Feeding Quality Forum registration open
by Kylee Kohls
It’s no secret, we’re producing more high-quality beef than ever before, but does that suggest a danger of oversaturation or swamping demand?
Buzz words and marketing claims talk a lot, but consumers speak with their wallets. What do they say about the years to come?
As animal health concerns arise, how do traceability and antibiotic use play into your plans from calving to finishing and beyond?
The 14th annual Feeding Quality Forum (FQF) in Amarillo, Texas, this August 27-28 will serve up answers to these and other points of discussion. It’s as an opportunity for cattlemen to stretch their thinking to take in the latest research and technology applications relevant to business now.
“The Forum is designed to create a learning environment for feeders and commercial cow-calf producers targeting high-quality beef to come together and network with the industry,” says Kara Lee, Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) production brand manager.
New this year, Cargill will host a packing plant tour on Tuesday morning, prior to forum kickoff but with limited space on a first come, first served basis and an anticipated waitlist.
Touring the plant means a chance to witness the large-scale plant procedures and better understand the process after animals leave the feedyard.
“Don’t be discouraged if waitlisted for this opportunity,” Lee says. The Cargill beef procurement team will host a session later in the afternoon to continue the conversation.
Dan Basse, AgResource president and analyst, kicks off FQF Tuesday afternoon with a wealth of knowledge on global marketplace dynamics. Then the program moves on to discussing quality beef supplies and carcass grading technologies.
The evening continues with the Industry Achievement Award Banquet to celebrate 2019 honoree Jerry Bohn, Pratt, Kansas.
“Jerry has been a tremendous champion for the entire beef industry and is a well-respected icon in the cattle feeding world,” Lee says. “He has been integral in many industry organizations, shifting toward quality. He is forward thinking and a great partner for anyone in the beef industry.”
The tone Wednesday is set with the “Consumer Buzz Around Beef” session, covering the ever-changing topic of consumer demand and how it drives the way we produce beef.
Scott Laudert, beef cattle technical consultant, continues the conversation on liver abscesses and antibiotic use before West Texas A&M University veterinarian John Richeson digs into technological advancements in characterizing disease risk and improving diagnoses Wednesday morning.
Traceability has been discussed and highly debated for years now, but the idea of using that technology to improve the control of a disease outbreak and elevate consumer trust is intriguing, Lee says.
Joe Leathers, of the 6666 Ranch, Guthrie, Texas, will bring his insight to the table as he outlines opportunities for success and challenges the ranch discovered in their pilot traceability project.
“We have two goals: one, we want our attendees to leave sessions with tangible, take-home points – things they may not necessarily get at their local cattlemen’s meeting,” says Lee. “We also want to introduce some ideas and research that will stretch their thinking a little bit. We want this to be a very progressive and forward-thinking event that allows them to think ‘maybe today I’m not facing this idea’ or ‘I haven’t considered this,’ but introducing some of those ideas and sharing the most cutting-edge data and research in the industry to really provide something very thought provoking for them.”
Feeding Quality Forum is made possible by Zoetis, Diamond V, Cargill, Micronutrients, Feedlot Magazine, Angus Link and Angus Source, and CAB.
This year, on-site registration will not be available. Early registration is $100, due July 22, which is also final cutoff for the Cargill packing plant tour. After July 22, registrations will cost $200, and they close August 9th. Student registration is also available this year for $50.
Registration is open now at www.feedingqualityforum.com, and will not be accepted after August 9.
Registration fees include access to all educational sessions, packing plant participation, ticket to the Industry Achievement Award Banquet, lunch Wednesday and access to presentations after the event.
To learn more about the speakers and full agenda, visit www.feedingqualityforum.com.
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