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Beef cattle field day set for Mountain Research Station

North Carolina’s annual Beef Cattle Field Day takes place July 18 at the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville. The event, designed for cattle producers and those interested in cattle production, will feature research-based educational sessions focusing on forage management, reproduction and nutrition.

N.C. State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association sponsor the field. It is free and open to the public.

The event starts with registration and a trade show from 8:30 a.m. to 9:20, followed by introductory remarks from Dr. Steve Lommel of the N.C. Agricultural Research Service at NC State and Dr. Sandy Stewart of the NCDA&CS’s Research Stations Division.

Field day participants will then have the opportunity to take part in three sessions, led by NC State scientists, on how to extend the grazing season, which steps are needed for successful reproductive performance and how to feed and store wet brewers’ grains.

Lunch takes place from noon to 1 p.m., then a panel discussion on different cattle production systems follows. According to Dr. Philipe Moriel, an NC State assistant professor of animal science, “The panel discussion will focus on what are the definitions of natural, grass-fed, pasture-raised, grass-finished beef production. It will be followed by a discussion among local producers about the advantages of each production system.”

Moriel says that the goal is to show producers that opportunities exist for each of the production systems.

The Mountain Research Station is at 265 Test Farm Road in Waynesville. Research activities at the 407-acre station reflect the diversity of western North Carolina agriculture, including field and forage crops, horticultural crops, Christmas trees, livestock and more. Directions to the station are available at http://www.ncagr.gov/research/MountainResearchStationWaynesville.htm.

For information: Dr. Philipe Moriel, (828) 456-3943 extension 229 or pmoriel@ncsu.edu

–Dee Shore, 919-513-3117 or dee_shore@ncsu.edu