2000-2001 Virginia Cow-Calf Management Schools to Begin in October

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The Virginia Cooperative Extension Service and the Virginia Cattlemen's Association will be holding the Virginia Cow-Calf Management Schools for the third year this fall. The schools are aimed at improving the skills and profitability of beginning to mid-level beef producers. Producers expressed an interest in more in-depth information than can be provided by the typical evening cattle meetings, so extension beef specialists and animal science agents developed the course.

From 1998-2000, three hundred and fifty producers participated in the Virginia Cow/Calf Management Course. Most were very pleased with the course and producers rated it a 9 out of 10 compared to other extension programs. Producers also made comments about the course like "We used what we learned in class to turn a calf's head and pull it successfully. Both cow and calf are doing fine" or "Best $60 I spent this year" or "After the class on bull selection, I went home sold my bull and bought a performance tested one." This year's course has been updated based on comments of previous participants.

Producers will receive home-based learning and 5 hands-on workshops. Participants will receive sections of the new Virginia Cow/Calf Management Guide each month to read at home. Then they will come together on one Saturday in each of the following months: October, November, January, February, and March for hands-on workshops lasting 5 to 6 hours. The S.E. Virginia location will run on a slightly different schedule having all 5 workshops in December and January.

Subjects taught include nutrition, reproduction, genetics and breed, herd health, and others. Participants will get to learn a wide variety of skills from baby calf processing and calving assistance to breeding stock selection to body condition scoring and more. The cost of the course will be $60 to cover meal and supply expenses. Most of the cost of the course is covered by a grant from the EPA-USDA Ruminant Livestock Efficiency Program.

This year's schools will be taught in Botetourt/Alleghany, N.E. Piedmont/Fredericksburg, Danville/South Boston and S.E. Virginia. For more information/registration contact Dr. John B. Hall, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist at (540) 231-9153 or jbhall@vt.edu or visit the Virginia Cow-Calf Management Course website at http://www.ext.vt.edu/cowcalf.