About Us
County Impact Statements - Yell County
Extension Livestock & Forage Programs Providing A Variety of
Educational Opportunities
Hay production and supplemental feeding of beef cattle account for the
largest portion of the total input costs for many Yell County cattle producers.
Recognizing this, the Yell County Extension Council’s Livestock & Forage
Committee decided to take action and help local producers turn a better profit.
Reducing supplemental feed costs while improving cattle performance through
the winter was the theme of a series of workshops entitled "Beef Cattle Feeding
and Supplementation" conducted by the Yell County Extension Service in 2001.
Three sessions were held throughout the county where producers gained knowledge
on hay testing, balancing cattle rations, and establishing a complete mineral
supplementation program.
As a result of these programs six county producers lowered their supplemental
feed costs by as much as 20% and four participating producers implemented a
mineral supplementation program. Besides reducing out-of-pocket costs, producers
who adopted these practices realized an improvement in herd health, calf crop
percentages, and better cow conditions scores and calf weaning weights.
The Arkansas Feedout Program has been a helpful tool for Yell
County cattle producers to learn more about their cattle and the
feedlot and packing industries
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Impacts
- 13 forage producers gained information on clover and alfalfa
establishment as well as weed and brush control at a Forage Field Day held
at the Jack Thomas Farm in Centerville.
- Over 300 livestock producers received timely and educational information
related to forage and livestock production through a quarterly Livestock &
Forage Update.
- Five yell County producers enrolled 50 steers in the 2001 Arkansas
Feedout Program. Through their participation, producers gained valuable
information related to the feedlot and packer segments of the beef industry.
Participants increased net returns by an average of $110 per head or $1100
per farm.
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