Daily News Update, Jan. 03, 2008

Bexar County Extension to offer beef cattle short course

The Texas Cooperative Extension in Bexar County will present a three-session beef cattle short course in San Antonio during January. The 2008 South Texas Beef Cattle Short Course will be held on three consecutive Thursdays – Jan. 10, 17 and 24–at the VFW Hall at 2219 Frio City Road, said Jerry Warren, Extension agent for agriculture in Bexar County.
 

The short course is being presented in conjunction with the Bexar County Beef Cattle Committee. "These sessions will cover a wide array of subjects of interest to the cattle producer," Warren said. "They are designed to give the producer and others involved in the beef cattle industry a comprehensive overview of current issues relating to the production and maintaining of beef cattle."
 

Each of the sessions is free. Registration will begin at 6 p.m. on the day of the session, and the session will start at 6:30 p.m. The sessions will last approximately 2.5 hours each. One continuing education unit will be offered for every session attended.
 

The Jan. 10 session will address sire types for commercial herds, bull care and cow size, and the impact of DNA testing on cattle operations. The second session on Jan. 17 will cover pasture rejuvenation through prescribed burns and aeration, and how types of meat produced may differ from types of meat preferred by the consumer.
 

The Jan. 24 session will address food plots, weather and hay, and factors affecting the nutritive value of foods consumed by cattle, as well as the importance of forage analysis. A question and answer period will follow each session.
 

"These sessions are conducted by experts from throughout the state, so this will be a great opportunity for those involved in the beef cattle industry to learn a lot from those in the know in a relatively short time," Warren said.