The beef cattle industry’s backgrounding sector manages calves through the transition period between weaning and feedlot placement. Cattle producers rely heavily on forages and grains to increase cattle weights and immunity before they enter the feedlot. The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment will offer a two-day program aimed at background producers who want to gain knowledge through classroom and hands-on learning experiences.

The 2022 Backgrounding Short Course is Dec. 15-16 at the UK C. Oran Little Research Center in Versailles. It will focus on the post-weaning management of feeder cattle.  

“Because of the number of beef cow-calf operations in the region, the backgrounding industry is a good fit for Kentucky cattle producers,” said Jeff Lehmkuhler, UK extension beef specialist for the UK Department of Animal and Food Sciences. “We are cramming a lot into this two-day course and believe that producers will be able to put the information to use now and in the future in their operations.”

The course will begin with registration at 7:30 a.m. EST Dec. 15 and will include topics such as bunk management, health risk management, vaccination protocols, cattle processing, confinement considerations, feeds and feeding, feed program development, ration balancing, ruminant digestion, health diagnostic tools and best management practices. Additional sessions include feed mixing and management, cattle handling equipment, heifer development, disposition impact on performance, technology tools and enterprise budgets. The course concludes at 4 p.m. Dec. 16.

Registration is limited to the first 30 individuals, is $25 per person and ends Dec. 10. Participants may register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/469124111847 or send payment to Jeff Lehmkuhler, 810 W.P. Garrigus Bldg., University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546. Additional course sponsors include the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and the Kentucky Beef Network.