Beef Programs

Programs involving beef cattle are provided in breeding and genetics, reproduction, nutrition and forage utilization, production and management and marketing. Informational brochures have been included with program descriptions. Updated brochures will be added as they become available.

The college is held annually and provides updated research-based information on all aspects of cattle management, marketing, and forage production. College will count for 5 sessions of the Advanced Master Beef Program. The college is held in February/March of each year. Registration will begin in December. Register and pay online using the button located on our home page.

The summit is held in the Spring of each year. It provides information to help beef producers to learn about new beef cattle research and information in the areas of beef management to help increase profitability and improve production. It is held at the McMinn County Expo Center and has the largest beef trade show in southeast Tennessee. The summit counts as 2 sessions for Master Beef Producer. Beef Summit is held the last Friday of April each year. Register online (link will be added to our home page when available)

McMinn County and Meigs County Agents works with McMinn and Meigs Cattlemen’s Association and Athens Stockyard to conduct the heifer marketing program. All heifers are screened on farm by committee and are either born on the cosigner’s farm or from a known origin with production records indicating approximate birth date/age, sire and dam information (source and age verified) and all heifers are bred to calving ease bulls (known EPD’s). All entries are due September 1st, and the sale is held the last Friday in October.

Designed to teach cow-calf producers how to improve their profitability and sustainability. Sessions provide information to help cow-calf producers to reduce costs, increase the value of their feeder cattle and improve production. The sessions are taught by UT Specialist and Agents and conducted by the UT Extension McMinn and Meigs County offices.

Program to ensure that beef and dairy cattle are managed in a manner that will result in safe and wholesome beef and milk products for the consumer. BQA certification trainings are conducted by UT Extension – McMinn County and certification is processed through the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association. BQA fees are $20 for TCA Members, $40 for non-members. BQA is valid for 3 years – expires Nov 1st. This certification is now available online.

McMinn County Agent works with local livestock marketing agencies to provide precondition feeder calf marketing opportunities to beef producers to add value to their feeder calves by following weaning, nutrition, and animal health guidelines.

McMinn County Agent works with livestock marketing agency and Georgia Cattlemen’s Association and producers to sell farm fresh load lot cattle via tele-auction.

Provides up to date information on nutrition, animal health, and marketing tools to add value to beef cattle. The workshop is held every other year in the fall and cooperators include McMinn and Meigs County Extension, Athens Stockyard, and local Agribusiness. The workshop counts as one session for the Advanced Master Beef Program.

UT Extension offices in McMinn and Meigs County and McMinn County FFA offer a BSE clinic annually each December for producers to test their herd sires prior to breeding season. Reservations are required.