Grass Finishing Beef Field Day to be held August 25, 2016

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County, in partnership with the Watershed Agricultural Council, will be hosting a field day looking at pasture forage production as it relates to animal performance.  The focus will be on grass finishing beef.  The event starts at 2:00 pm on Thursday, August 25 at Squan Farm (Ron Cieri), 931 Davis Road, East Meredith, New York.

The afternoon will consist of three presentations:

  • At 2:45, Dr. Mike Baker, Cornell Beef Cattle Extension Specialist will speak on “Beef Nutrition from Weaning to Finishing for Grass-fed Cattle”. He will cover the basics of nutrition for the steer or heifer that is being fed a forage only (no grain) diet and will focus on energy, protein, and minerals from weaning to finish.
  • At 3:30, Josh Lucas of Lucas Cattle Company will speak on “From Conception to Weaning—Management Choices that Result in Calves that Perform on Grass. Josh will share his years of experience producing calves that finish well on grass.  He will discuss his genetics, cow management strategies, and weaning process and how those choices result in weaned calves that perform on grass.
  • At 4:15, Rich Toebe, Delaware County Extension Livestock Educator and Jim Ingram, Manager of Squan Farm will report on their “Grazing Study” on the farm. This on-going study has been collecting weekly forage samples and periodic steer weights throughout the 2016 grazing season.  Estimated performance is compared to actual weight gains.  Data on two finishing groups is being collected:  rotationally grazed versus set stocked.

Squan Farm and Adirondack Grazers Cooperative are providing a meal featuring grass-fed hamburgers from the farm at 5:00 pm.

Following the meal, participants will look at some forage plots that have grass at various maturities.  Predicted average daily weight gains will be posted at these plots allowing the participants to connect information shared earlier in the day with how it looks as standing forage in a pasture.  The field day will conclude with a walk of the pastures where the research is taking place.

There is no cost to attend.  To guarantee yourself a meal and materials, you must register by 4:30 pm, Monday, August 22 by calling Kim Holden at 607 865-7090 or emailing at kmh19@cornell.edu   A brochure with more information can be found at www.ccedelaware.org