Cooperative Extension: Livestock

Beef

Preconditioned Fall Feeder Calf Sale

Advanced notice: May 18, 2013 at the Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE). Please contact Sales Manager Pete Dusoe at 207-948-3233 or pbdusoe@uninets.net for sale protocol and more information.

Beef Production Information

• Maine Beef Newsletter Sign-up – News and events of interest to beef producers in Maine from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine Department of Agriculture, Maine Beef Producers and other agriculture organizations in Maine.
• Agricultural Alternatives, Penn State University.  Includes fact sheets on Beef Backgrounding Production, Beef Cow-Calf Production, Dairy Beef, and Feeding Beef Cattle.
• Iowa Beef Center, Iowa State University
• Nebraska Beef Cattle Production, University of Nebraska Lincoln. Includes learning modules, beef home study course, current Ag prices, profit tips, beef forum and more.
• Kentucky Beef Book, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service
• U of M Beef Center , University of Minnesota
• Montana Beef Cattle Extension Program, Montana State University
• Oklahoma State University Beef Fact Sheets: over 120 publications on all aspects of beef production
• Beef Cattle Handbook – CDROM, MidWest Plan Service – Iowa State University: 145 articles and extension publications on a wide range of topics of interest to the beef producer. order for $25
• Raising Beef Cattle on a Few Acres, Utah State University. Good for backyard beef.

Beef Health Information

• University of Maine Animal Health Lab

Pasture and Crops for Beef Production

• Grazing Guide, Northeast Pasture Consortium
• Maine Hay Directory, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
• Maine Straw Directory, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
• UMaine Analytical Lab, Soil and Manure Testing, University of Maine
• Dairy One, Forage and Feed Analysis

4-H Youth Program Information

• Maine 4-H Beef Projects and Programs, University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Buildings and Equipment for Beef

• Beef Housing and Equipment Handbook, Bulletin #1001, Mid West Plan Service, University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Information on cow-calf, cattle handling, and cattle feeding facilities; feed storage, processing and handling; water and waterers; manure management; farmstead planning, building construction, materials, ventilation and insulation; fences; gates and utilities. 133 pages with index, 1986. $15
• Dr. Temple Grandin’s Website,  Livestock Behavior, Design of Facilities, and Humane Slaughter

Farm Taxes & Recordkeeping

• Maine Sales Tax Forms, Maine Revenue Services site with tax exempt applications, affidavits and refund forms for agriculture producers
• Maine Current Land Use Property Tax Programs, Maine Farmland Tax Law InformationMarketing Information

Marketing

• Beef Marketing Alternatives, ATTRA, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
• Resource Guide to Direct Marketing Livestock and Poultry, Small Farms Program, Cornell University – a 155-page guide available for free online or $3 for CD or $8 for hardcopy.
• Agriculture Marketing Resource Center – Beef Direct Marketing – Including a link to the Farm to Fork: A Direct-to-the-Consumer Marketing Handbook
• How to Direct Market Your Beef – Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
• Maine Beef Producers Feeder Calf Sales Page – Includes preconditioning protocol.

USDA Marketing News and Standards

• Livestock Standards, USDA standards for grades of feeder and slaughter cattle
• Livestock Grades, USDA Posters on frame size, yield grade and quality grade
• Market News – Livestock Cattle Reports, USDA Agriculture Marketing Service.  Includes slaughter cattle and feeder & replacement cattle auction prices reported.

Beef Quality Assurance

• Beef Quality Assurance, Beef Quality Assurance is a national program that provides guidelines for beef cattle production. The program raises consumer confidence through offering proper management techniques and a commitment to quality within every segment of the beef industry. There are links to video training on BQA at this site.
• Pennsylvania Beef Quality Assurance

Maine Beef  Related Organizations

• Maine Beef Industry Council, Maine Beef Checkoff – They have a number of direct sales brochures that you can use to help educate your customers on caring for and using their beef purchases.
• Maine Beef Producers Association
• Maine Grass Farmers Network

Extension Beef Contact Person: Donna.Coffin@maine.edu, (207) 564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491

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Image Description: Beef Cow and Calf

Image Description: woman with red angus cows in a pasture; photo by Edwin remsberg, USDA