Writer
Julie Harker-
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Attendees at the MU Extension Feedlot School in late August toured Kirksville-area feedlot operations. Photo by Eric Bailey.
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – More than 65 cattle producers from Missouri, Iowa and Illinois attended the University of Missouri Extension Feedlot School in Kirksville in late August. That’s more than double the number of attendees from previous schools, according to MU Extension state beef nutrition specialist Eric Bailey, one of the coordinators of the school. More than 40 of the attendees were young producers.
“Missouri, which used to be a top cattle-feeding state, has the potential again for significant value-added contributions to its agricultural economy by feeding and finishing cattle at home,” said Bailey.
Participants toured two local feedlots, one of which is a brand-new monoslope operation owned by a former Feedlot School attendee. A monoslope barn has a single-pitch roof that slopes in one direction.
“It was a great educational opportunity to have producers walk through the facility and get to ask the producer questions about design choices,” said Bailey. The producer, who attended a Feedlot School in March 2023, expanded from an open-air feedlot to the new barn.
The Feedlot Schools are funded through the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority as part of the Show-Me Entrepreneurial Grants for Agriculture program.
Bailey also credits industry partners NEMO Feed, Corn Belt Livestock Services, U.S. Premium Beef, Livestock Veterinary Services, Midwest Beef and MU Extension specialists for making the Feedlot School a big success.
“I estimate that fed cattle in Missouri will add $1,140 per head to farm revenue,” said Bailey. “Cattle feeders representing nearly 11,000 head of cattle on feed attended the first four Feedlot Schools. Nearly 80% of evaluations returned from attendees indicated the intent to increase cattle feeding capacity on a farm.”
With the soon-to-open American Food Group processing plant near Warrenton, the state’s capacity to process cattle will notably increase, said Bailey.
The Feedlot Schools are two-day immersive educational programs that cover all aspects of beef cattle feedlot operations and include walking tours and hands-on demonstrations of best practices for feed mixing.
Bailey said the MU Extension team will be planning three to four Feedlot Schools for 2025.
Photos
Attendees at the MU Extension Feedlot School in late August toured Kirksville-area feedlot operations. Photos by Eric Bailey.