STOCKTON, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension Livestock Bus Tour will visit livestock operations in northwestern Missouri, northeastern Kansas and southwestern Nebraska beginning Sept. 23, says Patrick Davis, MU Extension livestock field specialist.

MU Extension livestock field specialists are collaborating on a four-day bus tour that will begin at the Hickory County MU Extension Center in Hermitage on Sept. 23. The tour will primarily visit cattle operations, but one stop will look at co-grazing sheep, goats and cattle.

“The feedlot is an important sector of the cattle industry,” says Davis. Understanding factors that influence feedlot performance is helpful to cattle producers to produce calves that will perform better in the feedlot. Furthermore, if cattle producers produce calves that perform better in the feedlot, there is potential for premiums based on how the calves are marketed. Therefore, this tour will tentatively visit the UNL Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center, which is a research feedyard near Mead, Neb., and Briggs Cattle Co., which is a commercial feedyard near Seward, Neb.

“Small cattle slaughter facilities are becoming an important part of the Missouri cattle industry,” says Davis. Understanding these facilities and how cattle producers can use them to slaughter retained calves is helpful in improving their bottom line. Therefore, this tour will tentatively visit the Hertzog Meat Co. near Butler, Mo.

“Co-species grazing has potential to improve cattle operation profitability,” says Davis. Therefore, this tour will visit Shannon Creek Ranch near Olsburg, Kan. This operation co-grazes goats, sheep and cattle and will provide education to participants on successful co-management of these species.

“Cattle operation tours allow participants to gain knowledge and management strategies that can be implemented to improve their cattle operation,” says Davis. This tour will visit seedstock cattle operations raising Angus, Hereford, Red Angus, Gelbvieh, Simmental, Beefmaster and Charolais cattle. These operations include Lacy Red Angus, Drexel, Mo.; Jensen Simmentals, Osawatomie, Kan.; Nextgen Cattle Co., Paxico, Kan.; Overmiller Red Angus and Gelbvieh, Smith Center, Kan.; Benoit Angus, Ebson, Kan.; and Valley Creek Ranch, Fairbury, Neb. Also, the tour will visit the American Hereford Association in Kansas City, Mo.

The cost of the tour is $500 per person and payment is required by the registration deadline of September 1st. This fee covers hotel room and bus fee. All other expenses are on your own. To attend, mail payment by Sept.1 to the Hickory County MU Extension Center, 18715 Cedar St., Hermitage MO 65668. To register or for more information, contact MU Extension Center in Hickory County at 417-745-6767, or contact Davis at 417-276-3313 or davismp@missouri.edu.

Printable flyer: MU Extension Livestock Bus Tour (PDF)