Capture more value in today’s cattle market
by Brian Bartels, MFA national sales manager, large & small ruminant products
MU Extension expands Feedlot Schools to cover backgrounding and finishing for Missouri beef producers
University of Missouri Extension will host three two-day Feedlot Schools in January and February, giving cattle producers a practical roadmap for retaining calves longer in Missouri and capturing more value through backgrounding and finishing.
“Backgrounding is a low-hanging fruit to add value to beef calves in the current market,” said Eric Bailey, MU Extension state beef nutrition specialist. “We are expanding the school because producers asked for practical training that connects the dots from weaning and receiving, all the way through finishing and marketing cattle on the grid.”
MFA is partnering with the MU Extension to organize these schools and contribute to the educational sessions at each event.
New this year, the school has been expanded to include a dedicated backgrounding session on Day 1, followed by a finishing and marketing session on Day 2.
Day 1: Backgrounding calves
This day’s agenda starts with practical facility-focused instruction, including low-stress cattle handling and working facility design, then moves into backgrounding nutrition and management with profit-focused targets for growing calves. The program includes a systems-based session on post-weaning calf health management that connects pen design and stocking density to enhance health outcomes. Lunch will be provided while attendees learn about MU demonstration and research projects. The afternoon closes with financing and risk management and a capstone session on building a competitive advantage by benchmarking costs and identifying where your operation can win.
Day 2: Finishing cattle
Sessions include facility design and upkeep, practical finishing nutrition and bunk management, finance and risk management, and grading and pricing fed cattle, including the dollar difference between selling live versus marketing on a carcass grid. A packer Q&A and a feedlot tour are included.
Registration information
Each school has a unique registration webpage. Register using the site for the school you plan to attend:
- Jan. 21-22 — Missouri State University Shealy Farm, 5607 S 222nd Rd., Fair Grove, Mo.
- https://pears.io/events/mu/2994/
- Feb. 4-5 — University of Missouri Beef Research and Teaching Farm, 5169 Old Millers Rd, Columbia, Mo.
- https://pears.io/events/mu/3029/
- Feb. 18-19 — University of Missouri Cornett Research Farm, 21262 Genoa Road, Linneus, Mo.
- https://pears.io/events/mu/2838/
Cost: $100 per person per day ($200 for both days).
For more information, contact:
Dr. Eric Bailey
University of Missouri state beef nutrition specialist
baileyeric@missouri.edu
573-884-7873
Brian Bartels
MFA Incorporated, national sales manager, large & small ruminants
bbartels@mfa-inc.com
620-220-0183
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