1. MASTER CATTLE PRODUCERS TRAINING PROGRAM
Author
Hudson, R. G. – Regional Extension Agent, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Wiregrass REC, Headland, Alabama
Abstract Impact
Beef cattle producers in southeast Alabama face multiple pro- In exit surveys, over ninety (90) percent of the program partic-
duction and management decisions critical to the viability of ipants gave the highest rating possible for the value of the pro-
their operation. Continuing education is essential to update gram information to their beef production operation. The sur-
beef production practices and improve decision-making skills of veys also indicated greater than ninety (90) percent of the par-
beef herd managers, regardless of their age or experience lev- ticipants definitely planned to incorporate knowledge gain from
el. Through this refreshment of their knowledge base, produc- the training into their respective beef herds.
ers gain the abilities to be proactive and adaptable to an ever
changing global beef industry. In 2011, a group of southeast
Alabama beef cattle producers requested training to better un-
derstand current conditions and trends in beef cattle produc-
tion. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System responded Photo 1. Certified graduates of the 2011 Master Cattle Producers
to this request and conducted the “Alabama Master Cattle Pro- Training Program.
ducers Training Program”. This training program is a compre-
hensive educational program with twenty-four (24) hours of
classroom instruction on beef production. This 2011 program
was presented during eight (8) intensive classroom sessions Methods
lasting three (3) hours each. Participants were tested in each
of the eight (8) sessions with a required minimum correct In 2011, the “Alabama Master Cattle Producers Training Pro-
score of seventy (70) percent needed to earn Master Cattle gram” was conducted in southeast Alabama for beef cattle pro-
Producer certification. Seventy-nine (79) percent of program ducers. Twenty-four (24) hours of instruction were presented.
participants achieved the Master Cattle Producer status. Pro- The eight (8) sessions and the respective topics covered were:
gram testing indicates the positive transfer of production infor- Economics – Goals, Record Keeping & Marketing
mation to participants. Exit surveys indicate all participants ex- Products – Beef Carcasses, Yield Grades & Quality Grades
pected to improve their beef operations as a result of this Health – Herd Health, Vaccinations & Physicals
training. Nutrition – Cow Nutrition, Calf Nutrition & Alternative Feeds
Forages – Forage Systems, Hay Management & Weed Control Chart 2. Program content rating by producers from exit surveys.
Beef Quality Assurance – Responsibilities, Handling & Drug Residues
Reproduction – Heifer Management, Cow Management & Bulls
Genetics – Basic Genetics, Growth Genetics & Selecting Genetics
Introduction Participants were tested for competency in each of the pro-
gram sessions.
U.S. beef production is a multi-faceted industry that provides a
wholesome, high quality meat protein to the world. The South-
ern region of the U.S. is well suited to cow-calf beef production
enterprises. Calf production is essential to supply the beef ani-
mals needed to sustain all other segments of the beef industry. Results
The production methods and management employed by beef
cow-calf operators create the base of raw materials used in Participants in the 2011 “Alabama Master Cattle Producers
these other segments. Cow-calf beef producers in southeast Training Program” tested well in course examinations indicating
Alabama are unique in their regional climatic conditions and knowledge transfer from presenter to producers. Seventy-nine
natural resources. However, they are partners in a food animal (79) percent of the program participants earned Master Cattle
production system with a global market. Refreshing beef pro- Producer status by scoring seventy (70) percent or higher on
duction skills with continuing education, enables a producer to each of the session examinations.
be more proactive and adaptable to changing industry stand-
ards and consumer demands. The “Alabama Master Cattle Chart 3. Incorporation plans by producers from exit surveys.
Producers Training Program” provides producer education and
training to that end.
Conclusions
Continuing beef production education is a valuable commodity
Objectives to improve the sustainability beef enterprises in southeast Ala-
bama. The refreshment of knowledge and the improvement of
To educate beef cattle producers in southeast Alabama about skills to make informed production and management decisions
current production and management practices while develop- are vital to the long term success of beef operations. The ob-
ing decision making skills critical to the viability of their opera- jectives of the training program were achieved as noted in
tion. “Results”, where producers exhibited a gain of knowledge and
in “Impact”, where producers felt the training program provid-
To enrich the knowledge base of beef producers increasing ed valuable information for their operation and expressed in-
their proactivity and adaptability in an ever changing global tent to use gained knowledge in their beef herds.
beef industry.
Chart 1. Average scores by producers in eight session exams.