Calf Backgrounding Program

Wanting to learn more about how to make money with preconditioning or backgrounding calves?  Well this is the program for you!  This program will be useful for both beginning and experienced cattlemen.

This program will take place at the Eldon Cole Center on the Southwest Research, Extension, and Education Center located at 14584 State Highway H, Mount Vernon, Missouri

Classroom sessions will be on May 19  and June 30, Will start at 9 AM and wrap up around 2 PM.  Lunch will be provided.  There will also be a calf backgrounding demonstration trial that will take place between these sessions.

May 19th will cover nutrition, economics, and health.  In between classroom sessions will be a backgrounding demonstration trial with 4 groups of calves receiving 4 different dietary treatments.  On June 30, we'll discuss the calf performance and economic results of the trial - what groups made money and what groups didn't.  We'll also hear from our sponsors about logistics and resources for starting a backgrounding operation, as well as a panel of experienced backgrounders to provide a practical perspective and answer your questions about preconditioning and backgrounding.  There will also be a trade show at lunch time on both days with business's that can help you with your backgrounding ambitions.

In this program, you will learn:

- How to supplement backgrounding or preconditioning calves to maximize gain, feed efficiency, and profit.  We'll also discuss weaning and new diet acclimation

- What market conditions to look at and how to measure them in order to be able to predict if backgrounding may be profitable in various market conditions

- Health practices to keep calves alive and healthy during the backgrounding period

- Practical knowledge from experienced backgrounders

-  Get your feet wet in backgrounding with an actual backgrounding demo with different dietary treatments

- Gain industry contacts to gain access to resources to help you get started in backgrounding and/or preconditioning

Thank you to our sponsors who have made this program possible!

• Gleonda Angus Farms
• Main Street Feeds
• Superior Steel
• Kent
• Mid-Missouri Bank of Mount Vernon
• Anipro
• Ash Grove FFA
• Goswick Ag
• Joplin Regional Stockyards
• Premier Farm Realty Group & Auction