livestock production

[Reed77]

I'm looking into college classes and they have both equine and livestock that I want to take and one of the classes is called 'livestock production'...what is that? reproduction, management?

[InvalidID]

Originally Posted by Reed77

I'm looking into college classes and they have both equine and livestock that I want to take and one of the classes is called 'livestock production'...what is that? reproduction, management?

I believe it's going to teach you how to run a successful feed lot operation. When I started to take a small acreage, sustainable live stock class in Oregon it was basically how to run a mini feed lot. Very disappointing.

[Reed77]

what all did you learn? a feed lot seems like a pretty straight forward operation.

A feed lot isn't what I want, but I could still learn something from the class

[InvalidID]

I wasn't able to finish the class, as every time I pointed out how very unsustainable what we were being taught was the 'professor' got angry. I was given a refund and asked to never return.

Basically they were telling us to order feed from local people, how to contain the large amount of poo without polluting water, and to find people willing to pay more money for local beef as it would cost more to run a small feed lot. I was glad to get my money back.

[trbizwiz]

It seems like every class offered by a univeristy extension is high input related. It's like they get their grants from big business or something.

[JJFarmer]

You might look for a course synopsis. It will better describe the class by showing what you'll be learning. I would assume it would be an overview of all livestock with the intent of making a profit, improving genetics, nutritional guidelines, health, general management, etc.

I would take it with an open mind but not a blind eye to other alternatives and opinions. Livestock is an ever evolving study and I'm sure no one will ever be completely satisfied with how the subject is managed.

[ErinP]

It's entirely possible it varies by college, but when DH took beef production, it was about the life/business cycle of beef. From calving to the packer. There was some feedlot info, but most of it was ranching-related...

If it's generic "livestock" I would think it's something along those lines only a wider scope to include sheep, hogs, etc.

BTW, DH has his bachelors in AgriBusiness. The emphasis was on large, corporate scale agriculture. But with age and experience, he has taken that and rounded it out to apply to the small, sustainable scale that we're capable of.

You're right Reed. Even if they TEACH you from inside the box, just a little bit of effort can transfer that info to apply to your outside-the-box operation.
An education is never a wasted effort!

[cur huntin' kid]

Every school is different so read the course syllabus

[MO_cows]

Of course the universities are going to teach the mainstream way that has been proven to work and offers their graduates the best chance at employment opportunity in the field as it exists today.

Maybe a "ranching for profit" school would be more up your alley, I understand they are more about matching your methods to your resources. Or, check out the Stockman Grass Farmer and see what they might offer. Probably not a full course but field days and seminars.

[TroutRiver]

I took a course titled "animal husbandry" that was all about livestock management, health, reproduction, nutrition, pasture management, etc. It was very interesting. I also went to a very environmentally-minded college and majored in sustainable agriculture I agree, I would read the course synopsis and maybe email/contact the professor for more information if possible.

[Karin L]

I took a course on beef cattle science and it wasn't all about raising cattle in a feedlot. As a matter of fact, 99% of the course was on pasture/range-based production, weaning, breeds, breeding, calving, selling, financials, marketing, etc., very little was touched on feedlot.

And even in my introductory animal agriculture course there was also very little, if any, focus on any intensive, CAFO-type agriculture, it was mostly about details about the different livestock used in agriculture, reproduction, marketing, tools used for producing livestock, etc. And I attended a university, not a college.

So it definitely varies from college to college or university to university. I would definitely read the syllabus (as well as the description of the course in the calendar) before you begin.