Released May 21, 2008

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Montana State University's Northern Agricultural Research Center will host Montana Stockgrowers Association members and prospective members Friday, June 13 at the start of the stockgrowers mid-year meeting in Havre.

Friday evening, a special Beef Quality Assurance team cattle-handling and processing competition is scheduled for MSGA members. In addition to the BQA team competition, NARC will host a dinner and tours for participants.

"The BQA competition will help demonstrate some of the management practices that are becoming more important to everyone in the cattle industry as we continue to improve the quality and consistency of our beef," said Clint Peck, Montana BQA director.

Cattle handling facility

In the summer of 2007, a modern cattle handling facility was initiated at NARC based on designs from Temple Grandin of Colorado State University, with some influences coming from Bud Williams' low stress handling techniques. The objective of the project was to integrate modern technologies of electronic animal identification with seamless computer integration for data collection and sorting.

The facility was built to handle 400 pairs of cattle. Design techniques were used for not only increasing the safety of the people and cattle during processing, but to achieve this with as little stress as possible to animals and workers. The unique design incorporates concepts such as 12-foot alleys to facilitate working cattle on foot or horseback, small pens for isolation purposes and deep grooved, concrete flooring from the working tub to the chute for better footing. Additionally, researchers can sort cattle and collect data from several sources at once from various locations within the facility using Bluetooth wireless communications and the electronic identification.

"We at NARC are very excited to be a part of the MSGA mid-year meeting," said Darrin Boss, assistant professor of animal science. "It will give MSU and NARC an opportunity to introduce MSGA members and other interested parties to the new facilities and show how producers may integrate the technology that is currently available. Records have always been important for the economic longevity of the ranch, but as marketing strategies increase for producers, the facility will be an opportunity to see firsthand what may work for their operations."

The cattle working facility was developed to enhance beef cattle research for MSU, in addition to demonstrate options and alternatives for the producers of Montana and the Pacific Northwest as new technology and working facilities are developed on producers' ranches.

For more information on NARC or to schedule a tour, contact Boss at (406) 265-6115. For information on the mid-year MSGA meeting, contact the MSGA office in Helena at (406) 442-3420 or visit their website at http://www.mtbeef.org.

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http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=5944

Contact: Darrin Boss, 406-265-6115, dboss@montana.edu