November 12, 2008

Colorado State University (CSU) Extension will be hosting a program titled “Marketing and Producing Natural Beef” on December 10, 2008 located at The Ranch in Loveland, CO. The program will be held in the 1st National Bank Building from 8:15 a.m.-5:30 p.m. The first session by, Dr. Tom Field, NCBA, will set the stage with ideas and considerations when changing from a conventional to an alternative beef program. The rest of the morning will be devoted to marketing natural beef, participants will receive marketing ideas from producers who are currently focusing on natural beef and learn what has and has not worked. A natural beef lunch will be served, during which Dr. Dawn Thilmany, CSU Ag. Economics Professor, will discuss consumer meat buying behavior.

The afternoon sessions will be devoted to management practices associated with producing natural beef. First Dr. Shawn Archibeque, CSU Animal Science Professor, will cover the potential environmental differences between natural and conventional beef production. Cattle have to be eliminated from a natural program if they get sick, so keeping them healthy is vastly important. Colorado State University Extension Veterinarian, Roger Ellis will discuss vaccination programs with the greatest potential to keep cattle healthy. Quality nutrition is another key component in successful natural meat programs, so participants will hear about rations, potential natural feed additives, and observe under a microscope what happens to the rumen microbes if cattle are improperly fed.

The program costs $40 for individuals who register by December 1st. At-the-door registration will be $50. Registration includes lunch and refreshments. If you have any questions please contact Mike Jarosz at 970-590-0796 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

 Click here to download the brochure