cattle herds by implementing an educational program utilizing demonstration herds and educating producers about proper record keeping techniques.
“The IRM Program is designed to educate cattlemen on the importance of reproductive performance and the many factors that impact reproductive efficiency”, said Les Anderson UK beef cattle reproductive extension specialist.
“Reproductive inefficiency and poor herd performance have been directly related to the common practice of year-round calving,” said Anderson. “Survey results from Kentucky beef cattle producers have found more than 75 percent of herds with fewer than 25 cows do not have defined breeding and calving seasons.”
For the past three years Anderson has been working with Bill and Rita Funke who own Hickory Ridge Farm in DeMossville, Ky. where they have been focusing on improving reproductive performance in their 33 head herd. Although they calve in both fall and spring, the Andersons have dramatically improved their calving periods by using artificial insemination (AI) and estrus synchronization (ES) methods.
“Les has been extremely helpful with our herd,” said the Funke’s. “He assists us with semen selection and helps us establish calving goals with the herd.”
The Funke’s started their cattle herd in 1968 with the purchase of five commercial cows. 47 years, 12 children and 44 grandchildren later the couple’s herd has not only grown in numbers, but has excelled from reproductive efficiency standpoint with the introduction of IRM practices resulting in more revenue, calf crop consistency and less labor.
According to Anderson, “Long, extended calving seasons contribute to a variety of production efficiency issues, the first issue is cattlemen who manage extended calving seasons rarely keep accurate production records. From a reproduction efficiency perspective, ranchers may know that all 20 cows had a calf last year, but how many of those cows calved in a 365-day interval? In other words, did a cow calve in March the first year, then May, then June, and then September? This cow is calving every year but she certainly isn’t efficient. Considering today’s market, ranchers lose about six dollars per day per calf for every day later that a calf is born. Therefor, if a cow calved on March 15th last year but waited until April 20th this year, the potential revenue generated by this cow will be 225 dollars lower.”
Along with his graduate student Ben Crites and the Kentucky Beef Network staff, Anderson has been traveling throughout Eastern Kentucky assisting producers like the Funke’s implement conventional breeding techniques. By using controlled internal drug release (CIDR) inserts, new record keeping technology and a basic herd analysis, the IRM program hopes to educate producers and improve cattle herds.
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Specialist Spotlight Dr Les Anderson
May 22
What is your background and current involvement in the cattle industry?
I grew up on a diversified livestock and crop operation in Missouri. The cattle industry has always been a major part of my life; I simply enjoyed working with our cows more than I enjoyed sitting on a tractor! I obtained my BS in Animal Science from the University of Missouri, my MS in Reproductive Physiology from Iowa State University, and my PhD in Reproductive Physiology from Ohio State University. My focus at Ohio State was factors impacting puberty and fertility in heifers and estrus synchronization in beef females. I began my tenure at UK in June of 1997. My job entails educational programming focused on reproductive management in beef cattle.
Who has been your biggest influence in the cattle industry?
My love for agriculture and the cattle industry comes from my Dad. His passion has always been cattle and his passion was infectious. My career in academia was inspired by three professors I had at the University of Missouri. All three were reproductive physiologists and each motivated me to continue my academic pursuits.
What is the proudest moment of your professional/cattle/personal career?
I have had been lucky to have received several individual awards in extension but by far my proudest moments have been watching my graduate students succeed in the industry. I could not have asked for better students or friends than Dr. Justin Rhinehart (University of Tennessee) and Dr. Aaron Arnett (V.P. at Select Sires, Inc.). I also take great pride in watching cattlemen transform their programs. People like Don Sayre and Mike Wilson make my job really rewarding.
In your opinion what is the largest issue facing today’s cattle industry?
Two issues are of concern for me. First, all of agriculture is constantly under attack from a vocal minority of people with very specific agendas and closed minds. I hope that we can educate our cattlemen and the country on the importance of animal protein in a healthy diet and the love that most cattlemen have for their animals and their industry. The second issue is simply change. Change is inevitable in all facets of life and people need to possess the ability to adapt and change no matter how hard it is. Our world is ever changing. Cattlemen need to be willing to change and adapt to ensure their survival.
What advice would you give to the younger generation of cattle producers?
The beef industry has a ton of opportunity for anyone that is willing to work and is open-minded and willing to evaluate and use all tools necessary to succeed. The biggest issue most young people face is their willingness to work.
I grew up on a diversified livestock and crop operation in Missouri. The cattle industry has always been a major part of my life; I simply enjoyed working with our cows more than I enjoyed sitting on a tractor! I obtained my BS in Animal Science from the University of Missouri, my MS in Reproductive Physiology from Iowa State University, and my PhD in Reproductive Physiology from Ohio State University. My focus at Ohio State was factors impacting puberty and fertility in heifers and estrus synchronization in beef females. I began my tenure at UK in June of 1997. My job entails educational programming focused on reproductive management in beef cattle.
Who has been your biggest influence in the cattle industry?
My love for agriculture and the cattle industry comes from my Dad. His passion has always been cattle and his passion was infectious. My career in academia was inspired by three professors I had at the University of Missouri. All three were reproductive physiologists and each motivated me to continue my academic pursuits.
What is the proudest moment of your professional/cattle/personal career?
I have had been lucky to have received several individual awards in extension but by far my proudest moments have been watching my graduate students succeed in the industry. I could not have asked for better students or friends than Dr. Justin Rhinehart (University of Tennessee) and Dr. Aaron Arnett (V.P. at Select Sires, Inc.). I also take great pride in watching cattlemen transform their programs. People like Don Sayre and Mike Wilson make my job really rewarding.
In your opinion what is the largest issue facing today’s cattle industry?
Two issues are of concern for me. First, all of agriculture is constantly under attack from a vocal minority of people with very specific agendas and closed minds. I hope that we can educate our cattlemen and the country on the importance of animal protein in a healthy diet and the love that most cattlemen have for their animals and their industry. The second issue is simply change. Change is inevitable in all facets of life and people need to possess the ability to adapt and change no matter how hard it is. Our world is ever changing. Cattlemen need to be willing to change and adapt to ensure their survival.
What advice would you give to the younger generation of cattle producers?
The beef industry has a ton of opportunity for anyone that is willing to work and is open-minded and willing to evaluate and use all tools necessary to succeed. The biggest issue most young people face is their willingness to work.
Webinar for Producers with Value-Added Calves
May 13
Seasoned cow-calf producers recognize the calf market’s record-high prices are likely to decline as cowherd expansion brings additional supplies. Producers can maintain higher profitability by recognizing this shift and quickly adjusting management and marketing strategies.
CattleFax will discuss these topics during its next Trends+ Cow-Calf Webinar at 5:30 p.m. MT, Jun. 10, 2015. To participate in the webinar and access program details, producers and industry leaders simply need to register online at www.cattlefax.com/meetings.aspx.
The one-hour session will include a variety of relevant topics for the cow-calf audience:
The Trends+ webinar is designed to inform cattle producers about current market realities and provide producers with decision-friendly information to assist in making intelligent marketing decisions. More than 2,000 producers have benefitted from the analysis and strategies shared through the webinar series since fall 2013.
Elanco Animal Health is sponsoring the webinar – making it free for all cattle and beef producers to participate.
CattleFax will discuss these topics during its next Trends+ Cow-Calf Webinar at 5:30 p.m. MT, Jun. 10, 2015. To participate in the webinar and access program details, producers and industry leaders simply need to register online at www.cattlefax.com/meetings.aspx.
The one-hour session will include a variety of relevant topics for the cow-calf audience:
- A second half 2015 price outlook for the cattle and feedstuff markets,
- Expectations for 2015 value-added premiums in the calf market, and
- Considerations for estimating returns on value-added management practices.
The Trends+ webinar is designed to inform cattle producers about current market realities and provide producers with decision-friendly information to assist in making intelligent marketing decisions. More than 2,000 producers have benefitted from the analysis and strategies shared through the webinar series since fall 2013.
Elanco Animal Health is sponsoring the webinar – making it free for all cattle and beef producers to participate.
Pasture to Plate Program Registration Now Open
May 4
There are approximately 40 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspected facilities operating in Kentucky, which allow producers to market their cattle directly to the consumer. With an increasing number of producers retaining ownership of their cattle through the finishing phase, the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Kentucky Beef Network (KBN), Kentucky Beef Council, Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the UK Forage Animal Production Research Unit has set out to educate individuals with the Pasture to Plate program.
“Kentucky farmers interested in retaining ownership of their cattle through the harvesting process will be able to learn more about nutrition management, consumer interests, and carcass performance, “ said Darrh Bullock University of Kentucky extension professor of beef cattle genetics.
The program will consist of a combination of ten steers and heifers, purchased yearly at approximately 700-800 pounds. The cattle will include a variety of feeder calves, including dairy-type calves. The calves will be fed a concentrate ration until finished at 1200-1500 pounds. All cattle will be harvested at approximately the same time, carcasses will be graded and processed in a typical manner; two example carcasses (one heavy and one light conditioned) will be completely deboned and separated into muscle, fat and bone. A sample steak suitable for taste panel evaluations will be collected from each carcass. Participants in this program will have the opportunity to sample the eating quality of the steaks obtained from the calves in the program. The project will be replicated at three locations across the state including the Eden Shale Farm, UK Research and Education Center at Princeton, and Morgan County Extension Farm.
“The overall goal of this program is for cattlemen to learn and experience all phases of the cattle industry post-weaning. Most Kentucky calves are sold at weaning, this program will allow producers to experience what happens from weaning through consumption,” said Bullock.
The project facilitates a vast array of educational opportunities that will be available in person as they happen, as well as recordings that will be made available to individuals who cannot attend the live program. There will be five educational components of the program including receiving, finishing, carcass/consumer/retail, live evaluation, nutrient and health management. The Pasture to Plate program will benefit Kentucky’s farmers, youth and consumers as part of an educational journey encompassing the beef industry. The variety of educational programs and promotion will help take Kentucky’s beef industry to the next level.
“Kentucky farmers interested in retaining ownership of their cattle through the harvesting process will be able to learn more about nutrition management, consumer interests, and carcass performance, “ said Darrh Bullock University of Kentucky extension professor of beef cattle genetics.
The program will consist of a combination of ten steers and heifers, purchased yearly at approximately 700-800 pounds. The cattle will include a variety of feeder calves, including dairy-type calves. The calves will be fed a concentrate ration until finished at 1200-1500 pounds. All cattle will be harvested at approximately the same time, carcasses will be graded and processed in a typical manner; two example carcasses (one heavy and one light conditioned) will be completely deboned and separated into muscle, fat and bone. A sample steak suitable for taste panel evaluations will be collected from each carcass. Participants in this program will have the opportunity to sample the eating quality of the steaks obtained from the calves in the program. The project will be replicated at three locations across the state including the Eden Shale Farm, UK Research and Education Center at Princeton, and Morgan County Extension Farm.
“The overall goal of this program is for cattlemen to learn and experience all phases of the cattle industry post-weaning. Most Kentucky calves are sold at weaning, this program will allow producers to experience what happens from weaning through consumption,” said Bullock.
The project facilitates a vast array of educational opportunities that will be available in person as they happen, as well as recordings that will be made available to individuals who cannot attend the live program. There will be five educational components of the program including receiving, finishing, carcass/consumer/retail, live evaluation, nutrient and health management. The Pasture to Plate program will benefit Kentucky’s farmers, youth and consumers as part of an educational journey encompassing the beef industry. The variety of educational programs and promotion will help take Kentucky’s beef industry to the next level.
Master Cattleman Program Update
April 23
Now in its fourteenth year the Master Cattleman Program proves to be the flagship educational program for Kentucky Cattle Producers. With over 3000 participants to date the program continues to attract producers from around the state. As a collaborative effort between the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, and the Kentucky Beef Network the program’s goal is to reach 10 percent of Kentucky beef producers. Currently the program has reached nearly 8 percent of the estimated 38,000 beef producers throughout the state.
The Master Cattleman Program encompasses all phases of beef production into an intensive educational effort. Participants receive 40 hours of classroom instruction divided equally among 10 topic areas that include subjects ranging from marketing to management. In addition to the classroom instruction, field days are conducted at the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center in Princeton, and the UK Animal Research Center in Versailles. The field days allow producers to get hands-on training related to estrous synchronization, artificial insemination, pregnancy diagnosis, bull selection, visual appraisal, using EPD’s, handling vaccines, proper injection sites and techniques, cattle handling, facility design and body condition scoring.
“From its inception in 2001 the recommended management practices have resulted in an approximate impact to Kentucky of $13.6 million per year, which is equivalent to $4500 a year per producer,” said Integrated Resource Management program coordinator Blair Knight.
Since January 2015 the program has had nine groups with individuals from 44 counties sign up to participate. 38 of the 90 sessions have already been completed and by the end of the year the program expects to have over 300 graduates.
For more information on the Master Cattleman Program contact your county extension office: http://www2.ca.uky.edu/county/
The Master Cattleman Program encompasses all phases of beef production into an intensive educational effort. Participants receive 40 hours of classroom instruction divided equally among 10 topic areas that include subjects ranging from marketing to management. In addition to the classroom instruction, field days are conducted at the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center in Princeton, and the UK Animal Research Center in Versailles. The field days allow producers to get hands-on training related to estrous synchronization, artificial insemination, pregnancy diagnosis, bull selection, visual appraisal, using EPD’s, handling vaccines, proper injection sites and techniques, cattle handling, facility design and body condition scoring.
“From its inception in 2001 the recommended management practices have resulted in an approximate impact to Kentucky of $13.6 million per year, which is equivalent to $4500 a year per producer,” said Integrated Resource Management program coordinator Blair Knight.
Since January 2015 the program has had nine groups with individuals from 44 counties sign up to participate. 38 of the 90 sessions have already been completed and by the end of the year the program expects to have over 300 graduates.
For more information on the Master Cattleman Program contact your county extension office: http://www2.ca.uky.edu/county/
Specialist Spotlight Dr Roy Burris
April 23
What is your background and current involvement in the cattle industry?
I grew up on a 200-acre diversified farm in Tennessee. We raised just about everything – beef, dairy, hogs, tobacco, corn and hay. I was active in 4-H and FFA, so those leaders became role models for me. My mother and great-aunt also placed a high value on education and learning so I decided to go to college and studied agriculture at Tennessee Tech, which was only about 30 miles from home.
I majored in animal husbandry (as it was called then). I had accumulated some cows and hogs from youth projects which was enough to pay for my first two years of college. I was down to my last animal – a calf – when I sold it and caught a ride to Detroit, Michigan to work in a car factory in the summer of 1967 to make enough money to continue college. When I got back to Tech, I milked cows and completed my B.S. degree.
One of my professors came up to me during my senior year and pointedly asked me “where are you going to graduate school?”. He didn’t ask me “if”, he just said “where”. So I thought maybe I could do that. I took the GRE test and, fortunately, scored well enough to cause me to consider graduate school. The Dean and I studied the list of faculty members at the University of Tennessee and the University of Kentucky, and decided that Kentucky had more young Ph.D.’s so I applied to Kentucky. I received a call from a dairy scientist at U.K. offering me a graduate research assistantship in dairy. I didn’t know just what a grad student in dairy did but I was sure that I didn’t want to milk anymore cows. So I told him I was more interested in beef cattle nutrition. Dr. Jim Boling called and offered an assistantship in beef nutrition with he and Dr. Neil Bradley, and I jumped at the opportunity. After taking some time to realize that I had to study (a foreign concept to me) to be successful in graduate school, I finally became a decent student and continued on to work on a Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition.
I finished my Ph.D. in 1974 and accepted a job as an animal scientist for Mississippi State University. I was located at their South Mississippi station and was responsible for starting a research program with a 300-cow herd. I realized that it was going to be difficult when I was informed that my annual budget was $5,500. I soon learned the importance of generating income through animal sales, grants and gifts. I was there for almost seven years and, I think, developed a pretty good program.
I had done some work at Princeton as a graduate student and knew Dr. Garry Lacefield, who was at Princeton. He was “making a name for himself” so after visiting with Garry, I decided to apply for the vacant position of Extension Beef Specialist at Princeton. I started in March of 1981 and I have been here ever since.
I work in beef Extension and spend most of my time in West Kentucky. I am presently also responsible for the beef program at Princeton which involves a 200-cow research herd. I also work on all of the “Master” programs which are delivered by the beef/forage workers at the University of Kentucky and funded through the Agriculture Development Board.
Who has been your biggest influence in the cattle industry?
After being in this business all of my life, I realize that I have worked with a lot of good people, all of whom I have learned from and many of which I have tried to pattern various parts of my career after, but the one thing that I have tried to do is just be myself and be true to my own values.
If I have to pick one person, it would probably surprise a lot of my past acquaintances – especially my fellow graduate students and the man himself. That would be Dr. George Mitchell whom I could never decide if he was trying to weed me out of the graduate program or turn me into a serious student, but his practice of grilling the grad students in front of an entire class was sufficient to embarrass us to the point that we didn’t dare enter his classes unprepared. In fact, we would gather together for an hour or two before his lectures to make sure we were prepared.
That was a big deal! It not only taught me to be prepared but also not to open my mouth unless I knew what I was talking about. You can imagine that oral exams were a challenge, too – Thanks, George!
What is the proudest moment of your professional/cattle/personal career?
Probably when I received the call that the beef/forage IRM program had been awarded a $750,000 USDA-IFAFS grant to do extension work. Actually it was the events that led up to this and those that ensued which are special.
I was fortunate to be on a committee for the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association which worked on a Long-range Plan that was incorporated into Kentucky AgProject 2000 – a plan to make agriculture a 5 billion dollar industry by the year 2000.
Parts of this strategic plan recognized the importance of UK to the future of Kentucky agriculture. Things like needing to implement an IRM team, having well-trained agents, recognizing the huge beef/forage potential of the state were encouraging. UK Extension implemented a formal IRM leadership team and had a conference for stakeholders to decide the course for the beef/forage extension program. The results of this conference were used as the basis to request the USDA grant. The programs and work that we were able to accomplish put us in a good position when the “Tobacco Settlement funds” became available. Those funds have, I believe, been the most important thing that has happened to Kentucky agriculture in a long time. The “Master programs” and related programs have re-vitalized a beef industry that was described by stakeholders as “apathetic” when the process started. Look at us now!
In your opinion what is the largest issue facing today’s cattle industry?
Probably a couple. One is the assault on the beef industry by well-funded animal rights groups. The other is the explosion of knowledge and technology which will be available to everyone including the cattle industry.
I am not particularly worried about changing the mindset of animal rights folks but I am concerned about people that they can influence. Animal rights people try to blur the lines between animal rights and welfare. We must let the consuming public know that we care about animal welfare. In fact, I would argue that we care more about animal welfare than anyone. We have to let people know about the good things that we do instead of letting a few bad characters represent us. Let’s tell our story and support associations that represent us.
I think that we are in the information age. However, I am disappointed by the number of people that don’t “believe in science”. Knowledge is evolving rapidly. We have sequenced the human and bovine genome. This is changing genetic selection and fields, such as nutrigenomics, which will enable us to feed for improved growth, reproduction and immunity. It is an exciting time to be involved in agriculture. The future belongs to those producers who can capture and use this technology.
What advice would you give to the younger generation of cattle producers?
First, don’t pay undue attention to the “naysayers”. People that spend most of their time idly talking about people that are working should not intimidate you. Study, learn and believe in yourself.
You will need to be able to build alliances and network to make connections in the industry – learn to communicate. You are good at using technology but face-to-face and written communication is still very important. Social media is not enough.
Future cattle producers will have to be smart. Having a strong back is not enough. Learn and understand how to use and apply new technology to “survive and advance” (to use an old cliché). Things like genomically enhanced EPD’s, fetal programming and nutrigenomics will be game changers.
It’s a business! Future cattle producers will have to be good at managing their business, including finances, marketing, etc.
Finally, have patience. You don’t have to start at the top with all of the best cattle and equipment. Grow your way up as you build alliances in the business. Don’t return to the home farm and try to show your parents how to go first class. You must have enough assets and financing to allow you to survive unanticipated downturns in the economy or the cattle price cycle. Be “cautiously progressive” and get your information from reliable sources.
I grew up on a 200-acre diversified farm in Tennessee. We raised just about everything – beef, dairy, hogs, tobacco, corn and hay. I was active in 4-H and FFA, so those leaders became role models for me. My mother and great-aunt also placed a high value on education and learning so I decided to go to college and studied agriculture at Tennessee Tech, which was only about 30 miles from home.
I majored in animal husbandry (as it was called then). I had accumulated some cows and hogs from youth projects which was enough to pay for my first two years of college. I was down to my last animal – a calf – when I sold it and caught a ride to Detroit, Michigan to work in a car factory in the summer of 1967 to make enough money to continue college. When I got back to Tech, I milked cows and completed my B.S. degree.
One of my professors came up to me during my senior year and pointedly asked me “where are you going to graduate school?”. He didn’t ask me “if”, he just said “where”. So I thought maybe I could do that. I took the GRE test and, fortunately, scored well enough to cause me to consider graduate school. The Dean and I studied the list of faculty members at the University of Tennessee and the University of Kentucky, and decided that Kentucky had more young Ph.D.’s so I applied to Kentucky. I received a call from a dairy scientist at U.K. offering me a graduate research assistantship in dairy. I didn’t know just what a grad student in dairy did but I was sure that I didn’t want to milk anymore cows. So I told him I was more interested in beef cattle nutrition. Dr. Jim Boling called and offered an assistantship in beef nutrition with he and Dr. Neil Bradley, and I jumped at the opportunity. After taking some time to realize that I had to study (a foreign concept to me) to be successful in graduate school, I finally became a decent student and continued on to work on a Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition.
I finished my Ph.D. in 1974 and accepted a job as an animal scientist for Mississippi State University. I was located at their South Mississippi station and was responsible for starting a research program with a 300-cow herd. I realized that it was going to be difficult when I was informed that my annual budget was $5,500. I soon learned the importance of generating income through animal sales, grants and gifts. I was there for almost seven years and, I think, developed a pretty good program.
I had done some work at Princeton as a graduate student and knew Dr. Garry Lacefield, who was at Princeton. He was “making a name for himself” so after visiting with Garry, I decided to apply for the vacant position of Extension Beef Specialist at Princeton. I started in March of 1981 and I have been here ever since.
I work in beef Extension and spend most of my time in West Kentucky. I am presently also responsible for the beef program at Princeton which involves a 200-cow research herd. I also work on all of the “Master” programs which are delivered by the beef/forage workers at the University of Kentucky and funded through the Agriculture Development Board.
Who has been your biggest influence in the cattle industry?
After being in this business all of my life, I realize that I have worked with a lot of good people, all of whom I have learned from and many of which I have tried to pattern various parts of my career after, but the one thing that I have tried to do is just be myself and be true to my own values.
If I have to pick one person, it would probably surprise a lot of my past acquaintances – especially my fellow graduate students and the man himself. That would be Dr. George Mitchell whom I could never decide if he was trying to weed me out of the graduate program or turn me into a serious student, but his practice of grilling the grad students in front of an entire class was sufficient to embarrass us to the point that we didn’t dare enter his classes unprepared. In fact, we would gather together for an hour or two before his lectures to make sure we were prepared.
That was a big deal! It not only taught me to be prepared but also not to open my mouth unless I knew what I was talking about. You can imagine that oral exams were a challenge, too – Thanks, George!
What is the proudest moment of your professional/cattle/personal career?
Probably when I received the call that the beef/forage IRM program had been awarded a $750,000 USDA-IFAFS grant to do extension work. Actually it was the events that led up to this and those that ensued which are special.
I was fortunate to be on a committee for the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association which worked on a Long-range Plan that was incorporated into Kentucky AgProject 2000 – a plan to make agriculture a 5 billion dollar industry by the year 2000.
Parts of this strategic plan recognized the importance of UK to the future of Kentucky agriculture. Things like needing to implement an IRM team, having well-trained agents, recognizing the huge beef/forage potential of the state were encouraging. UK Extension implemented a formal IRM leadership team and had a conference for stakeholders to decide the course for the beef/forage extension program. The results of this conference were used as the basis to request the USDA grant. The programs and work that we were able to accomplish put us in a good position when the “Tobacco Settlement funds” became available. Those funds have, I believe, been the most important thing that has happened to Kentucky agriculture in a long time. The “Master programs” and related programs have re-vitalized a beef industry that was described by stakeholders as “apathetic” when the process started. Look at us now!
In your opinion what is the largest issue facing today’s cattle industry?
Probably a couple. One is the assault on the beef industry by well-funded animal rights groups. The other is the explosion of knowledge and technology which will be available to everyone including the cattle industry.
I am not particularly worried about changing the mindset of animal rights folks but I am concerned about people that they can influence. Animal rights people try to blur the lines between animal rights and welfare. We must let the consuming public know that we care about animal welfare. In fact, I would argue that we care more about animal welfare than anyone. We have to let people know about the good things that we do instead of letting a few bad characters represent us. Let’s tell our story and support associations that represent us.
I think that we are in the information age. However, I am disappointed by the number of people that don’t “believe in science”. Knowledge is evolving rapidly. We have sequenced the human and bovine genome. This is changing genetic selection and fields, such as nutrigenomics, which will enable us to feed for improved growth, reproduction and immunity. It is an exciting time to be involved in agriculture. The future belongs to those producers who can capture and use this technology.
What advice would you give to the younger generation of cattle producers?
First, don’t pay undue attention to the “naysayers”. People that spend most of their time idly talking about people that are working should not intimidate you. Study, learn and believe in yourself.
You will need to be able to build alliances and network to make connections in the industry – learn to communicate. You are good at using technology but face-to-face and written communication is still very important. Social media is not enough.
Future cattle producers will have to be smart. Having a strong back is not enough. Learn and understand how to use and apply new technology to “survive and advance” (to use an old cliché). Things like genomically enhanced EPD’s, fetal programming and nutrigenomics will be game changers.
It’s a business! Future cattle producers will have to be good at managing their business, including finances, marketing, etc.
Finally, have patience. You don’t have to start at the top with all of the best cattle and equipment. Grow your way up as you build alliances in the business. Don’t return to the home farm and try to show your parents how to go first class. You must have enough assets and financing to allow you to survive unanticipated downturns in the economy or the cattle price cycle. Be “cautiously progressive” and get your information from reliable sources.