Improving cattle health and reducing cattle death loss is the focus of the 2018 Northern States Beef Conference to be held Dec. 12 -13 in Watertown at the Watertown Event Center.

"The focus of this conference has been to provide cutting edge information tailored to the unique needs of cattle feeders and cow/calf operators in this region," says Warren Rusche, South Dakota State University Extension beef feedlot management associate.

The Northern States Beef Conference is co-hosted by SDSU Extension, University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University. It rotates between Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota on an every-other-year basis.

Presentations this year will focus on practices and management strategies that improve cattle health outcomes from birth through the feeding phase.

Other topics include discussions on how to add value to corn through cattle, as well as market outlook for the coming year.

Two producer panels will be held covering ways to produce calves that are more attractive to feedlots, and how crop and livestock production can be integrated.

There will also be a trade show featuring vendors from across the region.

To register, visit igrow.org/events and search by the date.

For more information, contact Julie Walker, professor & SDSU Extension beef specialist at [email protected] or 605-688-5458; Taylor Grussing, SDSU Extension cow-calf field specialist at [email protected] or 605-996-7378 or Rusche at [email protected] or 605-688-5452.

Source: SDSU