SDSU Extension hosts Seedstock Symposium June 27-28 in Sioux Falls

BROOKINGS – Each year about 1.5 million calves are born in South Dakota. SDSU Extension is hosting a Seedstock Symposium June 27-28 in Sioux Falls at the SDSU Extension Regional Center to provide producers with research-based information on the use of the tools and technologies to improve the feeding and reproductive efficiency of those calves.

“Producers have been utilizing ratios & EPD’s, to make changes to their herds for more than 30 years. There are new tools available due to the mapping of the bovine genome. These tools can help producers make more accurate mating decisions thus making changes to their operations at a much faster rate,” said Heather Gessner, SDSU Extension Livestock Business Management Field Specialist. “Feed costs represent the single largest production cost to the cow/calf or feedlot operation. Enhancing efficiency has benefits to the industry as a whole.”

Symposium Speakers & Topics

The following speakers and topics will be covered during the two-day symposium held at the SDSU Extension Regional Center located in Sioux Falls at 2001 E 8th Street.

· Mike MacNeil, Delta G

· Michael Gonda, South Dakota State University · Bob Weaber , Kansas State University

· Matt Spangler, University of Nebraska

· Mark Allan, Trans Ova Genetics Larry Kuehn, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center

· Bob Cushman, U. S. Meat Animal Research Center Jim Reecy, Iowa State University – Genetics of Disease Susceptibility;

· Joe Cassady, South Dakota State University – My Vision of the Future of Animal Breeding; and

· Robbi Pritchard, South Dakota State University – My Vision of the Future of Animal Breeding.

“The Symposium is designed to move all producers to a higher level of understanding about DNA & genetic testing. We will start at the ground floor and move up through the two days,” Gessner said. “There will be something for everyone.”

“Tremendous progress has been made from the early and mid 20th century when all evaluation was done visually, to the 1970’s when the first national sire evaluations were published, to today’s use of genomic evaluation. It is this most recent change that is especially exciting for commercial and purebred producers,” said Tyler Melroe, Past-President and Board Member of the S.D. Beef Breeds Council. “

The ability to select unproven seedstock with increasingly higher levels of reliability marks significant progress. Learning how to utilize this data will increase our rate of genetic improvement in both the purebred and commercial sectors.”

In addition to industry and university speakers there will be a Product Showcase Panel to highlight some of the products available to producers as well as a trade show where producers can visit with the symposium sponsors and industry representatives. An additional Producer Panel will explain how they implemented DNA information into their operations.

To register visit http://bit.ly/16g8KaX by June 15, 2013 or mail check to SDSU Extension Attn. Seedstock, 2001 E. 8th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57103. Registration fee is $75 per person and $100 after deadline. Rooms reserved at Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, 200 E 8th Street, reserved until June 6th, $77.00 + tax; this rate available after June 6, if available, 605-373-0153.