Young Farmers meet on beef quality
Forty-three area farmers and cattlemen were in attendance Tuesday night, Nov. 27 to hear Dr. Frank Owsley of Auburn University present a program on beef quality assurance. Dr. Owsley spoke about the importance of producing quality meat for the American consumer and management practices useful in making cattle production more profitable.
The main focus of the discussion was low stress handling of cattle. By reducing the stress during the working or moving of cattle, a producer can minimize losses due to the improper handling of cattle. Dr. Owsley talked about things such as noise reduction of handling facilities as a way of reducing stress on a herd. Owsley gave producers instruction in the proper way to move cattle by using proper body placement that will facilitate easier movement of the animals. Dr Owsley also talked about topics not usually associated with cattle handling such as "zebra lighting." Zebra lighting occurs when the light pattern placed on the ground by cattle panels creates a zebra striping effect. The light and dark pattern causes the cattle not to want to walk forward in the corrall chute much as cattle will not cross the broken pattern created by a cattle gap.
Dr. Owsley will return to present a quality assurance certification program in March of 2008. This certification program will be presented with the aid of a mobile laboratory that will give producers hands-on learning. All area cattlemen are encouraged to attend this valuable program in the early spring.
All area farmers and agibusinessmen are encouraged to attend the adult classes and join the Young Farmer Organization. Membership dues are $20 a year. The Young Farmer Organization is open to any adult with an interest in agriculture.
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