Program to focus on ranching with less livestock
Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Pascual Hernandez, 325-387-3101, p-hernandez@tamu.edu
SONORA – The Texas AgriLife Extension Service offices in Sutton and Schleicher counties will conduct the Ranch Herd Management Workshop: Making Ranching Work with Fewer Livestock program beginning at 8 a.m. Aug. 15 in the Sutton County Civic Center in Sonora.
“Virtually all our region’s livestock producers had to reduce their herds in 2011 due to the severe drought and record-breaking heat,” said Pascual Hernandez, AgriLife Extension agent in Sutton County. “Though conditions have moderated somewhat this year, most pastures are still in poor condition, so restocking is not an option.
“Ranchers often need a certain amount of income from the ranch to pay the bills. Less livestock and skyrocketing feed costs can make that a challenge. Thankfully, livestock prices have been excellent, so the whole point of this program will be to help producers maximize profits from the livestock they have by targeting peak markets and minimizing their overall overhead.”
The day’s speakers will include Dr. Rick Machen, AgriLife Extension livestock specialist, Uvalde; Benny Cox, Producers Livestock Auction, San Angelo; Dr. Charles “Butch” Taylor, superintendent of the Texas AgriLife Research Station at Sonora; and Dr. Dale Rollins, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, San Angelo.
The program topics will include:
– Beef Outlook – Condition of the beef herd, enduring with fewer cows, market expectations and securing feed sources.
– Sheep and Goat Market Report – Auction numbers; conditions, trends and expectations for the fall market; ethnic holidays and types of animals desired; and comparing prices of similar weight hair sheep and wool sheep lambs.
– Preparing for the Feeding Season – Historical rainfall and recovery patterns; assessing forage supplies; and forage recovery/outlook for Fall-Winter 2012-13.
– In Times of Drought, Feed Deer? Feed Livestock? Feed Neither? – The challenges of feeding; does feeding make economic sense?
Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be available for those with a valid private pesticide applicator license.
Individual preregistration is $10 by Aug. 10 and $15 thereafter. The fee covers refreshments and workshop materials.
For more information and to preregister, call the AgriLife Extension office in Sutton County at 325-387-3101.
