By Fred Miller
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts
Beef Production Field Day will be held at Savoy Research Complex
Program begins with Beef Quality Assurance workshop, recertification test
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station research highlights will be presented
(370 words)
Related PHOTOS: https://flic.kr/p/2nadnS8 & https://flic.kr/p/2nadnQE
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will hold a Beef Production Field Day April 28 at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station’s Savoy Research Complex.
Following a welcome at 9 a.m. by Mike Looper, head of the department of animal science, the field day will open with a hands-on Beef Quality Assurance recertification workshop and test, said Johnny Gunsaulis, staff chair for the Benton County Extension Office. More about the division’s schedule of BQA workshops is available online: https://bit.ly/DivBQAinfo.
After a lunch sponsored by the Beef Council and Farm Credit, Division of Agriculture scientists from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service will make a series of presentations and demonstrations:
12:40 p.m. — Brittni Littlejohn will present her epigenetics study on the potential of adding melatonin to heifers’ diets to reduce the adverse effects of toxic fescue
12:50 p.m. — Kelly Loftin will present alternative methods of fly control using free fatty acids as a repellent to horn flies
1 p.m. — Beth Kegley will present her research on the use of chelated mineral supplements, tracking the effect of feeding Zinpro (mineral supplement) on cattle performance and carcass qualities
1:10 p.m. — Kegley will present a research project on the necessity of including phosphorus mineral supplements for cattle grazing pastures with elevated soil-test phosphorus (https://bit.ly/HeiferPstudy)
1:20 p.m. — Jiangchao Zhao will present microbiome research looking at the bacterial populations present in newborn calves, in the same calves at weaning, and when co-mingled with other animals; to determine what microbiome populations may protect calf health and which could predict respiratory disease complications
1:30 p.m. — Kelly Vierck will present freezer beef research using C-lock feeding technology with a simple, forage-based ration; studying the number of feedings per day and measuring carcass characteristics, including tenderness
1:40 p.m. — Charles Looney will present the results of a new protocol on estrous synchronization for heifer development on a timed artificial insemination breeding program on older cows
Those desiring BQA certification or recertification should contact their local county extension office to get the BQA manual, Gunsaulis said.
The Savoy Research Complex’s beef production facility is located at 18001 UA Beef Farm Road, about 12 miles west of Fayetteville. The division’s BQA workshop schedule is available here: https://bit.ly/BQAschedule.
To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn about Extension Programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit https://uaex.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AR_Extension.
To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.