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Tennessee Beef Cattle Improvement Initiative

Tennessee Beef Cattle Improvement Initiative



  

 


About The Initiative

Our Goals


  • Develop and Implement Marketing Strategies
  • Provide Producers with Superior Education Programs
  • Build Information networks that Serves Producers' Needs
  • Identify and Promote Profitable Genetics
  • Improve Forage Production & Management
  • Market Consumer-Oriented Beef
  • Provide Information to Improve Cattle Health
  • Increase Political Support & Funding for the
    Tennessee Beef Industry

Immediate Priorities


  • Implement and Evaluate Electronic Animal Identification (EID) Use EID in demonstration herds to show its usefulness and importance in record keeping and tracking animal performance to the feedlot and packing plant, capturing additional value, making herd management decisions, as well as in limiting producers' legal liability and enhancing trace back for food safety purposes.
  • Integrated Resource Management
    Provide producers producers with detailed guidance from Extension and agribusinesses to implement the IRM program into their operations. This program considers the goals of beef producers and the changes needed in their production, management and marketing programs to achieve those goals. It includes a good record keeping program such as THE Beef Cattle fIRM, and use of records to make improved management decisions and evaluate the impact of those decisions.
  • Master Beef Producer Program
    An educational program designed to provide information to Tennessee cow-calf producers to help them be the very best in the country, improve their profitability and position the industry to be competitive with other states. The program will be led by a team of University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service specialists and agents, with the support and involvement of representatives of state-level agencies, businesses and organizations that have an interest in the state's cattle industry. Look for it early 2004.
  • Building Awareness of the Tennessee Beef Initiative
    Increase the visibility and attract resources for beef producers among Tennessee political leaders, as well as the state and national beef cattle industry.

Initiative's Background

Starting in August 2000 University of Tennessee agricultural scientists and specialists began work to identify the factors that would make Tennessee beef producers recognized as industry leaders in the US. In a series of meetings, input was collected from a variety of stakeholders, including agricultural organizations, firms and cattlemen's groups. Seven task forces were established on issues viewed as critical in making Tennessee nationally known for the quality of its cattle industry.

By March 2001, the effort had transformed into a broad alliance of public and private partners guided by input from breed and cattlemen's associations, agricultural enterprises, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and others. Uniting these diverse organizations is a commitment to seeing Tennessee's beef producers achieve the quality reputation they deserve.

Our Partners

Links


The University of Tennessee
 » Agricultural Economics
 » Animal Science
 » Master Beef Producer Program

Tennessee Cattlemen's Assoc.
Beef Quality Assurance
Tennessee Livestock Network
Tennessee Dept of Agriculture
K-State AgManager
Livestock Marketing Info Center
CME Group
Iowa Beef Center
BEEFStockerUSA