Released April 29, 2008
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- A Cattle Buyers Summit for ranchers, cattle feeders, agricultural lenders and anyone who markets cattle will be held May 14-15 at the Holiday Inn Grand Montana in Billings.
"This program is intended for anyone who trades feeder cattle, fed cattle and non-fed beef animals," said Clint Peck of Billings, director of Beef Quality Assurance programs for Montana State University. "Cattle buyers are a very important segment of our industry, and it's our responsibility to keep them in the loop as to what we're doing in Beef Quality Assurance programming."
Round table sessions will allow participants to assess BQA programming and provide input as to how the Beef Quality Assurance program can better fit the needs of cattle marketers, Peck said.
The summit is free, but anyone wanting to attend is asked to call or e-mail Mo Harbac by May 9 at (406) 994-4323 or mharbac@montana.edu A free lunch is included.
The agenda is:
Wednesday, May 14
- 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. -- BVD-PI Screening Programs. Bruce Hoffman, Animal Profiling International.
Thursday, May 15
- 8 a.m. -- Registration
- 8:30 a.m. -- BQA strategic plan, new initiatives. Clint Peck, Beef Quality Assurance.
- 9 a.m. -- Beef checkoff overview. Charlene Rich, Montana Beef Council.
- 9:15 a.m. -- The cattle supply chain. Jim Warren, 101 Livestock, Aromas, Calif.
- 10 a.m. -- Break
- 10:30 a.m. -- Managing paperwork. Kristin Larson, Prewitt and Co.
- 11 a.m. -- 2005 and 2007 beef quality audits. Gary Smith, Colorado State University.
- Noon to 1:15 p.m. -- Lunch/market outlook. Jim Robb, Livestock Marketing Information Center.
- 1:15 p.m. -- Value of beef verification programs. Andy Kellom, Verified Beef.
- 2 p.m. -- Round table breakouts. John Paterson, Montana Beef Network at MSU.
- 3 p.m. -- Round table reports.
- 4 p.m. -- Adjourn.
The summit is sponsored by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the Montana Beef Network and Schering-Plough Animal Health.
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http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=5874
Contact: Evelyn Boswell, (406) 994-5135, evelynb@montana.edu
