CSU to host Cow College for beef producers

Colorado State University Animal Science is offering a weekly, 6-session evening educational course in beef cattle production for interested persons in north central Colorado and southern Wyoming to be held in February and March 2014.

Cow College will cover fundamental topics of beef cattle nutrition, reproduction, genetics, management practices and health management. The target audience is persons currently involved in or considering entering beef production.

Cow College is designed for all-types of beef cattle producers regardless of size of cattle operation or years of experience. This course will provide a refresher for experienced producers and new learning opportunities for those less experienced. The primary focus will be on cow-calf topics, with reference to other segments of beef production as they apply.

The Colorado State University Beef Management Systems group will coordinate and provide instruction for Cow College. BMS faculty includes Jack Whittier, Jason Ahola and Kraig Peel. Additional CSU Animal Science faculty and graduate students, along with invited speakers from the beef industry will also teach during Cow College.

The six sessions will be held weekly each Tuesday evening from February 11 to March 25, 2014, with the exception of Tuesday, March 18 which is CSU Spring Break. Cow College sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m. and conclude by 9 p.m.

Cost for the six-session course is $100 per person, a 25 percent discount for the first person and 50 percent discount to others from the same family/operation is available. Individual sessions may be attended for $25 each. A minimum of 20 paid participants by January 31, 2014 will be required to hold Cow College. If too few participants register by the deadline, registration fees will be refunded and Cow College will be cancelled.

Registrations should be sent to Linh Niesent, Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, 1171 Campus Delivery Fort Collins, CO 80523-1171 or email to linh.niesent@colostate.edu. Please include your name, address, telephone number and email address with your registration. Space may be limited, so those interested are encouraged to register and send registration fees early.

Cow College will be held at CSU Agricultural Research Education and Development Center (ARDEC) Taylor Conference Center located at 4482 East County Road 56 in Fort Collins. ARDEC is located on the east side of I-25 about 2 miles north and across Interstate-25 from the Budweiser plant. Take Mountain Vista exit if coming from the south and Wellington exit if coming from the north and get on the frontage road on the east side of I-25.

For information, call or email Whittier at 970-222-0684 or jack.whittier@colostate.edu.